The Last Harvest

 In Memory Of William J Heynen.

This was written 2 years ago. Last night my Dad  breathed his last breath here on this earth……. I hadn’t published this in my blog and today it just seemed fitting to do so.  I love you Dad and thank you for teaching us all these life lessons.

The Last Harvest……………………………

I have walked beside my Dad for almost 50years………I followed him when ever he would let me. I begged to go along…to do chores… to check  sows and count new little baby pigs just born in the straw…..to feed hay to the cattle with a pitchfork piece by piece……..to go to the sale barn, lean on the fence and listen to all the men talk about prices and good western calves…to go help  the neighbors or stop along the road by a field just to check on them…..to go for a ride in the pick-up and  and hold my arm out the opened window as I made patterns  against the wind. We would check the corn or see if the alfalfa was ready to cut or bale or if the oats was ripe enough to combine. I would ask questions …. And then I would listen.

I followed him in the tool shed… I handed him tools  or brought something back to the bench…….I would bring him the grease gun and he would let me pump the handle….. he would let me drive the  tractor thru the gate teaching me just how fast to shove the clutch  ahead…… or let me ride in the back of the feeder wagon as the feed would inch towards the front ……He would put me  in the loader bucket  and lift me high in the air. I would ask questions and then I would listen.

…….. Dad and Grandpa  would sometimes just  talk about life……. They would talk about church and politics .  They  would talk about markets and how to do things or what to do next. I would kick on the dirt just like they did and then I would listen.

I would  help load hogs…eventually he would let me mark some or at least point to the ones I thought would make the weight. …. I would stand and  wave my arms  saying “whoa calves…whoa calves” as I was given a spot to stop some big steers from getting out. I would ride along with truckers in the straight truck and get to pick up the check.  Sometimes he would take me to the Canton sale barn…..he would bid on calves…. I would watch and try  to figure out who was bidding… I would ask questions and then I  would listen.

Over the years we have worked side by side……….

I chased pigs……….always keep your legs together…be smarter than the pig

I sorted cattle………….just don’t be scared of them they won’t run you over…??

I drove the tractor thru the gate…….always go slow

I drove the baler………don’t hit a hole and don’t plug it

I scooped manure………….don’t throw it into the wind

I threw bales……use your legs

I unloaded ear corn……don’t open the back gate to soon

I unloaded corn……don’t run the auger to fast

I hauled corn to town……..always make sure you can stop

I helped fix machinery……don’t get your fingers between two pieces of metal

I drove beside the silage cutter as I tried to figure out just where to be next. ……………..don’t stop suddenly

I drove beside the combine……..just don’t get to close and give me plenty of room.

 I ran the stock chopper ………..don’t turn to sharp

I backed up the  hog trailer……….just watch your mirrors…take your time

 I tried for years to back up a wagon…..I still can’t . Wait…..never say that you can’t do something.

I learned all the hand motions that go with farming….go ahead…back up….run the PTO faster……stop………go around the piece on the west side and end up between those rows over there and then I will dump….that one  I still don’t always get!

I learned about  God by watching a pig being born or digging in the newly planted cornfield and seeing  the tiny seed we planted turn in to a small sprout.  I learned about morals and values by how my dad did business and how he treated others. I learned about compassion as we would help a neighbor or a friend.

I learned about trust and and faith when he would plant the seeds in the ground. ….I have seen him look to the sky when we prayed for rain…. I have seen him dance  in the rain when God answered that prayer….. I asked questions about God….. and then I would listen.

I learned how to work…. I learned how to farm…. I learned how to value life…. I learned how to raise my family.. ….I learned to care for others…….. I learned how  to think of others and not be selfish………..I learned to trust God…….I learned to ask questions………..Most importantly I learned to listen.

I learned about loving your Dad as I watched my Dad work every day with his Dad…….. I watched their roles change and then reverse…….I saw how love isn’t always spoken out loud but how deep a love for a father is……. I saw Grandpa get weak and my dad get stronger……….. I saw my grandpa be proud of  my Dad as he took over the farm………I watched my Dad help  grandpa in to the tractor as he grew older……..I watched my dad respect grandpa ……… I watched my Dad put grandpa in a  nursing home……….I watched my Dad  bury him…………..I watched my Dad love him and then carry on the love for the land and the farm.

Dad  always led and I have always followed…………… things start to change as we all get older……..When I was little my Dad carried me,  as I got older I walked behind him…. I followed just trying to keep up……….. I watched….listened and learned.  As the years added up I have found myself walking beside my Dad…. I still watch and I still listen. I still ask why and I still learn.

It is harvest again on the farm………..Dad has aged suddenly. I feel like my role has changed some.  I feel like dad is now handing me the tools…..after all these years he is saying “take over….. I know you can do it. You have listened well”

He came down from the combine today……he checked things over. “I think this is my last harvest” he said……”you just run it a while.” I hopped up the steps of the combine……started things up. Dad gave me the wave of the hand that means “get going”…..next was the motion of  ……….“go around the corner…….followed up with “dump when you get to the back”. And then he walked away. It took me about a half a round to realize what he had just said……”I think this is my last harvest”…………NO …wait I am not sure I know how to do this… I am not ready……….I wept.

Later tonight as the guys were finishing up outside I had gotten Christian, Olivia and Danika ready for bed……..we got in the pick up and went for a little “adventure”. It was dark…..the moon was huge and the stars were all out…..we talked about God as we parked out in the field waiting for the combine to come over the hill. We opened the window to hear the sounds of the night and of harvest. “Grandma” Christian asked “ are YOU a farmer?” I got tears in my eyes………….” Yes I am” I replied. “Who teached you to be a farmer Grandma?” said Olivia

“It was my Dad”