It kind of grows on you

Today I'm in Washburn, Wisconsin enjoying a little rest and relaxation over the weekend of the Forth on the shores of lake Superior

Missing my family.

A special hello to the Crossleys from their home state.

Milestones: Half way home.  It is amazing that I'm already on the second half of my trip but also amazing all the adventures I've already had.  There has been too much to blog about so I'll continue to hit a few highlights with each blog (usually long after they have happened).


Most folks out in this part of the country seem to make their living farming.  They grow corn, wheat, soybeans, sugar beets and hay as the main crops.

But let's start this story where it should be, in Twin Valley, Minnesota.  That's where Doug and Sandy Ruud live.  Who are the Ruuds?  Well, I suppose they are many things, some of which I know and some of which I don't.  But what I do know is that they are a warm, welcoming couple who farm this part of the country and who opened their home to me for two wonderful days.  They also happen to be the parents of Megan who is to be married to Quinn Thompson, son of Rhonda and Joe Thompson (remember Rhonda and Joe from my last blog?) this fall.

The Ruuds farm 2,000 acres.  Some of this land they own and some they rent from their neighbors.  They grow corn, soybeans and wheat.  The Midwest has experienced the demise of the small farmer.  To make a go of it requires a lot of land and a lot of equipment.  Farming on a small scale is no longer economically feasible.

The Ruuds were wonderful hosts who were happy to show us around their farm and let us play with their farm equipment.

About that "showing us around their farm" reminded me of the story of the farmer from Minnesota who bellies up to the counter at Moody's Dinner and discovers that the local he is sitting beside also farms.  When he tells the local that it takes him two days just to drive around his spread the local responds: "Yup, I used to have a car just like that".

Now about that equipment, wow.  I don't know much about farming at home but the equipment out here is really something.  Big and sophisticated.  You may recall an earlier blog where I mentioned "wide load" out here. When it refers to farm equipment, it really means "wide load."  And this is really cool:  The equipment is GPS enabled.  I'm not talking about the Garmin you have hanging from your windshield.  I'm talking about a piece of farm equipment that drives itself with an accuracy of less than an inch and controls the implements with the same accuracy.  These things can plant a field without wasting a seed and then return to spray once the crops are up and navigate the tractor through the field without touching a leaf on the crops.  It is truly amazing!  These guys can work the fields all night, which they sometimes do because of the time frames they have to meet, without the need for lights.  Amazing!

Here are some photos with some explanations:

Here are the Ruuds beside an eight wheel, 400

horsepower, GPS enabled tractor.

Here I am driving that Bad Boy.  Yes, that really is

me behind the wheel.  17 forward speeds all controlled 

by joy stick.  If I could get a mower deck for one

of these babies I could mow the lawn with one pass.

If this is what your rear view mirror looks like,

move over.

Hey there.

Maybe next season.

These are sugar beet freezers.  One by one the opposing

blowers are connected by perforated pipe.  In the fall

as the beets are harvested, they are piled over the 

pipes.  Once the temperature is below freezing, the 

blowers are turned on to freeze the beets.

The Ruuds treated us to some wonderful conversation, great food, introduced us to some of their delightful friends and even provided us with a concert by a singer-songwriter friend.  I'm telling you, this has been a wonderful trip!