Preparing For Harvest
Before every harvest season, Harland does some maintenance on the combine.
It could be just simple regular upkeep, or a more complicated replacement of worn out parts. Harland will start harvesting the corn soon, so the combine has to be ready to go.
This year, besides regular upkeep stuff, he is replacing a part on the front of the combine.
I asked Harland how he learned to do all the work he does on our equipment, and he said he learned from his Dad, who passed in 1993. He went on to say that his dad was a better mechanic than he is.
I’d say he taught his son well.
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I admire people with a mechanical bent of mind. I secretly think men are born with it! My father was one such who could tackle all kinds of mechanical and electrical faults. But I didn’t inherit any of those genes from him (sigh). Bravo to Harland who can even do a welding job with such ease!
Hi Shailaja,
My father was a good mechanic too, but I didn’t inherit the ability either. I did inherit his love of photography though.
In order to be a successful farmer you must be a good “fix it” kind of person. My g.f. and her hubby farm wheat/barley and he is always fixing something on something. Can’t afford to buy new and also, it needs to be fixed ‘now’. Hope your harvest is bountiful!
Hi Sharon,
Every farmer I know does mechanic work. Like you said, they all have to be fix-its.
Thank you!
There is so much upkeep to those big ‘ole machines that get run once or twice a year!! Our family farms wheat–and my hubby, who is paid mechanic by trade–only has to help on the big/bad jobs!! Hope the corn harvest is a success–and a safe one!
Hi Melanie,
Thank you!
Farming truly is an apprenticeship that begins at birth! That’s how almost every farmer I know became one (except me).
He Teresa,
Me too. I married into it. But I’m learning more all the time.
Suzanne, looks like you got yourself a good man there! He’s got skills AND he’s handsome! I love it how people learn things from watching their parents as they were growing up. I think that is great! My hubby is very handy with pretty much everything. He says I only keep him around to start the grill. I say no, I also keep him around to cut grass and work on the cars too! Ha Ha! you know I’m kidding, I love my hubby to pieces and I can tell that you love your hubby to pieces too!
Bonnie,
Indeed I do love him to pieces. And don’t you love having someone around to do the “man” jobs?
Dont you love it. I think there is nothing more sexy than watchin my man work on his equipment. And that Harlans Daddy taught him. I love that too. Same with my husband. And now he is teaching our boy. I love that too. My daughter says she can never marry someone that doesnt know how to fix things, cause she will not be calling her Daddy to come over and fix everything. I love that too. Cool she wants to marry someone like her Dad. How blessed we are to live on a ranch and grow produce. God is good and I love my life. Thanks for sharing. Just makes me feel more blessed when someone points it out.
Julie,
I have to admit I enjoy watching Harland work on things too. All that knowledge passed on from generation to generation.
Love my life too!
Forgot to say Randy, my husband, also has been working on our equipment, cuz we are harvesting almonds right now. So its all soooo familiar.
Julie,
Harland started harvesting the corn yesterday. I rode along on the combine for a while yesterday afternoon, and took lots of pics which I’ll share later this week.
suzanne! this is great. i was just asking my frined how they “pick corn.” since i am a non-farmer, hand picking is an obvious route but then you have mucho acres of corn, you might want to invest in something less time consuming. so my friend suggested that people use combines…but i am not sure how that works. will that be a future post? 🙂
Hi Rebecca,
Very near future – come back tomorrow. Same time, same station. 🙂