First Day of Swathing Wheat 2022! Montana Harvest

First Day of Swathing Wheat 2022! Montana Harvest

Today I am riding in our MacDon swather with Uncle Chris and he is swathing our 2022 winter wheat. This is just like last year except the drought has really taken a toll on our crops. Dad's drone footage shows how much of the crop failed and how thin it is. We still have the Saw Fly problem this year. The wheat is not very tall, so Uncle Chris has to keep the swather really close to the ground. In Montana, we have a bug called Saw Fly that destroys the stems of the wheat and we cannot pick it up with our straight-cut combine harvester headers. If we didn’t swath it first we would lose most of our crop. We would prefer not to swath but we have no choice. Uncle Chris and I talk about the drought and how we only got about 2 inches of precipitation (rain & snow) this year in total. We also talk about the old days and about other years of drought. We also discuss that years like this are why we run old equipment so we have no payments to banks and we can survive a poor crop. We are also grateful for the years of good crops we have had. Uncle Chris seems to think I told him I would get him a rock picker for his birthday!!!! hahaha!!! Maybe I should get him a farming simulator rock picker!!! I hope you enjoy my video and thank you for watching!!!!!

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Postal/Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 476
Great Falls, MT 59403

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My Story…
Hello. My name is Kate Stephens, and I am an 18-year-old 4th-generation Montana farmer. My family has been farming wheat in north-central Montana since my great grandfather immigrated from Denmark in 1912 and homesteaded our land. My family has been teaching me about farming since I was two years old. I run one of the combines on the farm at harvest. I believe that it is important for everyone to know where their food comes from and the families who produce it. I love our farm, and I hope that my Farm to Fashion and Farm to Table products can help educate people about where their food comes from in a fun way. That is how Kate's Ag - Farm to Fashion became a reality. I hope you love my products as much as I do because this is an extension of our farm and the grains we have been growing to feed other families for over one hundred years.

[rj]

An Instant Classic: the episode with Uncle Chris. Thank you for sharing him with us Kate. What a lovely soul he has.

[jandabrowski]

Kate! Thank you very much for the wonderful video! Way to go! Good job here! Good luck! Have a nice day!

[mayforddavis]

Thank you Kate! When I saw the pictures of the "crop" my heart went out to you all. For all the time, effort, and money spent in putting in a crop there wasn't much there. Keep the faith and God Bless!

[davidlawson]

Hi Kate, Uncle Chris has a lot of knowledge on farming and Dad was having way to much fun with his drone. Fun video Kate, Love from Florida

[Per]

I see what you mean when you said the wheat doesn't look good this year.
About that rock picker - surprise your uncle with a 'grabber reach tool' Happy Birthday uncle!
You're fun to watch Kate.

[tomgluth]

What a refreshing return ! I haven’t been able to view my farming videos much, but you have stayed the same in the manner of being a young American female farmer, anxious to learn new things from those who have been doing it for decades, respecting the equipment you’re using, and dressing respectively and safely ! I briefly watched a couple other videos of a couple other young female farmers and was very disappointed. Seems they are more interested in “ teasing” than educating. Anything to increase the “ watched” or “ views” numbers, I guess. Glad you’re keeping it consistent with your quality of content. Hats off to you young lady !

[davidignacio]

I don't know if you realize this but when you talk to older generation (been there, done that kind of guys like your Uncle Chris), you also bring into your vlog nuggets of wisdom, historical facts and trivia and social commentary of the times. You're doing great Kate. Sometimes it feels like a little of "Tuesdays with Morrie", and I'm sure some of your literary viewers would agree with me on this.

[susanchamblee]

Thank you Kate and uncle Chris. I enjoyed riding with you. Very 😎 cool. 😘 From North Carolina.

[glennroper]

God bless your uncle and all our farmers. Great video Kate.

[lindendiehl]

Kate, it was wonderful of you to ride along with uncle Chris and listen to him talk about working on the farm, plus answering your questions.
Your dad does a great job operating the drone for your videos. He gives us an excellent view of what your field's and crop's look like. I need to say more about your dad flying the drone in your videos. As it is another educational part of your family farm.
You really are in need of rain. But certainly not a down pour, as it would wash the top soil away.
I will keep praying for your farm to get rain. And for snow next Winter.
Thanks again for bringing us along to learn more about your family's farming operation.
May God bless you and your family.

[douglasmcroberts]

It's only my opinion but I think the smartest and most believable people you talk to are your family! I am going to miss them when you go to college - god bless you all!!

[petertarantelli]

This is the first time I’ve seen or even heard of swathing. Always learning something new! You’re a great teacher Kate!

[jamesmorrison]

Thanks Kate enjoyed your conversation as you rode along. All ways fun to watch as swathing goes along. Happy birthday Uncle Chris and have a great day.

[thomasklein]

Listening to your uncle is wonderful. His years of experience shows . God bless you and your family and the farm

[youngmonk]

Kate, I love your cheerful disposition, always hopeful and polite, even in the face of adversity. Keep up the positivity, as it inspires us all! :)

[thomaswallan]

Kate, great interview with your Uncle...lots of thoughtful questions and good responses.

[themuilover]

Kate your Uncle Chris is right about they never forget. Like the old saying goes, " When I am right, no one remembers. When I am wrong no one forgets." You are so lucky Kate. Everybody in you family that I have seen is very nice. That must be why you are so nice. It is in your genes.

[tioriccopuravidatrader]

Great interview with your Uncle... always a good time

[njh]

Kate, sorry about the the drought and the bad yield, I think your videos are great it helps teach the people who are not farmers, don’t worry about the hater’s keep your head up and keep safe and keep the videos coming.

[andrewowens]

Great to see you back Kate in some machinery ..I have a feeling your happier there ...your so luck to have your uncle, dad and grandfather there to guide you so much knowledge. It priceless..hope the harvest goes better than it looks ....ps .I ll send some rain from ireland for you ..maybe that 12 inches your uncle said you generally need. Hopefully you'll get it for autumn ..