Oct 04 2008
When in farm country . . .
I’ve mentioned before that we’re back-roads people. A good part of our getting anywhere involves paved county roads. Usually they create a shorter, more scenic, less-traveled path than the state and U.S. highways in our area. And so it was today when I took the kids on a little outing, that I was reminded why I usually avoid the county roads during spring planting and fall harvest here in our agricultural area.
The third time it happened, my son said, “I guess no one wants us to get to town today.”
I’m not complaining, not one bit. It’s part of what comes with having a cornfield in my front yard and a barn out my kitchen window. Oh, yeah, and a husband who farms.
So when I encounter combines and tractors and sprayers on the road at this time of year, I pull into a field approach and wait for them to pass, and give a friendly wave and a smile that says, “I’m not annoyed that you took up the whole road and I lost three minutes out of my day.” They have work to do, feeding this country we live in. And besides, they’re bigger then I am.
If you’re traveling in rural areas during the busy ag seasons, my advice is to stick with the main roads if you’re in a hurry. But if you want to give your kids the chance to see a combine or tractor up close, and watch a field of soybeans or corn being harvested, try the back roads. Just be ready to pull into a driveway or field approach quickly if sharing the road isn’t an option.
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I had a scary expereince once with an auger I think it was (A long peice of metal that looked like a sort of a seesaw on wheels). I was on a main highway and was passing the tracto hauling the auger on the left side, he was half in the right lane, half on the shoulder. The highway speed limit was 100 kilometers/hour when I saw him I slowed down to about 65 to pass. Well thank God I did. The whole contraption bounced off its hitch and swung into my lane while the tractor kept moving forwards, not noticing (apparently) what had just happened. I squeeked underneight it, as my car was small enough and the angle the auger was right that all I got was a dent in my roof. I was 5 months pregnant at the time and was so shocked I kept driving for about a mile and pulled over. I thought the farm vehicle would have caught up to me, but he turned into a field. I had a bit of a cry (hormones) called my husband then kept driving. Terrified me. I may have given farm vehicales room before (I have friends who farm) but now I am absolutely compulsive about it.
I can’t say that it is excatly the same but living in Plant City we have Strawberry Fields all over the place and I am constantly “losing three minutes out of my day” but like you I do not complain because come February and March we very much enjoy the rewards!!!
We do reap the rewards, don’t we? Very true, Jeannette.
What a scary experience, duck_jb! I’m glad you weren’t hurt.
Another thing to remember for everyone is that the people in the equipment sometimes can’t see you. Even with mirrors, there are a lot of blind spots. Most farmers, if they see a car behind them waiting to pass, will pull over in a safe spot and allow you to go by. Patience goes a long way in farm safety.
I’ve been stuck behind slow-moving tractors many. many times. It’s never been dangerous (like duck_jb) but I really need to remember to be patient!
How funny! I was thinking about blogging something along the same lines - we got stuck behind a tractor pulling a disc today on the way home from church. I tend to be patient but the vehicle behind us wasn’t. Our roads home are really curvy so if we get behind one sometimes its for miles until we can pass!
I used to live in a farm town and my dad was a farmer… I know how things like this happen. It can be annoying but you remember they are just doing what they need to do and you calm down and realize a few minutes lost wont ruin your day!
(Book Mama’s mama, here) I had to smile when I read your blog about the farm equipment “hogging” the road (especially since you have a husband who fams). For many years, my husband worked for the Grand Trunk/Canadian National Railways - and it NEVER bothered me to get stopped by a train. I’d just smile and say to myself, “Keep ‘em moving, boys - you’re money in my pocket!!”
Congrats on being TMOTW! Where you live looks beautiful! I wish we had farms and land like that around here! When I visit places like this I get so sad, because everything here is all crammed in together! How wonderful that your children get to experience this!
My family is from KY and we visit there every summer for 3 weeks. the first week I curse and mutter under my breath at the tractor(s) poking along in front of me. By the time I leave I am poking along in front of them.
Your photos are fantastic.
Hi, what a great post! We just moved to southern Wisconsin, from AZ. Oh boy, what a ride its been, while I/we have figured all this out. This reminds me of driving down the road with the girls, with the top off the jeep, and seeing …I swear…a real live TRANSORMER!! Right before my eyes..I just pulled over, stopped, jaw dropped…
I later found out it was spraying the corn.
And I really thought I had seen everything!!
Love the country…God bless…
VJ~
LOL-that could cause some serious road rage.
Geez, I have to remind myself that honking doesn’t make the tractors go faster some times. LOL
Cool post.
I used to live in Indiana and miss that about traveling into the rural areas. Here in Charleston, S.C., a tractor is a pretty rare appearance!
I don’t think I have the patience for this
I bet it is different if it is the family business.