All Aboard Harvest | Laura Haffner
19
archive,paged,author,author-laura-haffner,author-19,paged-9,author-paged-9,qode-quick-links-1.0,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-theme-ver-11.2,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.4.7,vc_responsive

Author: Laura Haffner

09 Jun

Posted at 06:45h in 2017, aawh, All Aboard, harvest, High Plains Journal, HPH, John Deere, Laura, Photos, Sponsors, stories, wheat by
0 Likes
West central Oklahoma - As you've read the All Aboard Wheat Harvest blog, you have likely noticed the listing of some of our contributing sponsors in the side bar of the site page. One new to the line-up is this one:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="464"]Untitled 10-Acre Challenge[/caption]

"What is this challenge and who are they?" you may ask. Well, I had to enlighten myself as well, so let me share with you what I discovered. The 10-Acre Challenge is a call for those in agriculture to donate ten acres of their crop to the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children and challenge their friends to do the same.

04 Jun

Posted at 18:45h in 2017, aawh, All Aboard, harvest, High Plains Journal, HPH, Laura, Photos, stories by
0 Likes
Clay County, Texas - Journeying along the harvest trail in the summer is not exactly conducive to an elaborate vegetable garden though I admit I did plant a lonely cucumber and pumpkin plant for the kids in hopes it would catch just enough rain until we make it for our home stop. My lack of garden is probably why I love a good farmer's markets on the trail. Getting produce picked at the peak of freshness and the fun of the actual market is a win-win. So when I learned of a "pick your own strawberries" event at a patch not too far down the road, I knew we had to do it to give the kids at least a partial garden experience. To put it mildly, it was a hit as you'll see from the pictures below.

02 Jun

Posted at 13:18h in 2017, aawh, All Aboard, Crop Updates, harvest, High Plains Journal, HPH, John Deere, Laura, Photos, Sponsors, stories, Syngenta, wheat by
0 Likes
North Texas - The kids were both asleep by a tick after eight this evening. Those reading who know them well, understand that this is nothing short of a miracle. I had the camper tidied by nine, which is another miracle as it's usually well after ten or eleven before I finish that. I don't know how its possible with only four people, and so few belongings, but it often looks like squirrel family took up residence by the end of the day.  It seems two of the four, actually maybe one, not naming names, is the prime suspect. Now, I'm going to utilize these rare quiet moments and get caught up on the blog!

We are nearing the end of our time in Texas. In fact, Mark and some of the crew moved to Custer County, Oklahoma, and were able to start there Wednesday, May 31. The rest of us remain in north Texas but will join them in a few short days.

30 May

Posted at 10:40h in 2017, aawh, All Aboard, harvest, High Plains Journal, HPH, John Deere, Laura, Syngenta, Videos, wheat by
0 Likes

North Texas - To all of you wishing you were out cutting in a field or those who just need something to get you through until harvest reaches your area, I made you a little something.  Enjoy! [embed]https://youtu.be/P7zQ6Smn_cc[/embed]All Aboard Wheat Harvest™ is sponsored by High Plains Journal and John...

27 May

Posted at 11:15h in 2017, aawh, All Aboard, Crop Updates, harvest, High Plains Journal, HPH, John Deere, Laura, Photos, stories, Syngenta, wheat by
0 Likes

Wichita County, Texas: May 24 - Mark it in the books - the official start to the cutting season. I had almost forgotten how I love to hear the hum of the machines. The low sound almost has a calming effect on the soul, and nothing can beat the smell of fresh cut wheat!

Due to moisture, some fields have some patches that remain to be cut, so we don't have official yield data to report yet. Test weights are coming in around 58 lbs per bushel. Hail damage has affected yields, and some fields have been zeroed out at our first stop. Today's forecast shows a high of 99, and tomorrow shows 101 with a little wind. It should be prime cutting weather, if we can avoid the small chances for rain in the forecast.

26 May

Posted at 19:00h in 2017, aawh, All Aboard, High Plains Journal, HPH, John Deere, Laura, Photos, stories, Syngenta by
0 Likes

Wichita County, Texas - After a couple seasons of life on the road under my belt, I'm packing lighter and lighter all the time. I don't have time, energy or space in our camper house to deal with unnecessary clutter. So, I debated bringing the kids' mud boots this year. Surely we wouldn't need them for a third year in a row. I finally threw them in as a mind game and insurance policy against the imaginary Texas harvest rain gods because if we had them, we wouldn't need them, right? Wrong. With grain moisture around 15%, we were just on the verge of being able to cut when the rains started. As I've stated many times in my writing, I have a terrible time wishing away rain when I come from an arid area and armed with the knowledge that this region broke out of a terrible drought just two years ago. However, the Texas weather systems and I need to have a little chat, because these harvest rains are starting to be a thing!

25 May

Posted at 06:40h in 2017, aawh, All Aboard, High Plains Journal, HPH, John Deere, Laura, Photos, stories, Syngenta, wheat by
0 Likes
Kansas -  For months Little Man's prayers have been harvest/travel themed and have sounded something like this or a variation thereof, "Dear God, please watch over the combines, the wheat, the blue headers, the camper house, the splash park, and the swimming pool. AMEN!"

Just the other day we helped play musical vehicles with Ryan, which allowed us to pay a visit to headquarters where a beehive of preharvest prep was taking place. One of the crew members expressed his excitement for heading south and getting the cutting season going. He then asked me if I was excited about harvest.

23 May

Posted at 10:00h in 2017, aawh, All Aboard, High Plains Journal, John Deere, Laura, wheat by
0 Likes

 

Park, Kansas -  I had a funny feeling this year that we may catch a late cold snap, however, if someone would have told me we would have a good old fashioned prairie blizzard starting April 29th, I probably would have shaken my head.  Freeze yes, blizzard no.  But blizzard AND freeze are what happened in western Kansas where our headquarters is located. 

It was quite an ordeal for our crew as they come from various winter weather backgrounds (some with none).  Albert, one of our returning veterans, said, "The blizzard was definitely a surreal experience.  Only saw that on TV normally.  Being stranded without electricity and water made you appreciate the small things in life more, the stuff we normally take for granted.  And to be honest, I'm more of a sunny and blue sky kind of person!" 

21 May

Posted at 13:15h in 2017, aawh, All Aboard, High Plains Journal, John Deere, Laura, wheat by
0 Likes

I'm not sure which is more surprising to me, that it's nearly time for wheat harvest or that we are starting our third year as a member of the All Aboard Wheat Harvest family. Where has the time gone? I don't know about you, but sometimes I would like to just hit the pause button, even if for an hour or so!

I've been contemplating this opening post for some time and wish I had something incredibly insightful or clever to say. Truth be told, it has just been business as usual for our family over the last several months. However, as an adult, I've learned to be just as thankful for the times of regular little ups and downs as I am for those mountain top experiences.