Always keep your plow in the ground....

The fall after I retired from 31 years in education our son Ben went back to Tech for a semester. So my husband, Sim, needed help with custom farming.  (He actually bought me work gloves as a retirement gift)

Anyway----He and I climbed into this huge tractor and he proceeded to explain to me how to plow.  I had raked hay and mowed down sunflowers on a little open top 4020 John Deere before, and I had raked hay in a 4440 John Deere. I had written a zillion descriptions of all kinds of tractors for our auctions, but I had never driven such a huge tractor on my own. 

I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.  Sim's explanation of the whole process came from the background of someone who teethed on a 4020 45 years ago! 

So here we go, I sat on the jump seat in the tractor and he made the first round. (Mainly to insure I didn't take out the fence- I think) I studied what to do and worried about taking the wheel.  So he said you put the gear shift here- while you  push in the clutch- your RPM's need to be here - always watch the gauges - always listening for tear-ups- lift the plow a little in the corners or it will bog you down- etc., etc, I am hearing - don't break my tractor- don't mess up - don't break the plow - don't hit anything.  Well, I start asking questions- does the seat scoot up? How do I push the clutch in? I'm too short to reach it...

Sim decided it was time for me to take the wheel and I did, but he stood on the platform.  I have to be honest that was not the smartest thing for him to do.  One slip and I could have squished him because at that point I had not even asked him how to stop this huge tractor. 

Eventually he cut the cord and left me to plow on my own.  So he got in his tractor and I got in mine.  I think the field was about a 200 acre field.  I made a round or so and everything seemed fine.  I was checking gauges, RPM's, looking back at the plow here and there.  I lifted the plow in the corners.  Then I looked back and realized the part I was plowing did not look the same as the round I had plowed before.  I realized Sim is moving over in my path to plow from that back corner. I had hit that corner and tapped up on the plow, but I hadn't lowered it back down.  He just slid in there and fixed my mistake.  I lowered my plow right about the time my phone rang.  He said, "Babe, you've got to keep your plow in the ground."

So, we finished that field.  I survived.  I was still not comfortable in the huge tractor.  I was dreading the next day, the next field.  So much to remember, so much to check, so many things that can break.  But I persevered and now I am more comfortable in the tractor. 

Here's what I learned-

• I can learn something new, it's actually empowering
• When learning new things, support is essential
• It is a blessing to have someone who has your back
• Never give up
• Always keep your plow in the ground

That's the origin story of Bunger Country Reporter!