The Human Element

The election season was the most contentious election season in the history of the United States. Speeches and editorials suggested that there would be major consequences, depending upon the results. Tensions were running high. States were complaining about the federal government extending too much power. This was the opening paragraph of the book I'm reading. Sound a little familiar? Actually the year was 1860. And the controversial  presidential candidate was Abraham Lincoln.

This weekend is often considered the last of the summer. In the late nineteenth century Labor Day was established as a federal holiday to remember the contributions workers have made to our countries strength and productivity. That's remembering the human element of what made the United States great.

We have started corn harvest. The moisture on early April planted 5647 Becks and 5909 Becks are running from 21 to 24% moisture. We've seen very little disease in our corn this year including tar spot. Fuingicide is sprayed on around 30% of our acres.  Here where we live it's been 4 weeks since it's rained. The yield has been remarkable. That would be the divine element considering our dry summer.

I enjoy the human element of harvesting. It takes communication. It takes teamwork to be productive and efficient. We had all our two way business radios in our equipment checked and tuned up this past week. We also get to enjoy guests. Friday our families bankers came out with coffee-time. Thanks Mark and Brian.

The Iowa Corn Growers called and asked if we had started harvesting. A team of journalist from Holland was in our country and needed a few harvest pictures for a documentary. We welcomed them to our team. They stayed in our cabin overnight. Below they are filming our Saturday's grain cart crew, Ezra, a 10th grader, and his brother Zach, a 7th grader.

We are drying corn. However much of the 150 acres harvested is going straight to the processor in Eddyville.

We do a fair amount of maintenance preparation ahead of harvest season. However their are still hic-ups. Yesterday while visiting in the combine I missed a corn-head row plugged and ruined a slip clutch. Thankfully BJ and Jacob found parts and were able to replace the clutch and combine again in just a couple of hours. Thanks BJ. Below the 95 degree weather warmed up a working gear box. Three generations, Dean, Matt, and Jacob conquered that repair.

We all stopped and attended the home football game at Pella Christian High School, watching son Mike coach, and grandson John play. PCHS had a double overtime win. Notice the full moon in the background called a Blue Moon this month.

Yesterday evening our community got together for a free concert on the Oskaloosa square. The performing artist were Colton Dixon and Mac Powell. It was great to see the town square packed with folks. What a blessing to get together. That's the human element of community.

A perk of being a title sponsor of the concert is a meet and greet with the performers. John is visiting with Colton.

Our new Holland friends, Tony, Doke, and Kadir joined us at the concert. Tony, who actually lives in New York, gets the credit for my title this morning. He told me Saturday that as they finished up their filming on the documentary they have been working on for three years, the human element of family and community brought things all together in a film designed to show where our food comes from and how our world gets fed. Thank you friends. And thanks for taking the picture during the concert Doug.

Mac Powell. Wow. What a great guy and awesome voice. He was the lead singer for the group, The Third Day, for 25 years until 2018. He is 50 years old and has 5 kids. His daughter and son-in-law are in his band. I would like to wrap up with the chorus of a song Mac finished up with, Goodness of God. "All my life You have been faithful. And all my life You have been so so good. With every breath that I am able. I will sing of the goodness of God". So, what's the definition of the human element? It's relationships. It's why we were created. A relationship with God. And a relationship with each other. Blessings on this holiday weekend.