Harvest Delights

a short list of delights + a harvest update

Last month, I read “A Delight List” by

Shauna Niequist

. As soon as I finished reading it, I knew I wanted to make my own list but with a twist—harvest delights. I hoped the exercise would help me pause and look for the beauty around me in this busy/stressful/challenging/important season. While most people plan vacations and weekend trips in July and August, it’s one of our busiest times of year. I often take social media breaks in the summer because, admittedly, I get jealous seeing friends (and strangers) traveling, going to concerts, days at the lake, and all the “normal” summer things. I know we all experience FOMO or fall into the comparison trap on social media, but it ramps up for me this time of year.

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve collected photos and jotted down notes, looking for the small but delightful things during harvest.

Here’s my list of Harvest Delights:

Listening to Nora's commentary on farming—she never runs out of things to say. The first time I took her to the combine this summer, she said, “This is so cool, Dad!” Less than 20 seconds later, she added, “How long is harvest?” The shine had already worn off.

Watching the crew fill their plates in the field, knowing the meal fills more than their stomachs.

Wearing jeans on a cool, drizzly day after weeks of blistering heat.

My zinnias. This isn’t necessarily a harvest thing, but summer = harvest for me. I have the blackest thumb, which is ironic since my husband’s career is literally growing crops. But every summer, I’m proud of my garden boxes full of zinnias.

The regular zinnias I plant every summer on the left, and the new "unicorn mix" on the right.

The gift of a rural community.

My kids in the field.

Reese’s dipped animal crackers (eaten in a tractor or hiding in the pantry).

Watching Rich working with the big kids by his side.

Being in the field, working with my kids, and not just having them in tow. Rhett has taken on some big responsibilities in the field this year, which wasn’t something we planned on. We’re definitely into some new territory. And while we want to encourage his passion for farming, we also know he’s still a kid. I think we’ll be constantly trying to find the “balance” in the coming years. Last Sunday, some employees took the day off, so I filled in on the ‘C’ squad, driving grain cart for the day. Rhett drove one of the combines, and multiple times throughout the day, he dumped his full combine of lentils onto the cart while I sat in the cab, watching him work.

Reading in bed, the last hints of the sunlight gone, listening for the sound of a pickup parking in the driveway.

Nora’s drawings of me on the tractor window.

Rich’s grease-stained hands, which remind me of my dad’s.

The sound of grain running from the semi-trailer through the auger and into the bin. Admittedly, this is very loud, but it’s such a good feeling to see/hear the crop make its way from the field to the bins. And thinking about all the steps along the way—from seeding the winter wheat last fall to it lying somewhat dormant over the winter to growing again in the spring, ripening in the summer heat, and ending up in the bins.

Seeing the fruits of our labor.

Enough rain to force the crew out of the field.¹ We hope and pray for rain in June to finish the crops, but rain in July/August isn’t preferred.² But secretly, I’m always glad for a rain, because it forces everyone to take a break. We got a storm ten days in,³ and Rich grilled burgers at home for dinner. We ate on real plates around the kitchen table. Everyone went to bed on time (!!).

Cool summer evenings and the sky during golden hour. In this video, you can hear the grain going through the auger and into the bin.

Working with family and employees who become like family. Two of our employees moved from out of state to work for us a few years ago. Since then, they’ve each gotten engaged to Montana gals and are getting married this summer and fall. I’ve loved getting to know their fiancées, who feel like part of our family, too.

Knowing I’m part of something bigger than myself.

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I mostly refrain from asking Rich how much more we have to harvest because the answer changes by the day hour. Usually, if I ask him how much we have left, I know I need to add 2-3 days to his answer to avoid disappointment later.⁴ But according to him, we are just over halfway through. We’re not finished with the winter wheat (our biggest crop), plus barley, mustard, and chickpeas. 🌾

Now, it’s your turn; where do you find delight in stressful seasons?

1. My husband does not think this is a delight. He just wants to get the crops in and be done.

2. It stops harvest, but it also doesn’t help the crops at this point and can damage them. Or if we get a hail storm, that is bad.

3. Quote from the farmer while grilling, “Where was this rain in June?”

4. This is what I refer to as “Farmer Time Zones.” When they say they will be home in 15 minutes, it’s likely more than an hour. If harvest will be over in two days, it’s likely four. They don’t do it on purpose; it’s just the way it is. 💚

**The final four photos were taken by Western Ventures Photography.