StillwatersIowa

As in any business, we have values that we use as guidelines as we work on the farm that help keep us on the right track and help us enjoy working together. On our team we have many different talents that make things happen and get things accomplished. Finally we have a vision that we use as a goal so we know where we are headed and what needs done by the end of our fall season. Since many of our team can handle any aspect of harvest including managing and planning, Jan and I were able to take the last half of the week off and attend a Family Leader Board Retreat which took place in Colorado. A special thanks to our kids, our grandkids, our full time and part time help who stepped up and gave extra effort. They all worked together and harvested and delivered a lot of corn. They also spread fertilizer and chiseled. With early morning starts our goal is to be finished on time, however most nights find many working. On Wednesday Jan and I dro...

I remember helping my Dad. I remember my kids helping me. Now I watch my grandkids help their Dad's. In all three cases it wasn't about how much was being accomplished. It wasn't about getting from here to there. It was all about enjoying the ride. So often as adults we think in terms of destinations and accomplishments and we forget to enjoy the process.  Many times jobs can be hard, even dangerous. However when you think about it how often can you say you've had a big fury animal with horns lower his head and snort at you. We are in full harvest mode. Crop moisture is running around 20%. Yields are very good. We have a crew of four folks in the field. Our goal is to harvest between 120 to 150 acres a day. Thanks to our bookkeeper Linda and Kevin's families trucks and our landlord Jerry's trucks helping we have nine trucks going to Eddyville full time and a few others part time. Cargill/Eddyville has had some struggles with it's milling...

Unexpected events in our lives often cause us to remember and reflect. In many cases a struggle causes us to work together and makes us stronger. This loaded graincart fell in a hidden hole this past week. We were able to auger off the first 600 bushel. The last 400 bushel had to be removed by hand. We also remember planned events that are milestones. These would include weddings, births, graduations, jobs, and retirement. Kurt and Emily's landlords had their farm sale this past week after farming for over 50 years. Reflecting on events, unexpected or planned alike, either cause us to reach out for help or make us thankful. On Labor Day we helped Karl sort hogs. He is starting to sell again. This time of year makes me think back and remember previous crops. It seems our memories tend to drift back to the tough years. There were the droughts of 1977, 1980, and 1983. There was also the floods of 1993. There were the character building years during the mid 198...

Fifty years ago I considered Labor Day a big deal. It was the day Grandpa and Grandma, Uncles and Aunts, and all my cousins got together for our annual family reunion. It was food, conversation, and that traditional softball game where the kids were included and got to play with the adults. How time flies. I'm now the Grandpa. Remember Mondays? Well Jan is down to taking care of these three little guys. All the rest of their siblings and cousins are in school on Mondays as another summer vacation comes to a close. Are all your summer projects completed? Well this project isn't finished however folks can at least get to our front door now without falling on wet plywood sidewalks. This is probably the only sidewalk I'm aware of with footings 8 foot deep. This side of our home has lots of fill material and we didn't want the front walk to settle. Thanks Ron and crew for your help. Yesterday Malaki hung out with Grandpa and Grandma. Since most the kids and help...