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THE COOLER NIGHTS AND BLUSHING LEAVES HAVE PERHAPS CAUSED YOU TO REFLECT —those of you in chillier climes, anyway—on the conclusion of another growing season. Your harvests and fall roundups are likely in full swing, if not already finished. In this issue, we invite you to spend an afternoon with growers harvesting cranberries in Wisconsin (beginning on page 26), coffee in Hawaii (on page 23) and cane for syrup in Mississippi (on page 19). When the work is done and you pause to ponder the year’s challenges and successes, don’t forget to take a little time out for fun. On page 38 you’ll meet Don Watts, who spends the summer not watching corn get taller, but mowing it down. By the time harvest season arrives, he’s created nearly 90 corn…
Shannon Vermeulen of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, decked her kids out in costume versions of four of her dad’s tractors for Halloween. Wayne Delikat of Muskego, Wisconsin, gets regular help in the fields from this tiny crew, so they’re no strangers to riding tractors. From left, Mason went trick-or-treating in a 1940 Allis Chalmers C, Bryson in a John Deere 6115D, Hannah in a John Deere 4455 and Jake in a John Deere 4000 diesel. The trim on Hannah’s Deere looks a little like a pink version reader Jenny Petersen restored to honor those affected by breast cancer. Turn to page 52 for her story.…
HIDDEN HORSESHOE You did a great job of hiding the horseshoe this time. I have looked at every square inch of every page at least six times and still can’t find it. I’ve received your fun magazine for several years and I do really enjoy it. My husband grew up on a farm in Illinois and I lived my first 15 years on a farm in Minnesota, so we both have fun reading it. CAROLYN PETTEGREW PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE The August/September issue of Farm & Ranch Living was particularly interesting. I found both the soybean and aquaculture articles to be well-selected and a challenge. I have lived in suburban Raleigh, North Carolina, for nearly 30 years, but my farming background goes back to my early…
Have a Gourd Time! The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta invites costumed paddlers to steer 1,000-pound pumpkins across a lake in Tualatin, Oregon. This year’s race, with vessels supplied by Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers, happens on Oct. 20. (Big Pumpkin Fact: The world’s largest pumpkin, grown in Belgium and never, as far as we know, used as a boat, weighed 2,624 pounds!) tualatinoregon.gov/pumpkinregatta Raise the Flag In 1867 the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. The 49th state (which didn’t officially join the union until 1959) marks the occasion each October with the Alaska Day Festival in Sitka, site of the original transfer ceremony. Festivities pepper the month; the main event is on Oct. 18. alaskadayfestival.org Worth Clucking About Robin Anderson from Bennington, Nebraska, shared this photo of…
FULFILLING OUR BUCKET LIST My husband, Justin, and I have finished building our dream farmhouse; Justin finally got his Kubota tractor and we are busy growing a hobby farm. We're raising our children, Savannah, Justus and Jude, to learn the value of working hard and treasuring the fruits of our labor. 1 BROTHERS IN FARMS Merritt and McCoy, pictured here at ages 4 and 2, sit in their pony's pen. Random pumpkins happened to grow in the pen that year—our pony, Jake, never bothered them and they grew so big. I couldn't resist snapping some photos of my boys with Jake and these giant pumpkins! HAYLEY MOSS HULL, IOWA 2 AFTER-SCHOOL SNAPS Our sweet Buff Orpington, Honey, constantly receives attention due to her loving and calm personality. Here, our 9-year-old…
TATTOO BREED: Papillon AGE: 15 years HOME: Henry, IL JOBS: Farm boss, rabbit investigator STRENGTH: Keeping Max in line MAX BREED: German shepherd AGE: 7 years HOME: Henry, IL JOBS: Crop scout, irrigation expert STRENGTH: Retrieving giant sticks Our papillon, Tattoo, turned 15 in August. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure three years ago, but he is still going strong and loves the farm dog life. When I had more time to ride horses, he loved to ride with me. Last year I traded a horse for an old Gator; I drive Tattoo around the farm so he can keep an eye on me and be the farm supervisor. Depending on the weather, I park Tattoo in the shade or sun and we herd horses, which he really enjoys.…
