A Few Things You Oughta Know / Day 25 Highwood Montana Wheat Harvest (August 13) 

Thanks so much again Tracy, really love the family history of the Custom Harvesting of your Grandparents your parents and then Jim and yourself. Never tire of seeing your videos and especially the history as my wife and I got married in 1980 and also had 4 children during the 1980’s, looking forward to more of your adventure’s, May our Lord watch over the 2 of you.

What a beautiful life. Thanks for sharing!!!❤

Well, hold on a minute Tracey while I dry my eyes with the second towel-wow, what a story!!!!!!! From following you for a year or so now I knew some of those bits and pieces but not all the story. I have watched it twice now and have so enjoyed hearing what transpired throughout the years. What an amazing story of wheat harvesting and the people that make it happen with their family in tow. I would give anything if my health had not slowed me down and I could be of use to one of the many crews that do this. I follow two other harvesters but they just post pictures and a few comments, not the daily videos like you do. YOU AND JIM ARE ONE OF A KIND!!!!!!!! I want you and Jim to know you both are ingrained in my heart and soul !!!!!! Feel like part of the harvest family!!!!!! You make my days being with a disability and with your videos I am riding along transformed into a harvest community and not in a chair. Please understand how important this is to me. My daughter always comments about how I tell her one harvest story after another. She is so pleased that I have found this interest to transform me into such a happy time!!!!!! Well, like I always tell you I could write lots more but for now have hit the main points. Tracey you did a fantastic job of telling the story and am so glad I asked you for the history link. You and Jim are living the story of America, you both are what this country is made of and your part in the wheat harvest story is a part of this country’s history!!!!!!!!!! I know you live this story every day and may not realize, you are in reality, AMERICA!!!!!!!! My blessings to you both. An honor to be riding along with you. You and Jim take care and enjoy!!!!!!!!! The Iowa farm boy. Steve. 😊😊👋👍✅🙏💕🇺🇸🇺🇸

Thank you,what a fantastic life story you have to share 👌

Gods plan. So valuable to trust in the Lord.

Enjoyed your history of being a custom harvester and the day 25 video. Keep up the videos, as I really enjoy them. CYA

Loved the story of your custom grain harvest. God does have a plan for us and you guys have lived yours. God bless you and Jim as you are truly a "Great American Family".

A hearty thank you for the wonderful history lesson. There's lots of "harvest" vids on U-tube these days but your's is by far the very best.

THANKS for sharing your historical perspective and story...It IS NOT the color of the combine, it is all about the person in the cab with purpose and a heart for Agriculture.....Be proud of your legacy...

Will miss you.

This was so nice to hear and watch What a journey you two have lived

I retired 2 years ago after 47 years raising corn and soybeans in Indiana. Now my wife and I spend the winter in Florida and I help one of my neighbors put his crop in and take it out. No stress,all the fun. Looks like you and Jim might have found the perfect setup. Enjoy those grandkids! We do!😊

You wanted somebody that didn't know what this is/was about? That's me, David from Oregon, enthralled by your story and history you share. Thanks so much for enriching my life! :)

As long as you post I’ll be a watching subscriber.

What a great story! The drone shots are spectacular! What a beautiful part of our country!

Great story, enjoyed it immensely!

Thank you so much for sharing your journey Love all the way you've explained all the tests and struggles along the way in order for things to work Thank you for taking me along to experience it

Since I have been a subscriber from early in your RU-vid channel story I have heard most of this at one time or another. But it is nice to hear the entire story in one setting and especially fitting that you did this on your dad's birthday. Plus the new subscribers needed more of the history of you and Jim's past. Good story, thanks.

I, too, became hooked on driving combines one summer day in 1988 when my uncle, who was milking cows at the time entrusted me with running his John Deere 55 with a pickup head in a 50 acre wheat field, he showed me how to do everything in two trips around the field, and he then turned me loose, because he had to go do something with his cows...I got done with the field, and I felt like I was 10 feet tall....I would give anything to get back in a combine and feel that way again

WOW SUPER,SUPER,SUPER VIDEOS , ALL OF THEM YOU ALL MADE IT HAPPEN THANK YOU FOR THE RIDE AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU

Tracy, Your new employers are kindred spirits to all your old customers, it seems. They seem like good folks. So glad you found an opportunity to keep mowing wheat, its therapeutic for lots of us. Great presentation and editing, too.

