Well, whatever we called it….the harvest season or the growing season…it is finished. Or, is it? I suppose that is something that takes a while to understand. The crop for this year has been harvested. Some of it went to the elevator and most of it went into the bin. The grain in the bin will be sold later. So, I don’t consider it over until the check arrives. Hard to explain to others, even bankers, that the farm doesn’t operate on a calendar year. We have grain that won’t sell until well into the new year. It makes the bookkeeping interesting and keeps the question lingering a bit longer about how the year really went.  Even with grain contracts in place and estimates of grain in the bin, I find it hard to finalize until it’s all sold.  Add to that, some supplies will start to be ordered a pre-paid this calendar year. Oh, one more piece of the puzzle!

At least, for now, we have more opportunity to see the farmer during regular people hours. We will have meals together at tables and enjoy lively conversations with the kids about a multitude of subjects like school, holidays, friends and farm things.  And, here it will start again…even if it hasn’t finished yet.