Are you a friend of agriculture?
I recently participated in the Farm Bureau Activator program. We were... stop. I need to change gears to a topic that is more relevant time wise. Is it hot enough for you?
Meteorologists claim that the 3rd week of July is usually the hottest of the summer. I do not doubt that. Our county farm bureau would usually host their Family Fun Night in the middle of July; I nicknamed that Thursday night to be, “The hottest night of the summer.” Unfortunately, that whimsical nickname was true too often.
The recent heat also came with a needed dry spell so hay baling could resume, and wheat harvest could be completed. Baling on my farm has been a treat with the heat and humidity. Many wonder how we can work all day baling and stacking hay and straw bales in these conditions. I believe that keeping my weight down and abstaining from alcohol lessens the effect of the heat. My saving grace comes from a product that I help to produce.
Every truck has bottles of Gold Bond or Anti-Monkey Butt. The primary ingredient is corn starch, produced from corn. it is a life saver in the heat when working 12-hours days with nonstop sweating. The work is hard enough, but no body wants heat rash in their unmentionable areas. Ooops, I mentioned the unmentionables.
My new tractor has found its niche pulling the baler for straw harvest. It is the first time in 44 years and about 1.4 million bales that a cab tractor has pulled the baler. My wife, Cora, even came to drive it one morning when the crew was spread thin. She did complain that she got cold and had to turn the A/C up. I have yet to get to drive it, I ply my trade stacking bales on the rack. To preserve myself and the rest of the crew the last couple of days we have stopped midday to attend the Coldwater Farm auction and today we baled hay at a farm with a pond and a water slide. We donned our swimsuits and took a dip. The relief from the heat lasted about an hour; it was time to reapply the gold bond.
Now back to Cora and her tractor driving. She has a lead foot. She couldn’t believe that it took her almost 2 hours to drive 3 rounds in the field while we stacked 950 bales of straw. She never got to go over 1.4 mph. Despite the air conditioning and radio as amenities she was more than eager to go back to her job at the pharmacy. Next time she joins the crew I think I will have her walk a mile in my shoes, I will drive and let her stack on the rack.
If that day ever comes, and I survive it, I will give you the details.
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