Friday, May 26, 2023

That's a Wrap!

It's 5am here at the farm, time to shock my system awake with a donut and Mountain Dew. Maple Bacon should do the trick. Kinda like the AED of breakfasts. I have never liked coffee; Mountain Dew is my preferred choice for caffeine. Farmer Bob has been keeping me supplied in donuts the past few days, good thing there is not more than on 'Jim' on the farm as I certainly would not be known as Skinny Jim!

The weather has been perfect for planting, warm, no rain, sun (through the smoke) and wind to dry the wet spots up. Day by day we kept plugging away 14-17 hours a day.  We saw 80 degrees again this week. One day while I was loading a truck with fertilizer, I finished, jumped into the cab through the open door to find this......

Nova had jumped up there when I was not looking to enjoy some of the AC that was blasting in the running truck. I took her for a little ride, she seemed cool and content when we were done. 

I did manage to get in the seeder and ride with Chris for a few minutes. Looking at all those displays, you would need a master's degree to run this thing. My, how things have changed over the years. It was just over a hundred years ago they were still using horses and oxen!

The Canadian smoke is still lingering making for eerie sunrise and sunsets. The good news is that it does not allow the sun to come through and dry up the soil. The bad news is that it does not allow the sun to come through and dry up the soil. See? That is what it like being a farmer, you are never happy with the weather!

Sunrise
Getting ready to load Canola seed
Sunset

Then the day we have been waiting for finally came. The last field! Chris parked the seeder in the yard at 1:30am on Wednesday morning and we were done! I spent several hours the next day greasing up the seeder for next spring. That night, Farmer Bob took Dylan and I out to supper in Ryder. Chris opted to stay home and spend time with his kids, who he only had glimpses of over the past month. 

As many of you know, small town America is shrinking, as are the number of American farmers, so it is really hard to find help. Many farmers do all the work by themselves, or with their spouse or another family member. We had 5 people working their butts off and were still busy every minute of the day. I could not imagine being an operation of one trying to do all that!

Many of the local farm businesses such as seed dealers, fertilizer plants and even some of the larger farm import their help. I don't mean like from South Dakota, I am talking South Africa. South Africans come to this area by the hundreds to work for a couple of months before heading back home. Other than talking a little funny, you would not even know they were not from around here. I asked one guy who manages them, what they think of it here. He said they are amazed that no one in America really wants to work. People in South Africa are desperate to find work as there are no jobs. Here in America, there are thousands of jobs, but no one wants to work. A sad, sad, state of affairs. 

I went and flew my drone a little bit getting this shot of the farm with its new treating building and bins (far right). It got me thinking about all the changes the farm has seen over the years. It's been a few years since I posted the blog post titled The Farm and gave a rundown of its history starting in 1916. For those of you interested about it, you can read it here

But I thought I would include a few pictures starting with this year and going backwards in time to show how things have changed. 


2023
2017
2015

2006

1998

1995

1984

1950's
I took this next picture from this angle for a specific reason. This time next year there should be another house on the left side of the that tree row in the field as Dylan has carved out a section of that open field for his house! More changes are coming to The Farm!
Of course, it would not be a farm post without someone getting stuck or breaking something. Well, I think it is safe to write that I did not get stuck or break anything this year! Dylan was the honoree of getting something stuck this week when he attempted to scrape some clay for his new driveway in a pit that was not quite dry yet. Thank you, Dylan, for taking one for the team!
Back in South Dakota, Forrest and family left South Dakota earlier in the week heading south to Oklahoma to visit Somer's parents. On the day they left, they spent the night at a Harvest Host in Nebraska. A lavender farm. They said it was very interesting, but the lavender was not in bloom so not as beautiful as it would have been otherwise. 

Barb spent the last couple days packing and cleaning for her departure. But not before she had a visit from one of her old work friends. Her co-worker Jean who recently retired was in the area with her husband Nick. They came over to the house for a visit then went out to lunch to catch up. Barb said it was great seeing her again. 

Thursday was a big day as it was Barbie's arrival day! You would think that I was excited and could not wait for her arrival and I was but it was also a day of frantic cleaning. You ever wondered what a camper looks like after a dude has been staying in it for almost a month? Well, it not only looks like it, it also smells like it!

A couple hours later, floors, dishes, new sheets, bed made, floors scrubbed, I was ready for her arrival. Knowing her, she will spend a couple hours cleaning it to her standards anyways. 

About 4:30pm Barb finally arrived! 25 days is a long time to be apart, so good to see her! Dakota was excited to see me, Zoey was actually a little scared for some reason. She was pretty excited to see the chickens though!
That night we went out with Bob and DeAnne to Max where we had a burger and a few drinks.

On our last day there we just kind of relaxed and got ready for our next adventure. Barb hung out with Chase working on their garden. I think this is the 3rd or 4th year they have worked on their same garden, it is kinda their thing....
Dylan and I went out and planted some corn in a food plot for the deer, pheasants and other critters that eat it. This crop is not harvested, it just sits all fall and winter for the animals to munch on.
I also got to play with a new toy. Their new to them, payloader. A spent an hour or so hauling and dumping rock for Dylan's new driveway.
Friday night we went out with Chris and Holly only this time we went to the Iron Oar in Riverdale. The food was incredible. To top it off it rained over an 1/2" that evening giving the crops a good boost, hopefully that trend continues through the summer! 

Tomorrow morning, we hit the road bright and early heading east to a SSUVFL. Hope they have enough beer! 

35 comments:

  1. Congratulations on getting the fields planted! That was a huge job. Curious as to what happened to the big, white barn in the 1995-8 photos. That was a beautiful building. We are going to visit one that is quite similar today at the old county poor farm. A bunch of Leelanau organizations put their resources together and restored it. I’ll get photos.

