Custom Harvesters Video

In 2007 the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters celebrated their 25th anniversary. Al and Marilyn wrote and performed a play for the entertainment and it included this tribute to the custom harvester. Since the song was such a hit, Marilyn put a video together including pictures from the members of the association. It is time to share it with the world!

Canadian Wheat Board

November 4, 2010

View of the day-Al and the Big Bud that is on display at Independence, Iowa...he's not so big now.


Well, we managed to catch two mice the very night we set the trap line...and we haven't seen any sign of any more for over a week, so we hope that is the end of them.


Al had a successful toy show in Regina and had help from one of his best customers, Roger, from Lipton. Al came home every night...about 100 miles one way...and picked up/dropped off Roger on the way through, which did add a few more miles. But it was worth it because he really needed the help.

Marilyn was busy at the theatre learning the ropes for Macbeth...literally, because she was on curtain duty for all four performances. It was a hectic week with the play and being back at work...a lot had changed, and what hadn't, needed to be remembered...and that seems to be getting harder all the time.

We had a nasty snow storm on Marilyn's first day back at work...an omen, perhaps? It was a bad couple of days around town because it was just cold enough for the snow to stay, but it was so heavy and wet that first the slush came then it froze making it tough for the low vehicles to get around. And being as it was only November, the Dept. of Highways didn't seem to be prepared and there were a lot of accidents due to the fact that they left so much slush on and only used a teaspoon to spread the sand and salt so it wouldn't be slippery.

It was a good thing Al had the dozer blade on the tractor because he had to push the three and a half miles out to the highway and back...twice...to make it passable. Apparently we are on the wrong end of the Municipality to get road service. The snow was starting to disappear as we got ready for our next big excursion south, and hopefully it is completely gone when we get home.

We left early Monday morning for our week long swing through the USA to pick up our new camper from the factory and take in the National Farm Toy Show. We drove almost 900 miles the first day and made it to Madison, Wisconsin, then got up early to go the last 500 miles to Elkhart, Indiana. It was nice having four lane Interstate highways most of the way, but we were a bit leery about having to drive through Chicago.

We had asked around and were told the best times to go through the city to avoid rush hour traffic. We figured we would kill a couple of hours somewhere north of the city until it had slowed down, but then we thought...even if we have to wait in traffic we still have those two hours to get through town. So we through caution to the wind and started on our way...at 5pm.



Marilyn had her small GPS all programmed, but the last time we had gone to Dyersville through Minneapolis, it had missed a turn on a new highway and took us right through the centre of the city instead of around it. Although she had updated the map, she still brought the GPS for the laptop and had both of them running as Al drove through Chicago. We made it with no wrong turns, but we are both certain that long haul trucking or RV hauling will not be in either of our futures. Neither of us can figure what the draw is to live in such a huge city and spend all your time driving to and from work...amongst such crazy drivers...who knew 45mph limits mean you can drive 65mph?

Unfortunately, Marilyn had to stay focused on the GPS so there was no photo opportunities...very painful for her...and by the time we got through town, it was dark, so we didn't get to see much of anything. We did make it to Elkhart in one piece and had a good nights rest before going to pick up the camper in the morning.

We stopped at the dealership and they took us over to get a tour of the camper that was getting it's final run through to make sure everything was in working order and to show us how to run all the new fangled things that we had ordered. We also toured the factory where they were built...not nearly as thorough as the CaseIH plant, but very interesting, none the less. It was nice to see how they are built from the frame up and it gave us confidence that we had chosen the right brand.

We got hooked up and started back the 340 miles to Dyersville for the toy show, but this time we decided to avoid Chicago all together, even though it meant an extra 30 miles. We did hit rush hour traffic again, but it was no where near as bad as the day before...except for the detour that took some doing to get around so we could get back on the Interstate. It was dark by the time we had to cover the last 50 miles and it was probably a good thing because that road coming into Dubuque, Iowa was full of rolling hills and hair pin curves. Maybe one day we will see it in the daylight...and wonder how the heck we made it pulling a camper. It was good to finally get to the hotel and unwind for a few days.

Today we got over to Dyersville early and were given permission to unhook the camper in the parking lot at the Pamida store. That worked out great because it is right next to the school where the show is being held and the guys can load it up with all their toy purchases. After browsing around the antique store and trying to find some early bargains, we drove 30 miles west to Independence to see the Big Bud that was on display at the museum.

