In Which Some Corn Gets Cut. (GCW 27-29)

So we find ourselves back (18 days later) Over East to try the corn again. As you may recall, we had previously needed to wait for the corn to drop below 17% to take it to our preferred elevator (Providence.) This was suddenly no longer the case. A little history: The Providence elevator was started by the "Jarvison's" and others somewhere in the neighborhood of the year 2000. The Jarvison's have a fairly good sized operation in Gray and Haskell counties and were frustrated with the distance to and unloading speed of the elevators they had to choose from. They started as cheap as they could, with all steel bins and with tractor run augers to start with, and managed to expand pretty much every year. And their attitude was basically one of, if someone wants to get their crop out of the field, we will make sure they can. So they did crazy things like accept 24 moisture corn without the benefit of a permanent drier.

So last fall (2008) for whatever reason, the Jarvison's sold out their controlling interest to the Sublette Co-op. The Co-op promptly fired "J.," the only manager that Providence had ever had. So wheat harvest comes and goes and it's really not that different for us the farmer's, other than seeing "J." driving a wheat truck instead of running the elevator. Along comes corn harvest though, and they ruin everyone's mood by saying that there is no way that they are going to put any corn over 17 moisture in a bin with nothing but air to dry it. Question for lobiwan: How often have you waited for your irrigated corn to get below 17 moisture before starting to harvest it? A: NEVER.

So as you can imagine, I was not too happy about the prospects for fall harvest. Especially because I had never intended to let my corn dry in the field below 27%, let alone 17%.

Come the last day we were cutting Rod's corn, and there was a big ol' closed door meeting at Providence. I asked Gail whether they were deciding to take corn above 17%, as I had been pretty vocal (relative to myself, you understand) about my displeasure with the new policy. She was rather vague. So on my next, (and last) load I asked her pretty directly about what was going on and so she took me into her office and told me that as of tomorrow morning the elevator would no longer be part of the Sublette Co-op and that she would (voluntarily) no longer be working there. It was actually pretty sad, as Gail had been working there for something like 6 years.

So anyhoo Dad talked to Frosty (who is on the board) the next day and he said that "J." was back as manager and that they were accepting corn up to 24 moisture again. Keep in mind that all grain you bring to the elevator is "shrunk" to a standard moisture, so that the elevator is paying for grain, not water. There is usually a drying charge on corn as well. So it is not a great deal for me the farmer to bring them corn at 24% moisture, the point is simply that I am able to look at the date and at the weather and how the crop is standing and make a decision about when to harvest, and not to have to wait for any arbitrary moisture to begin harvest.

So we cut a load, and it was in the neighborhood of 18%, so we were in business.




We did have to stop to adjust the header, though.
The next morning I decided to look and see how the wheat on Thompson's was doing. At this early stage, it was quite easy to see where I had stopped for the night on that Saturday and resumed Monday morning, (even without the big red line.)
So I decided to see how emergence was progressing on the later planted stuff.
Sort of hit or miss emergence, which is normal. Keep in mind that the emerged plants had probably done so less than 24 hours ago.

So I looked closer for the stragglers.

And closer yet. Aha!

A perfectly healthy li'l wheat plant.

And then it was back to work.






So on the morning of 7 October, we geared up for another full day.
Dad and I had done pretty good for a 2 man crew the day before, but keep in mind that this hailed-on-corn was not going to break any yield records.





Chris and Silas came out to help, but they decided to bring rain with them.


And so the Great Corn Watch of 2009 was to continue.

And Chris and I had a nice wet trip to what is now known as "Hansen-Mueller at Providence Grain."

Graduation Weekend II Part IV: Sunday

We stayed at the Grand Prairie Hotel in Hutchinson. Betsy had stayed there before for a conference. Here are her instructions on how to find it: "Um, I think it was close to the mall, because I didn't have trouble getting to the mall and it is a Best Western I'm pretty sure and it has a name like "The Big Ol' Cowboy" or something." One out of three isn't too bad right? It is close to the mall.

Anyhoo, the reason why you want to stay at the Grand Prairie is that they have a water park inside, and it is fun. They have a kiddie pool with slides, a pool with basketball goals, a climb-over-the-water-via-a-rope-ladder-and-unstable-floatie-thingys-thing, a lazy river, and two big ol' water slides. We got up nice and early to go swimming, and had a great time.

Anna's favorite was the kiddie pool with the little slides. She also rode with us on the big slides, which she also liked, despite holding her hands over her eyes the whole time.

Here we are at the moon. Also conveniently located at the Grand Prairie Hotel.

After lunch we returned to the Cosmosphere so we could see the museum. We also watched possibly the worst imax film ever about the Grand Canyon. Luckily we didn't have to pay for Anna, as she was still a two year old.

Here, Betsy and Anna pose in front of the "Black Betsy" rocket engine, the engine that broke the sound barrier . I never realized what big aviation buffs Betsy's parents are. Honestly-who names their daughter after a Rocket engine?

Here Anna tries out the ejection seat of a B-29 bomber

Here is Anna towards the end of the museum. Notice the leash. Fun fun fun. If you haven't been to the Cosmosphere since you were 12, like myself, you should definitely go again. It is so much larger and has so much stuff in it now. It is very impressive.

On the trip home, with Anna and Betsy sleeping, I stopped at the Santa Fe Trail tracks between Dodge and Cimarron. I wanted to see how they compared to my own private Santa Fe Trail track (On hard ground they traveled four abreast, creating tracks, whereas on sandier ground they traveled single file, creating track.) I think mine is just as impressive even without the (very nice) handicap accessible path. I'm guessing it got struck by lightning?

Graduation Weekend II Part II: Friday

Chillin' at the Smith's (I hope they don't mind if I use their last name)

GiGi

Phinn (I think I asked him to smile and this is what he gave me.)

Anna makes herself at home.

Preparing some fixins with the man of the hour. (By the way: best party food ever.)

Explorin' with Momma M

Say goodbye to Bachelor Dan

"Blah Blah Blah we should spend more money on education"

"Blah Blah Blah as newly minted elites, you are now responsible for saving the uneducated horde from itself and its ignorance."

Say hello to Master Dan.

Betsy had a great time watching Anna and Phinn.

Master Dan and his Fam.

Then there was a party that my camera did not attend.

After party bath time fun.

Our plan to drive around Manhattan so a very wound up Anna would fall asleep backfired when she saw the playground.