Should be ready to go around the second week in July. I remember my Dad saying a line something like that almost every year.

Growing up in Kennebec, South Dakota that was a phrase that was probably spoken in many of my friends homes too. The winter wheat crop in the middle of the state of South Dakota is a big deal. For many farmers it can determine a year that might include a vacation splurge or tightening the belt till the row crops come in.

One of the things I remember about wheat harvest were the crews. Wheat Wackers was a common name we might have thrown around back in the 70's. Some of the crews reminded me of a carnival worker type. Wild, free spirited college age workers making their way from Texas to Canada for the harvest. Some of them knew their way around a Budweiser or Miller beer can on rain days. The rest of that story probably plays out pretty easy with a little imagination.

When I was growing up, Dad would get a visit from one of the custom combiners a few days before harvest was to start. My younger brothers, Carl and Nelson (who still farm today) and I would get to help with chores like mowing around the bins we were going to store wheat in down to my least favorite job in the world, cleaning out an old bin to make way for more storage.

Those are the days that can make me wish I still farmed and days that I know I've been better off what I'm doing working in radio. But still I miss it.

I miss the smell of a fresh cut field of wheat, the way two or three combines can wipe out a huge field in no time at all. I miss starting the auger with an old cotton rope and helping crew shovel out the last bushels of grain or grabbing a handful of fresh cut wheat and chewing on it.

Most of all, I miss the look on Dads face when he shut the door on the bin the last day of harvest. Those were days I saw the look of pride or look of concern on his face.  Sometimes it was celebration knowing the hard work had paid off. Other years, tougher years it was a look of concern that we might have to reign in spending a bit. Either way, valuable lessons were taught. If you've grown up on a farm, you know the look.

Winter Wheat Harvest in South Dakota. It's on right now. Come to think of it I miss it a bit. Quite a bit. Except for the dusty bins.

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