Tracy thanks for the insight to your family. Keep up the good work.

What a great story! So nice of you to tell about your family's history. Really great you still have so many old photos, those are great memories! Congratulations with your father! Nice to hear that you have known Jim for so long! It must be great if your job is your hobby! About my family history; both my great-grandfathers each owned a farm. They had pieces of land with cows. I found out years ago that my house is on the ground of what used to belong to one of my great-grandfathers. Many compliments for the video, it is fun to watch. I watch video's on my 55 inch TV, really great and it is much more fun than the regular TV programs! Greetings to you and Jim, Marco

Happy Birthday to your Dad.. God Bless.

what fun memories! Isn't it sad we as young people we don't ask enough question before it's to late. fun to hear your story's!!!! You're a wonderful narrator!!! You and your family should be commended for your lifelong efforts. Your story is fascinating to say the least!!! I'm sure you have struggled plenty throughout the years and thank God you have had divine guidance.

Your drone footage is amazing!!!

Seeing that combine perched on the back of that straight truck was a hoot. The head wasn't even wide enough to be a bother going down the road!

WHAT YOU & JIM HAVE DONE FOR FARMING WITH YOUR VIDEOS IS OUTSTANDING FARMING FOR FOOD GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU LOTS

This is great

Great history!!! Have to love them old Massey's the queens of the fields!!!

Love the videos!!! Love the wheat harvest run. Wish I could go. Thanks so much for sharing the journey and your families history. Awesomeness!!!!!

What a beautiful, timeless story about lives well spent... not easy lives, but well spent just the same. I made my first harvest of two harvests in 1975. We ended the wheat part of our harvest in Wolf Point cutting for the Stenslend family. I turned 18 while there. Mrs. Stensland and the rest of the crew made me feel at home. I wonder if you knew the Stenslands? I was with the Haynes crew out of Vernon, Texas. They had five John Deere 7700s with 5 gasoline powered 2½ ton trucks and grain cart that year. I still remember a Big Bud tractor plowing the fields we had cut as we left for the corn and milo harvest near Dumas, Texas. My life took a different turn. After my last harvest at the ripe age of 19, I went on and finished college, moved to the city, got married and wondered forevermore what would have happened if I had stayed with combining. This video helps me to imagine what might have been and brings back so many memories. One memory about a simple task was my role as the last combine in the formation. At each corner of the field, I would swing out and clean-up the standing wheat left by the other combines as they turned the corner. That helped keep me awake on some of those really long days. The wonderful drone shots reminded me about that. I guess I'd say the harvest for me was lots of long hours punctuated with simple pleasures. Thanks again for making the videos.

Ms. Tracy, Thank you for all the information and I know you have lots of very fond memories of all those years on the road. Glad that you are still being able to drive the combines and harvest the crops as I know is is a pleasure for you to do it and it is a pleasure for us to be able to watch you do it. With the Lords help you will be able to do it for many more years. Thank You!!!

Great job Traci I really enjoy your videos. Thank you

Great story from a great family, I can see how harvest can be addicting. Thank you.

Thanks so much for this one it explains everything admirably and lets me understand a lot better all you’ve been through on life’s rocky/happy road - keep it up I’m nearly 80 so who knows we may meet on two big green combines in heaven - I’d sure settle for that ❤

I see your grandfather had a Massey Ferguson 410. My grandfather also had a 410 and 510. He did custom combining in southwest Minnesota. I have fond memories of him.

In 1978 I went south with a crew. I was 14 years old and had been running a combine since I was 10. My boss put me in a 1970 C50 truck pulling a 1977 750 Massey. I ran combine in the field. It was probably the best summer I ever had! Now days they would put my boss in prison for life for doing that but we traveled from North Dakota to Booker Texas and back, no accidents or even a close call. And no trailer brakes either! I think people just knew how to drive back then……Love your videos, they always make me smile and think about the way it used to be. To bad we can’t go back for a while.

