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| All smiles in the tractor pulling the grain cart |
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| Red combines look better against golden wheat, don't ya think? |
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| Dan and Jasper enjoying the air conditioning while pulling the grain cart |
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| Dan and Uncle John tarping the grain |
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Baby Hiesterman's First Wheat Harvest
Wheat harvest is always an exciting time on the farm. This wheat harvest is extra special since it isn't just me and Dan (and Jasper, our blue heeler/mini australian shepherd mix) riding in the tractor pulling the grain cart. I am almost 15 weeks pregnant and Baby Hiesterman will make his/her appearance early this winter! Dan and I couldn't be happier. We feel very blessed and are thankful for all of the prayers along the journey.
It must be hard having a crop adjuster wife. Wheat harvest is 3 weeks early this year due to the hot dry weather this spring. Central Kansas has also been hit hard with hail, so I have been working long hours and running all over appraising hail damage. There is literally no food in our house right now. My goal is to someday be the wife who plans ahead and delivers hot sandwiches, homemade cinnamon rolls, and fresh chocolate chip cookies to the field. But for now I am relying on ham sandwiches, chips, and Our Daily Bread Bake Shoppe to keep us going. I do feel bad for Dan at times, but he is good at fending for himself. When the wheat is dry and ready, farmers work non-stop, so Dan has also had a crazy schedule. Wheat can't stand in a field like corn and beans after it matures. The slightest hail and wind storm can take a wonderful crop to zero in just a few minutes. Therefore, life revolves around wheat harvest until the last load of grain has been delivered to the elevator. Things will soon be back to normal, but most Kansas farmers wouldn't trade wheat harvest for the lazy days of summer. It has quickly become one of my favorite times of year!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
My very first blog entry...
Welcome to my blog! I am new at blogging so it may take me a while to figure this all out! I am an Illinois native, growing up on a corn, soybean, and cattle farm in west central Illinois. I moved to Kansas almost 4 years ago when I married a Kansas farmboy. We farm with my husband's family and live on a corn, soybean, milo, wheat, alfalfa, and beef cattle ranch in north central Kansas. Summers can get hectic when the hay is ready, wheat harvest is in full swing, and I am running all over Kansas working claims! With that being said, I really enjoy working for Diversified Crop Insurance Services (DCIS). Our motto is to be "World Class In All Respects" and I strive to be that way in my personal and professional life.
I decided to start blogging for several reasons:
1. I feel myself lacking behind in technology even though I am only 28 years old! I have a twitter account but don't really get why I have one. I also don't know how to work my 65 year old dad's touch screen smart phone ( I am getting an Iphone this week which should alleviate this concern). I also recently had a conversation with my husband's aunt about technology in schools. All students at her school will be learning on Ipads next year...no books, papers, pencils, only Ipads! And this school is a rural school in western Kansas. If a 3rd grader can work a touchscreen Ipad, I can at least figure out how to write a blog.
2. I want to tell our story of life on the farm. Dan works for his dad (Ernie) and uncles (John and Phil) in exchange for the use of their machinery. This exchange of labor for equipment is typically how farmers get started and is exactly how my Dad began farming in Illinois with my Grandpa over 40 years ago! Land, machinery, and input costs are astronomical these days. It is very difficult to "start" farming if your family has no land base or equipment. Therefore, I will always be grateful to Dan's family for giving us the opportunity to start farming with them. Our farm continues to expand as we recently purchased some acreage and are happy to have something to call "our own."
3. My sister (Maria) talks to me about social media everyday. She has encouraged me to take a closer look at social media. I am convinced that the internet is the best tool to tell our story and shed a positive light on agriculture. Thanks Maria! Hopefully you will be one of my first faithful followers.
I decided to start blogging for several reasons:
1. I feel myself lacking behind in technology even though I am only 28 years old! I have a twitter account but don't really get why I have one. I also don't know how to work my 65 year old dad's touch screen smart phone ( I am getting an Iphone this week which should alleviate this concern). I also recently had a conversation with my husband's aunt about technology in schools. All students at her school will be learning on Ipads next year...no books, papers, pencils, only Ipads! And this school is a rural school in western Kansas. If a 3rd grader can work a touchscreen Ipad, I can at least figure out how to write a blog.
2. I want to tell our story of life on the farm. Dan works for his dad (Ernie) and uncles (John and Phil) in exchange for the use of their machinery. This exchange of labor for equipment is typically how farmers get started and is exactly how my Dad began farming in Illinois with my Grandpa over 40 years ago! Land, machinery, and input costs are astronomical these days. It is very difficult to "start" farming if your family has no land base or equipment. Therefore, I will always be grateful to Dan's family for giving us the opportunity to start farming with them. Our farm continues to expand as we recently purchased some acreage and are happy to have something to call "our own."
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| August 22, 2009 My favorite pictures from our wedding day. It was taken on the farm south of Barnes. |
3. My sister (Maria) talks to me about social media everyday. She has encouraged me to take a closer look at social media. I am convinced that the internet is the best tool to tell our story and shed a positive light on agriculture. Thanks Maria! Hopefully you will be one of my first faithful followers.
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