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    1. Our anonymous commenter is correct, a tornado took down that barn. If you look closely, you'll see that the foundation for the barn only recently disappeared.

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  2. Nice job helping out, Jim, you definitely deserve some time off. Thanks for including the property shots, I found them very interesting, so many changes! It looks great in '23. Enjoy your travels with Barb and the pups.

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    1. I wish there were photographs from earlier than the 1950's, that would be interesting.

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  3. A tornado took that barn down in 2004 along with a few smaller buildings on the west side of the yard

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    1. If I I didn't know better, I would say this comment is from someone really in the know!

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  4. I am glad that you showed those South Africans that your still an American that likes to work. It is a very sad state of affairs the way this country is headed. The zombie apocalypse can't come soon enough for me. Enjoy your travels, you look like you earned a vacation. SSUVFL, is that code for Disney World?

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    1. If only you had enough ammo to defend yourself. Remember, sacrifice your spouse first and run like hell!

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  5. Congrats on completing another planting season! Your comments on small town America and nobody wanting to work the farms is also a problem in Canada. Glad Barb and pooches made it safely. Safe travels!

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    1. We sound like our grandparents when asking "What the hell is wrong with this generation?"

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  6. It's more work than anyone can imagine, but with GPS and air conditioning? You've got it made! And you are right, never happy with the weather. The problem is too much government money for people who don't WANT to work. Stop all that nonsense and people will have to work to EAT!! Time to relax with Barb and the kids.

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    1. The average American has no idea how much work it is, nor could they do it. Everyone should experience it just once so they could appreciate farmers more.

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  7. Now that the seeds are in the ground, you can put your fishing line in!, and join the kids. Welcome home!

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  8. What a month! It was interesting to see the farm back through time. Things have changed so much. Glad the planting is done for this year. :)

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    1. Now they just need some rain. 1/4" or so a week would be perfect, but we shall see what the summer brings.

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  9. Wahoo! Job well done and a great big thank you to everyone! Happy to read you and Barb and the pups are on your way. Looking forward to reading about your summer trip. I have no idea what SSUVFL is…🤪, but knowing you guys, it will be lots of fun and lots of adventures!

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    1. The SSUVFL is not something we came up with but something that has evolved over the years. Regardless, it is always a good time!

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  10. Well, at least now I know what to do if I ever have a heart attack and don't have a defibrillator in the house! Glad you guys are back together and headed out for some fun stuff. Seems like you've earned a little vacation from your retirement!

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    1. I am back in retirement mode and loving life! I don't mind hard work but it's nice to have a break.

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  11. Nice that the two of you are back together again. Going to Dino's you probably will be put to work making soup instead of drinking beer. lol

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    1. No work for me, I am taking a few days off. Unless there is cold beer, I could be enticed!

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  12. Dry during planting and rain afterwards. Perfect!

    You deserve a break after all that work. Have a great time!

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    1. It actually rained a 1/2" last night, they were doing the happy dance!

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  13. What an adorable Dakota photo:) She missed you. I see the "Princess" is too good to look at the camera. So good to hear you got the entire month done without breaking anything...wahoo! It's nice when someone else takes that task on for you. How nice that the wildlife get their own field of corn. Sweet. Love the photo diary of the farm over the years. I, too, was wondering about that beautiful white barn. What a shame.
    Darn tornado! Safe travels on your new adventure!

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    1. I thought Zoey would be the one excited to to see me and Dakota indifferent. It was the other way around. Dakota has been my buddy this week!

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    2. Yes, and not being a farmer, even I can see that small town America and the local farmland is going away. I love to grab my camera and head out on the back roads, it is depressing to see all the amazing barns, the farmland, the older homes, even the none worked land, going away to building. All due to not being able to find help for that type of work and growth. Older folks passing away and the children not wanting to come back to that life because they have their own lives, and the selling off of all that their parents worked years to preserve. Apartments, houses and condos are popping up all over what used to be beautiful land, and what I can't understand is why when building, they can't leave some trees. I hate it, esp since the last ten yrs Nashville has been the IT City and the growth has made me, the person that has lived here since I was 6, wanting to move out and away from all this mess. As a farmer, I feel for you

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    3. Some small towns we visit seem to be thriving and growing while others seem to be dying a slow painful death. You are right, it is a shame to see some of those once beautiful homes deteriorating like that.

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  14. awwwww, "slim jim", great job on the farm!! i really enjoyed the farm progression diary pictures, they are impressive!! you were so kind and thoughtful to clean the camper for barb, i'm sure she appreciated that!! i'm sure you were both so happy to see one another. my husband and i are together 24/7, i would miss him terrible if i did not see him for a month. i'm not sure where you are going, i can't remember if you said but have a wonderful adventure!!

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    1. I am trying to think the longest we have been apart... Probably 4 weeks, a few times in our marriage. So good to be back together again!

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  15. Cool to see all the changes over the years, lots of progress and more to come! Glad you and Barb are together again and off on another grand summer adventure. The pups are so cute tucked under the table - looks like they're ready too!

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    1. That's Dakota's 'Happy Place' while in the camper. Well, under there or on the bed, but we don't let her up there very often.

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  16. Seeing what this farming family is accomplishing and all the equipment used etc., how can a smaller farming outfit even try to compete? The investment to run such an operation is quite something. Through your postings we have a much better appreciation of what's involved. Thanks.

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    1. Believe it or not, there are farms in the area 2-3x's the size of their farm. Most of them are smaller, but they seem to be doing good as well.

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  17. That is a long time to be apart from each other. I always got homesick when away from hubby - even if it was me who was still at home! Enjoy your tripping around now :)

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