What a wonderful life story , great pictures & videos, you do outstanding work put ting everything together ! Thank you & Jim , stay safe , enjoy ! Great memories !

Awesome storys of the generations the scenery makes you feel like you are there been watching for 3 years

Thank you Tracy for the amazing story about you and your family, great memories ❤️

Thanks for the videos and info. I was an announcer at KRVN from 1973-1990 before coming to Alaska. Godspeed from the Old Bearded Scandinavian.

Great story line of your family & grain harvesting, thanks for sharing

Can’t imagine how Many acres you are touching....25 days with 4 combines harvesting!!!! Thousands !!! Enjoy your videos.

What a gorgeous view! I cannot begin to describe how much I love the videos when you start reminiscing about days gone by. Like you, I often wish I had spent more time listening while they were still around.

I enjoyed the videos and really enjoy the history

Where did the X9 go?? How many acres do they have?? Wish I was there I love being around that big beautiful equipment.

Harvest in God's country next to the mountains. I really enjoy oyour videos!

It was wonderful video learning your history the other is how much you have left to harvest there

just a wonderful family history we got to here,if only grandpa and grandma could see you and Jim and your family today tracy .my dad died at 66 now their are 138 in my parents family and still growing.

That’s a great story of your family and America’s grain harvest.

Great story. Followed your channel for a long time, have to admit on and off. You always were able to tell your story with passion. Thanks, Greetings from South West Ontario.

What a wonderful video, Thanks for catching us back up with your history

That story was wonderful Tracy....brought tears to my eyes

I remember when I was teenager seeing trucks with combines in tow in Central Mississippi I no it was not your but a lot of memories thank you I really appreciate yours videos thank you

Been driving combine since1978 mostly corn here in Wisconsin. Combines were my love and office with a view of God's creation so many sun sets and rain outs always tried to go just a little longer with rain coming made sure the truck driver got wet tarping the truck.alot of jobs you can't describe this is one you just have to experience. Thanks tracy.thank the lord.

Great video and story on how your journey to custom harvesting started. Ive been involved in farming a good portion of my life. My grandfather had a small dairy farm and about 600 acres in Southern Minnesota. Even after my parents divorced i spent as much time on grandpa's farm. I graduated in 1976, in 1979 i decided to go on my first wheat harvest with a cutter from north Dakota and went to Lyons ks and worked our way back to North Dakota then went to work for another custom cutter that farmed quite a bit of land and cut for other farmers too. Probably one of my best summers ever. After doing odd jobs for a couple years i finally settled on working for a large family farming operation not far from home. In 1983 during the farm crisis of the 80's the guy i was working for had a new 7720 jd and he said we need money so he hooked the combine up with a cutter not far from us and i went south to Oklahoma on my 2nd harvest running that new combine. Spent the summer working my way up to north Dakota again. Another fun summer! After i got done up there it was back to Southern Minnesota and spent the next 5 yrs with this family farm. In late 88 i bought my first semi and trucked for 23 yrs got married had 3 kids and with my cousin took over my grandads farm. So from 98 to 2010 i farmed and trucked. Decided to quit both in 2010 and went back to work for that same family farm i first worked for in 1981. I dont run combine here but run the tractor and cart during harvest, tillage and truck. Im 65 now and am thinking about maybe slowing down a little, retire maybe! I often think about the wheat harvest and would do it again. It was 2 of my most enjoyable summers i had ever spent. Ive been over alot of country during my trucking years but never that part of Montana where your at and i hope to visit that part of the country when i do decide to retire, so amazing and such beauty! Thanks for sharing your adventures.

Seems like you're living a dream now and don't have to worry about breakdowns and expenses 👏👏👍 ! I started driving a truck while still in high school and that was the start of my illustrious 46 year career 😂 ! I finally retired and still drive a grain and chemical truck for a farmer and always loved farming! So now I work the ground in front of the planter in the spring and run the combine for the entire harvest in the fall on 3000 plus acres that he farms by himself. Love all your videos and the history and really brings back good memories 👍👍 ! Hope you keep them coming and God bless you and Jim and your entire family 🙏🇺🇸🙏

As a person that went on harvest for season, I think you are a great face for your industry.

