Harvest Rush

We are now fully into the crazy time of the year for those of us in agriculture. Fall harvest is in high gear, it is time to bring the cows home, wean calves and plant wheat. There is so much to do and so little time to do it in that we often meet ourselves coming and going. It is a time of long hours, very little rest and most of us wouldn’t have it any other way.

This is also a time of the year when accidents happen on the farm and the ranch. We are so focused on the work that needs to be done that we cut corners, go too fast and have momentary lapses in judgement. Believe me it only takes a second. I am sure every year each of us has one of those moments when we pause and think, “that could have turned out badly”. I am here to tell you that is all it takes is one little moment, one little lapse and you could be another statistic.

Those of us here in Pottawatomie County got a painful reminder of that just a couple of weeks ago when we lost a friend, neighbor, devoted father and one of the best guys you will ever meet. I didn’t know Loren well enough but I knew him well enough to know that I enjoyed talking to him, respected him greatly and admired his dedication. He was one of those people that brightened my day each time our paths crossed.

We lived in sort of the same neighborhood although we never really crossed paths. I did drive past his farmstead on a regular basis and by all appearances he looked to be one of those ag producers who had it all together and did things the right way. I really don’t know what happened with the tractor accident that took his life. I don’t know anything other than he was hauling hay and something awful happened.

I suspect Loren was doing something that was routine, hauling hay down the road when in the blink of an eye the accident happened. I do know that he was about as seasoned as you can get when it comes to operating machinery and all the experiences and knowledge did not help. All I really know is that his accident left a huge hole in our community’s heart and an even bigger one in his family.

It is a fact that agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations. We work long hours, usually in remote locations, often alone and with large equipment. When we are not working with dangerous, often older machinery in rough, unpredictable terrain, we are herding large, unpredictable animals through dangerous facilities. Everything we do in agriculture is risky and dangerous.

Then add this chaotic time of the year with it’s many demands to the list and it is a dangerous combination. Farming and ranching are dangerous, that will never change and no matter what we do accidents will happen. What we do need to do is to try to lower the danger levels and eliminate any unnecessary risks.

The most important thing we can do is to slow down and take our time. I am the biggest offender when it comes to rushing. Often, I know better but I just don’t want to take that few extra moments. I have never seen a time when a few minutes made much of a difference in the long-term success. Rather, those few seconds or minutes that can be shaved off often lead to much more time lost when they go wrong.

Another important safety measure to keep in mind is to stay rested. We work long hours without breaks. It is Ok to take a break, a quick nap or even a stroll around the combine or tractor, no one will think less of you and you will be amazed at how refreshed you feel. Fatigue is one of the leading causes of accidents and one of the easiest to eliminate. If you are an employer make sure to stress this to your workers also. If the boss says it is OK to rest, then it is a lot easier to take the needed time.

We also need to be reminded that riders are not OK and to limit the number of people riding with us to the number of seatbelts available. Oh, and make sure you wear that seatbelt too. I know you are going to have to dig it out and dust it off. That will be time well spent too. While you are at it, make sure you know where everyone is before moving or even starting any piece of equipment.

I say all of this with a heavy heart and I will think of Loren often during this harvest season. I am sure he was looking forward to it. It is a reminder of just how dangerous our chosen occupation is. While it might take just a few extra seconds or even minutes to be safe, that moment will be the best time spent all day.