Rolling north with a wheat harvesting crew

​       Jack Brenner of Montezuma enjoys a sweet treat during a supper break while working with the harvesting crew, C & K Harvesting and Trucking company of Cuba, Kan. Brenner is driving a semitruck from the field to the farmer’s grain bins and local co-ops. He is part of a five-member crew along with harvesting company owners, Karly and Chris, and their son. They are harvesting in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana and North Dakota. The traveling crew harvests wheat, field peas, lentils, soybeans, canola, corn and milo. Submitted photo from Debbie Hersberger.

By J.O. Parker
 
       It’s long days filled with hard work, but for a young Montezuma man, traveling the central United States in a big rig with a wheat harvesting crew is an adventure of a lifetime.
       Jack Brenner, son of Tim Brenner and Debbie Hersberger, is spending his spring, summer and fall months working for C & K (Chris & Karly Cherney) Harvesting and Trucking company out of Cuba, Kan.
       Brenner and his crew recently wrapped up work in Montana and are currently harvesting wheat and other crops in North Dakota.
         The crew started cutting wheat on May 19 in Seymour, Texas. Seymour is about an hour east of Lubbock. The crew then moved through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and into Montana and North Dakota. 
        “We will do a fall harvest in Oklahoma and Kansas,” said Brenner in a recent telephone interview from the road.
         Brenner learned of the job opportunity on customharvesters.com.
        When asked what led him to join a harvesting crew, Brenner said he wanted to travel the central United States and see all the different ways of farming.
         “It’s different for each area,” he said.
        Brenner spends his days transporting wheat and other crops to farmer’s grain bins or to local co-ops. His work days average 14 – 15 hours and he travels between 200 and 300 miles each day in his semitruck.
         The crew harvests wheat, field peas, lentils, soybeans, canola, corn and milo.
         When asked, Brenner said days off are few and far between.
      “We don’t get many days off,” said Brenner. “When we do, we are usually fixing equipment or getting ready for the next job.”
       However, on occasion, especially for a birthday, the crew will enjoy an evening in a nearby town for drinks, food, dancing and singing.
      The harvesting crew has three John Deere combines on the road and a fourth combine when in Oklahoma. There’s also several semi trucks, tractors, grain carts and two campers that travel the harvest circuit. 
       “The boss and his wife and son stay in one camper and the crew of five hired hands stay in a second camper,” said Brenner.
         When asked about his meals, Brenner said one of the crew members likes to cook and will fix us a meal.
        “When we are in the fields, the bosses’ wife will fix meals for us,” said Brenner. “She can cook and makes a lot of homemade meals. It hits the spot every time.”
          Evening meals include such classics as chicken fried steak, spaghetti and lasagna.
          He usually packs a lunch in the camper each morning before heading out.
          “If I’m running through a town that has a fast food restaurant, I will stop and pick up something to eat,” he said of being on the road.
           Most farms the crew harvest are from 600 – 700 acre sections. All totaled, the crew will harvest 30,000 acres of wheat and other crops when they wrap up operations in mid-November.
           Karly Cherney, co-owner of C & K Harvesting and Trucking Company, said Jack has been a great asset to the crew.
           “We have had a busy harvest season and Jack has continued to show us a strong work ethic through it all,” said Karly. “He maintains a positive attitude, is reliable and completes tasks as requested.”
          “We think it’s an exciting experience for him and are glad he is able to do it,” said his dad, Tim. “We were able to visit him in Kansas and Montana for a couple days this summer.”
           When asked, Brenner said one thing he has enjoyed the most is meeting all the farmers and learning how they operate their farms.
            “I’ve had the opportunity to meet several guys on other crews and shoot the breeze,” he said.

       Jack Brenner of Montezuma is spending his spring, summer and fall harvesting wheat and other crops with C & K Harvesting and Trucking company in Cuba, Kan. The crew started in Texas in mid-May and harvested in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana and now North Dakota. They will soon be returning to harvest in Oklahoma and Kansas this fall. Brenner, second from left, is shown with crew members, from left: Cade, owners Karly and Chris, Zach, Josh, Tripp and Hank the dog. Submitted photo by Debbie Hersberger.