Wheat harvest is always intense, and 2020's harvest doesn't disappoint. It's all here: Semis, storms, supper, slo-mo, silliness, and scenery This is LaRosh Harvest 2020 Kansas has a certain beauty you won't find anywhere else and that's especially evident during the summer Here, summer means hot temperatures, green hills, and in late June, wheat harvest It's time for the combines to start rolling in Osborne County Kenton has been farming here since he was a kid. Now he farms with his dad, and together they make up LaRosh Farms Kenton and his wife Sarah are raising the next generation of farmers. Tonight, the kids are doing a little dirt work at the field Kenton is running new equipment for this year's harvest The Case IH 8240 combine It's a little bit newer with more horsepower than the 8230 Here's the guy who sold it to him making sure he's happy with his purchase Both combines have new headers this year, which help improve efficiency. Good thing, because there's a lot of grain to harvest Wheat acres are down a bit this year, but the LaRosh farm usually cuts close to 2,000 acres It's getting later but the wheat is still rolling in Kenton calls into the elevator to see if they'll be open to take this load. Looks like it's a go. Doug rolls up the tarp and heads out for the 18-mile trip to Natoma Nighttime in the harvest field provides some great views, but it's important to be visible and stay safe You can play chicken with a combine, but it usually doesn't end up too well. Sometimes the combines play chicken with each other when they're on the same row or finishing up a field We'll see who flinches first, Kelli or Jhan Oh, well, it looks like the coyote lost this one! Thanks to drones we have a perspective of wheat harvest you can't get any other way The aerial view really does show off the vastness of this land and the beauty of the Kansas plains It also gives a better picture of the scale and size of wheat harvest Something new to help with harvest this year is Autosteer on the 8240 combine It doesn't work that great on fields that have big terraces or odd shapes, but it works really well on this one Kelli is just learning the system, but she seems to be enjoying it Auto steer frees her up from having to use the steering wheel at all, except for turning the combine around "I can unload you on this one." Now she can make an entire field of nice straight lines effortlessly. Looks great Kelli It doesn't happen every night, but supper in the field is a real treat and provides a nice break for everyone Tonight's menu includes brisket sandwiches and watermelon Kelli is still out in the field, but Jhan looks like he's going to enjoy tonight's meal Now watch what i'm doing here.. Focus, focus Doug. Hope the wind doesn't whip it off. Sarah made the food tonight and it's a hit Finally Kelli decides it's probably good enough to stop the combine for. Good choice! The LaRosh family has quite a legacy of farming and faith Jhan's ancestors homesteaded in this area in 1871 He purchased his first farm ground at the age of 18. Then married his high school, sweetheart Marsha Now Jhan is farming and ranching with his son Kenton His daughter Kelli comes back for the harvest almost every year There's work to be done every day on the farm, but there's something special when it's time for wheat harvest Harvest can be challenging and exciting and rewarding at the same time Kenton heads out to the elevator with another load of wheat When he comes back he brings a load of dust with him. Thanks. Kenton Chances of rain are good tonight As the western sky gets darker the combines head over to the next patch, nicknamed Yellowstone because part of the field is rocky and white The radar from the approaching storm is looking pretty intense As the combines race to finish up, an impressive shelf cloud appears on the horizon The harvest crew is efficient as usual and they finish up the field just in time Now it's time to unload, move back to the main field, and get parked before the storm comes Just as everyone shuts down the gust front hits Kelli didn't even have a chance to clear out this branch from her header Looks like she did a little tree trimming on the way over The wind is intense as everyone scrambles for the vehicles to head home Now would be a good time to hang on to your hat Oops, too late! Getting home in the rain is a bit of a challenge but everybody makes it okay. It's a beautiful morning, but with 70 hundredths in the gauge there won't be any wheat cut today Some members of the harvest crew take this opportunity to stay active with a little running and biking It's a good way to start the day and enjoy the outdoors in the morning It's also a good way to run off those Little Debbie snacks from the harvest lunches The next day is damp once again, and the fields are still a bit wet Sometimes there's only one way to know for sure. It's time to give it a try Tracks in the field are pretty muddy. But only the grain will tell for sure Jan cuts along the edge of the field and then takes a moisture sample. It's a bit under 13, so they're good to go The raw power and threshing capacity of modern combines really is astonishing Compared to Jhan's first combine 40 years ago, oday's machines are so much more powerful Another new addition to this year's harvest is the John Deere 9510R tractor to pull the grain cart It's an important part of keeping the combines going Things don't always work perfectly when you have machinery in close proximity like this When the combine and grain card are in tune it's a thing of beauty. It's almost like an elegant dance with massive machines Getting all the family together and having kids around is one of the highlights of the harvest Here they are enjoying one of the playgrounds you can find on the farm: Hay bales Now it's the 4th of July, and it's hard to imagine something more American than working hard, spending time with family, and bringing in the wheat crop on the Great Plains And yes, it is hot out there Since there are so many different fields to harvest. It's necessary to move all the equipment between them A typical harvest day involves moving multiple times Kelli is once again making nice straight lines with the help of Autosteer Let's see how she's using her time since she doesn't have to touch the wheel Good to see that you're getting some important business done Kelli This is a rare field that's actually regularly shaped. It's 80 acres total, made up of two quarter quarter sections And it's in a very scenic location Not everyone is having a great time this evening The other combine shaved off the top of a terrace and bit off more than it could chew After several attempts to clear it out, it's still plugged up. So Jim Dibble comes in to help clean it the old-fashioned way Kelli helps finish off the field in front of a stunning sunset Meanwhile Kenton is having a little too much fun in his Ranger The harvest crew is at a good stopping point and things aren't too dry thanks to the recent rain It's time to celebrate our nation's independence with some fireworks Finally the last evening of wheat harvest has arrived Marsha is in charge of tonight's supper, which comes complete with strawberry shortcake The LaRoshes really know how to do harvest meals right Marsha and Sarah go for a nice bike ride through some really pretty country It's over 12 miles home from here They're pretty quick though. It won't take them long The last evening of harvest once again has a magnificent sunset As night falls the wheat patch gets smaller and smaller Aren't we about done here? Gettin' close Think you about got'er Is that the little piece I have left? Full bin just went off so good timing Finally the combines get to unload for the last time It's a good opportunity to reminisce about the past 10 days or so of wheat harvest There's no other part of farming quite like it And even though it was exhausting and stressful at times. We'll look forward to coming back to the field next June