Al's brother Jeff, his neighbor Joey and Roger, Al's toy show helper, had come down for the show and we met them at the restaurant before going over to the museum. After a couple of hours looking around, we started back to Dyersville stopping in Lamont so the guys could pick up a load of toys they had ordered...enough boxes to fill the back seat of the Dodge...AND the box!

We got back to Dyersville in time to unload everything into the camper before the guys took off to the toy auction that was just starting. Marilyn went to give the Pamida store a bit of business for parking in the lot, then headed back to the hotel in Dubuque.

Tomorrow is the big day with some factory tours, LOTS of shopping in the different buildings around town they have set up with vendors, then getting the early bird pass so we can get on the floor at 2pm for an early peek before it is opened to the public at 6pm.

Better tighten up the laces...

October 24, 2010

View of the week-Yes, it's come to that...weekly. Al is getting the holes lined up to get the dozer blade on the tractor...it's now ready for it's winter job.

We have been going hot and heavy, trying to get everything cleaned up and put away for the season. Marilyn has been slaving away in the camper, getting everything moved into the house and getting it winterized and spotless for the new owner...whoever that might be.

Al decided to get the snowblower working before we got a dumping of the white stuff...a novel idea. A belt had broken, so we had to split the machine to get to it, and after finding the right one in town, we got it back together and it works like new. Bring it on, Mother Nature!

Al got to work for a day driving a pilot truck for Kardynal Transport, who he had driven truck for a couple of winters ago. They were moving a New Holland tank and drill from Saskatoon to Swan River, MB. They had to stop in Elfros for the night because it got dark and Al took the last leg of the journey from Elfros to Swan River...about 190 miles one way...top speed of 30 mph.

Marilyn has been recruited to help out with the production of Macbeth that is being performed Halloween weekend and is trying to get up to speed with a play she has not even seen at rehearsal...that makes it interesting to figure out where she has to move things. She will be back working at Staples for a few days, filling in at the last minute for a co-worker...got to get back into it slowly, before going back full time Nov. 8.

Al just found out about a toy show in Regina, so he decided to get a few tables to try to make some extra cash for our trip to Dyersville, IA for the National Farm Toy Show coming up the first week in November. He had to get the cargo trailer of toys out of storage at his brother Jeff's place so he could reorganize it for the upcoming toy show season. They are even thinking about having an auction before the Yorkton Toy Show, so he will be busy getting that up and running.

It is now eight years that we have been living in this house and it is the first time we have ever had a mouse in the house...must be the season for them what with Al trapping 12 of them in the General and two in the Freightliner. Marilyn was in the laundry room when one went scampering by...they have no fear the little buggers...two minutes later in the kitchen, he was making a return run back into the laundry room. He ran along the wall and took the corner so fast on the lino floor, he was just pealing out...right out of the cartoons...before hightailing it down the heat register. About a half hour later he was out making the rounds again, so we brought a couple of traps in and set them along his run.

While Al was watching his Sunday NFL games, he notice the little bugger on the top of one of the 3ft vases Marilyn had made that were filled with layers of combined grain from different states. Marilyn went in for a closer inspection and discovered that he had chewed a hole in the plastic cover and had lifted the first divider...and was actually enjoying the flax underneath it. He took off in a hurry and we changed the trap line so it would be on his run under the fireplace...when he came out he was running all over the trap, but smart enough to miss tripping it. We put saucers on top of the vases, and while we were in there with the lights and TV on, he was up there trying to get back in to the flax. Needless to say, the rest of the traps have come in out of the trucks...we will be waiting for the SNAP tonight.

We couldn't get close enough to mark it, so we hope there is only one...

October 17, 2010

View of the day-On our trip home, we saw this poor old girl...looks like she couldn't make it to the slough to get the fire put out...RIP.

A day late, but there was no way Marilyn was going to deal with the dial-up internet again...she doesn't mind the looong wait for things to load, it's the error message that comes up after the wait that is irritating. Not to worry, we are back on the high speed so it is update time.

We were up early to get more unpacking and rearranging of the yard done while we waited for Brenda, Marilyn's friend from Staples, to give us a ride back to Esterhazy so we could bring the tractor/cart and combine back to our yard. Once she showed up we went to the Parkland Greenhouse for Sunday Brunch...the best brunch in all our travels...then we hit the road.

