Harvesting Traditions

The hum of diesel engines and the scent of dusty corn fill the air every fall, signaling harvest season and long days ahead. For the local farmers, this time of year brings both relief and pressure—hundreds of acres to harvest before rain or early snow set in.

My dad is always there to help, his steady hands and decades of experience behind the wheel making all the difference. With his CDL and a lifetime spent operating heavy equipment, he’s the kind of person neighbors know they can count on when the fields demand every ounce of daylight and sometimes half the night.

This morning, he asked my six-year-old son to ride along as the corn was hauled from the field to the grain elevator to be processed. Before climbing into the truck, my son spotted a single kernel of corn lying by the road. He picked it up, studied it for a moment, and declared it his “lucky corn.” My dad just smiled, and together they climbed into the cab, a small tradition beginning in that instant.

As the truck pulled away, I realized that what my dad is teaching goes beyond driving or hard work. He’s showing the next generation what community looks like—the kind built not by grand gestures, but by showing up, season after season, when it matters most.

What traditions or small moments in your family remind you of where you come from?

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