"Hofer Harvest" in Full Swing!

Gavin Hofer is proud to be part of the "Hofer Harvest" for 2023. All lined up and resting at the moment, the equipment is impressive, even at a standstill. Imagine the impression when all their machines attack a field. They know how to make short work of a major job.

Gavin is the son of William and Carol Hofer, and he is part of the East Colony of Hutterites at Malta. He is the photographer in the article William sent entitled "Hofer Harvest." At the age of 17, he is trained for both grain carts and combines. William said they are running five combines, four semis and a of couple grain carts.

"We're done with the peas, lentils and barley. It's not as good as we hoped, but it is better than we expected." Still standing and waiting for the harvest machines are the acres of winter wheat, spring wheat and safflower. Some years they plant and harvest flax, mustard and soybeans.

The days are long this time of year as they, like every farmer in the county, rush to get the crops in before a fire, damaging winds or the "Great White Machine" (a.k.a. hail) takes the seasons work.

William said, "Our days in the field last until around 1 a.m. We start out by going to the kitchen early in the morning and our lunches have been prepared and are waiting for us to pick them up, our names are on them and we each pack a cooler."

He said, "About 6 p.m. or so, the women bring a food truck out, we stop, pray together and eat; then we hit the fields again."

"Right now, we are cutting at the Wagner Bench Place (former Brian Eggebrecht farm); Uncle John (like an elder) is in charge of the grain bins. Steve is known as a "whip cracker" and keeps everyone lined out," he said, with a chuckle.

At this time, the Colony is binning the harvest product. They haul to Harlem and have a buyer who makes connections for trips to North Dakota. With finished products off of the 20,000 acres they are working on, they do their best to get the highest price possible.

Like other working farms, the kids learn early to help with the running of the place. As young as five, when they are capable to do so, they start learning the process involved, safety first. At the age of fourteen they can help with the bins. The young helpers must be between fifteen and sixteen and have a driver's license to be able to drive; they start on the combines and work up to truck driver.

"This year we are battling grasshoppers; we had a plane spray earlier; now we are tackling sawflies and their damage to the crop."

They are quickly learning this is "next year country," and is still the best place to live!