The Grain Cart...

Yep 

I've been running a grain cart for Harvest this year...

I was born and raised a "town" kid. I have no experience with large machinery. In fact all the cars I first drove were small. The first time I drove an SUV I was terrified. 

Back to now, they say driving the grain cart is a cake walk. They lied, while it is not the hardest job I've had by any means. It's not as easy as it sounds. 

THey showed me how to drive the tractor, how to shift gears etc. then I was told to put the tractor wheels in the rutts or rows in the field and it will follow those. All you have to do is match your speed to the combine. 

For some reason I thought because tractors are so big and heavy I would have all kinds of control. That is not the case. Tractors are squirrelly. They do follow rutts somewhat but we had a lot of rain and when fields are wet the tractor goes where ever it wants and you feel like you have no control at all. 

When picking beans you have to drive slow and if the combine suddenly comes across a patch of weeds you must slow down even further which can cause the grain cart to get off on timing and grain to be spilled on the ground. 

On dry land corn there are large ditches and steep hills. If you've ever been in a tractor you know you cannot hit a bump at any speed or you and the contents of the tractor will go flying. So once again you have to be in sink when it comes to nearly stopping at these ditches and some hills are so steep and  angled it feels like the tractor will just tip over. 

Then comes the semi, you have to position just right to get the grain in the middle of the trailer or you risk dumping grain on the ground. You also have to be very mindful of how full the trailer is getting or you will overfill it and or once again get grain on the ground. Everything has an order to being turned on and or off. You don't want to put your auger back in with grain in it either or it will spill on the ground. 

When it gets dark it's a whole other story. It's hard to see. I don't have a light on my auger so I am essentially dumping blind. So far I've managed. You learn tricks. When you can see the grain bouncing up off what's in the trailer you are getting full. 

It's long days sitting most of the day bouncing around on rough fields with my neck cocked back to one side or the other. It hurts. There is some downtime in between where you sit and wait. I am not good at sitting and waiting. 

I wish I could say this experience has empowered me and given me a new take on life. However, every time I get my grain cart full and I think I am finally on smooth ground and getting ahead, I hit a ditch and everything goes flying. 

I was talking with a friend the other day about trying to teach our kids that there are a select few people in your life that are the best truest friends you can have and you need to nurture those relationships, care for them as you would your most prized possession. The talked turned to life in general and the comment was made.  "Do I stay where I am somewhat unhappy and struggling to survive, or do I move somewhere I find more beautiful where I might be happy and struggle there?"  

That right there says it all...