When we got to Eugene's yard, we got the rigs started and waited for them to warm up...the tractor has battery issues, so a boost was in order. Brenda took the Dodge back to Yorkton, going on the highway...it seems she didn't want to follow us at 18mph for some reason...and we started back going on the gravel.

It was a long trek, but we figured by the time we got everything loaded on the trailers and moved up, then had to find someplace to unload...since our yard isn't that big...it was easier to just road them. And what a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than taking a 'leisurely' drive through the country?

On the trip we only saw one field being combined and there were five or six machines making dust, so it was sure to be finished quickly...although the 4WD tractor sitting on stand by meant that it would not be all smooth sailing...been there. It took about two hours and 45 minutes to get back to our yard and once Marilyn had the combine parked in 'the shop', she went back to unloading the camper, while Al worked on getting the cameras off the cart so he could park it for the winter.

But of course, Marilyn had to get the dish set up so he could watch football...

October 16, 2010

View of the day-The combine done for the year…nice and shiny.

We were up early with the intention of finishing off the combine cleaning, but the temperature was 35ºF and the wind was nasty strong out of the NW. We tried to get a few other things done while we waited for it to warm up.

While Al went to town to do a few errands and pick up a sub for lunch, Marilyn decided to bite the bullet and start washing the combine. It took a while and when Al got back, he helped finish it off, then Marilyn got started getting the camper battened down for the last trip home.

Once the camper was ready, we attempted to start the Freightliner so we could hook up the cart trailer and take it to it’s winter storage field. The block heater didn’t seem to be working, so we had to pump the ether to it and give it a boost, but it finally ran…no one wanted to work in this cold weather. While it and the General were airing up, we got the Dodge hooked up to the camper, then headed for the trailers that were left in the field where we unloaded.

Marilyn drove the General out since we had to use the hydraulics on it to lift the trailer…usually the tractor does the lifting. By the time Marilyn got to the field, Al was having a chin wag with Glen from Whitewood, who had stopped by to see how we were making out. Once the trailer was hooked up, Marilyn drove the General back to the yard, parked it then started off for home with the camper.

Al got the trailer unhooked out at his friend’s farm near Saltcoats…where we have been parking stuff for the past few years. We got back to the farm at about the same time…from different directions, and after Al got the Freight backed into its winter spot, we got the camper parked in the unload station, ready for Marilyn to go to work.

Al got cleaned up and Marilyn got half the camper emptied out, then we took a break to go for steaks at the rink before the hockey game that Al was going to attend. Marilyn left Al at the game and came back home to get some more unpacking done. Fortunately our neighbour lady, Darlene, works at the concession at the rink and regularly gives Al a ride back from the games.

And now the battle with dial-up begins…

October 15, 2010

View of the day-Picking up the last swath of the season.

Yes, that's right, today was the last day of harvesting for 2010...six weeks ahead of last year.

We were combining before 10am and because we only had a few scattered acres to get done, we were finished before noon. Marilyn drove the combine over to the 'campground' to start the cleaning process and Al went to get the header trailer so we could load the pickup head so it would be easier to clean.

There was a good wind blowing so we got the stuff situated where we could take advantage of it, blowing off the chaff and straw. Marilyn started washing the pickup head while Al got to blow off the combine to get it ready for a swish. Marilyn was also able to get the tractor and grain cart cleaned, inside and out, before getting the combine into the wash bay next to the camper.

Al went on a road trip to visit a friend while Marilyn kept on cleaning until the pressure washer ran out of gas. She filled it up and apparently flooded it because no amount of pulling would start it, so she switched over to the garden hose with a spray nozzle...which actually works better to clean out the hopper.

Al got back and managed to get the pressure washer started so Marilyn could continue on with the washing. He worked on getting the tow strap off the chain on the back of the combine...it took a hammer, pry bar and lots of patience, but he finally got it loose and took the chain off. We wouldn't be needing it again this year...for that, anyway.

It got dark before we could finish the combine, but we have plenty of time for cleaning in the morning since Al wants AIS by 2pm...that's the Freightliner, empty cart trailer and camper going on the first trip. Sunday we will road the combine and tractor/grain cart home to Yorkton...the General and trailer will make it another day...no rush there, either.

Climbing up and down the ladders, crawling in and out of the grain cart, and fighting the pressure washer, Marilyn is pretty sure there will be some aching muscles tomorrow...better load up on the Aleve before hitting the sack.

We hope you enjoy the video of 'On The Combine' by High Valley. Visit their site and share the video...