The year was 2021. That was just last year though it seems like such a long time ago. We had taken time to do everything correctly to get our hay crop to be lush and green. Fertilizing was a key factor. Our fields were tall and thick and ready to be cut. So like previous years the farmer, that would cut and bale small squares, was called and we were put on his schedule. Take a look at what happened. Then you decide. Devastating or not?
Then the day finally arrived. Time to cut hay for the sheep and the horses. A generous amount of timothy grass, orchard grass and clover was hacked down. We were so excited to see how many bales would be produced that summer. The old farmer was in a hurry and bailed it the next day. Our field yielded around three hundred bales. Not bad for our small acerage.
Finally, our pick up crew arrived and struggled to lift the wares onto their trailer. OOPS ! Green, wet bales. Our crop was ruined! The crew grudgingly stacked the wrecked hay outside so the heat produced from the soggy bales wouldn’t catch the barn on fire and burn it down. So there you have it. A whole pile of trashed hay. It took months of burning to get rid of the molding mess. Devastaing or not?
Next Year
Fast forward to this summer, July of 2022. Another year. Another try to produce an abundant hay crop. Fertilizer and rain and rain and rain. Will the weather ever get favorable enough so we can cut? After days of praying for a dry spell it happens. No rain. Sunshine and heat. The weather conditions are perfect. So we hire a new guy to do the cutting this year after last year’s disaster. We hope that this year will go smoothly.
Devastating ot not? First, the new man arrives on time. Good start. The compact tractor and sickle bar mower are in action by the time we go to the sheep barn for the daily chores. Everything seems to be going perfectly. Suddenly, the sickle bar breaks. Silence in the field. Strike one. Our new worker takes off to borrow another mower from his brother.
An hour passes and at last the next mower arrives at the farm. The thick hay fields are being cut again. Click, click, click. The tractor hums away until it abruptly stops. Strike two. Broken. Since the young man is determined to finish cutting our field he goes and rents a tractor to use. Several hours later the sweet sound of the motor begins again. Momentarily it’s dusk and the process ends for the night. Devastating or not?
The Next Day
Bright and early the next morning whirring is heard. The grasses are fluffed and the raking process starts. The hay is left in the field for several days drying out. Eventually the baler arrives. After adjusting the weight of the bales and the tension of the twine the squares plop off the back of the baler onto the bare ground.
One, two, three……twenty seven. I watch from the ATV. Twenty eight. At last we see progress. Twenty…..clunk. At this time not a sound fills the air. Silence. No! I can’t believe it. Strike three. Broken again. Devastating or not? The guy strolls towards our vechicle and declares he has had enough fun. Furthermore he is done. There is nothing else he can do. It happens to be a holiday weekend so no place is open to do repairs. Since the job is not complete he states that he won’t charge us a dime.
“A job incomplete will not cost a cent. That’s the way I do business.” He walks towards his truck to load the faulty equipment.
Now What?
Consequently, it’s hard not to cry. It’s hard not to feel defeat. What do we do now? Lose another hay crop? Two years in a row? Devastating or not? My mind gets in gear. Who do we know that might be able to pick up the pieces, to finish the job? Our daughter went to with some farm boys. Maybe they will know somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody that cuts small square bales of hay. For this reason I send a text to one of the boys not really expecting a response.
In spite of my expectations, the next morning, around 6:30, I notice I that there is a message on my phone. It says, “I can come this afternoon.”
Subsequently I type back, “Yes! What time?”
“I’m not sure yet, but will let you know closer to the time.”
“Ok! You saved the day. Are you able to do square bales?”
“Depends on time.”
“Ok. It would be good to know because I have somebody to pick up small bales.”
“Oh, all I have is a square baler. My round baler is in Fair Grove.”
And then we wait. Two hours later. We wait. Then it’s eleven o’clock. Still anxiously waiting. Devastating or not? Will he ever arrive? A text runs across my screen.
“Hooking up to my square baler now.”
“Great! Then you’ll be by soon?”
“Yea I got to grease it and then I will bring it your way.”
The Large Favor
At this time I’m at wits end. Anxious. Apprehensive. Waiting for some sign that the fields will be baled is painstakingly brutal. Then the awesome chug of a tractor coming down our road reaches my ears. He is here. They are here. My daughter’s highschool friends, Kyle and Tony show up together to tackle the remaining part of the job. And just as they arrive the hay bucking crew pulls into the farm drive. Everybody is here at Rowdy Mountain Farm. Devastating or not?
In the end the machines and trucks are rolling along. Hence the baling and bucking are going on simultaneously. Finally, I’m one happy camper. Our family rejoices as last year’s disaster is being erased from our minds. These hard working men save the day. Only when the hay is baled and is stacked in the barn do I find out that Kyle is doing us an extremely large favor. If I was in his shoes I wouldn’t be finishing someone else’s botched up hay cutting job today. In fact, just last night, Kyle married his highschool sweetheart. What a generous, caring man to do us such a large favor. Back to work tne day after your wedding. Farmer dedication. Three cheers for farm boys saving the day.
The barn is full. The aroma of fresh cut hay fills our nostrils. Taking deep breathes we sigh in relief. How do YOU think this story ends? Devastatng or not?