I'm so happy you kept your channel going and thank you for telling the story❤👍

what a wonderful blessed life, so much to be thankful for.

Watching combines never gets old for me. That’s what I would rather be doing.

Tracey love the story you or a great story teller they dont make people like you & Jim keep the vids coming love them FROM YOUR FRIEND IN TEXas

Tracy I take my hat off to you and Jim.God bless both of you ,y’all make a great team.Keep sharing and keep teaching,people need too see what life’s journey is all about

What a historical life as a custom harvester. Enjoyed all the history. Awesome pictures and great events. Glad your summer worked out as it did. Looking forward to more information as you spend your Wheat Harvest 2023. CYA

Great story, i enjoyed it vety much 🙂🙂

What great family history. You can tell by the pride in your voice how much this journey has meant to you and your family, thank you.

I think I have only commented one other time but your walk down memory lane compelled me to type out my second message…. I have so much respect for your story and family history. I believe you, Jim and all the fine people that you work with are the perfect representation of what America is all about! Keep up the great work, you are a wonderful story teller!

Happy Birthday to your Dad

Thank you Tracy for to history of your family. I look forward to each video every day. I have enjoyed watching your videos each day. You make me feel like a friend, even though we have never met. God Bless you and your family!!!!

Another great video. All the best from N Ireland

Great stories and pictures. Greetings from Dundalk, Ireland....

Thank you fr taking us along! I really enjoy your harvest adventures. My last year of helping out was either ‘71 or ‘72 . We had two JD95 and cut for ourself and a couple of neighbors in SE CO, from the time I was nine years old until the end I was the truck jokey. It was always one of my favorite time of they year.

Tracey, It was good to hear more of your story. I commented earlier about my time on the harvest trail. Since I'm a VA tech grad, I got to harvest most usually after the texas run. I got to the home town of my crew in mid June, Thomas OK. I went with Switzer Combining (a partnership between Ernest and Lois Switzer and Eric Wolgemuth (from Mt. Joy PA). This team was fantastic running 3 Massey's my first year 2 750s and 1 860. Similar to your family, we ended up in Rock Springs, MT between Miles City and Jordan. It is very interesting that we were so close. I was on Harvest from 84-86 and I still get the itch every year. My last year we had two masseys and a Gleaner R6. Ernest ran the Massey's and Eric ran the Gleaner. Ernest and Lois are gone now, boy I miss them. He taught me so much about being a man and how important life was. He was always concerned about our safety more than the equipment. Eric's crew still runs out there and should be finishing up soon. I'm so greatful for harvest as you really get to know what this country is all about. So many have no clue what this country stands for. I'm greatful for your posts so I can live again through your eyes. I have tears in mine so I can't see what I am typing. I'm an IT guy in Staunton VA and will always cherish my time on harvest. Thank you for your beautiful posts and sharing your life with us. I hope this new segway in life is good for you and Jim. God bless you!!!!!!!!!!! Mark

Thank you Tracy for telling your family story, cheers from Australia!

Loved your story

It has been a real treat to follow you on this trip down memory lane.

What a great life!

Interesting stories!!!!

This has been a wonderful series. It has given me an opportunity to remember the wonderful times we had as custom combineders. We started in 1955 traveling from Devils Lake, ND to Alva, OK. We basically traveled East and West of Hwy 83. After the first year we harvested for the same land owners throughout OK, KS, NB, SD and finally back our farm in ND. Like you, I would rather run a machine over other jobs. We quit in 1977 and sold the farm. Keep up the great videos.

Thank you so much for such a great explanation of your family history. Very detailed and interesting. This video shows true perseverance in overcoming blood, sweat and tears for what is in ones heart. Honest to goodness solid family values is more than one could ask for and you have it all, very happy to see and enjoy what your family is. Thank you.

I just picked your family harvesting history. Thank you. It was great! My 6 years went from 1962-67. Started with the John Deere 55 & ended with the 95. Oh, how tge machibery has changed, but still the basics of why you do and enjoy what you and your family gave for 70+ years. Thanks for the memories.

Hello and yes you tell a wonderful story. I have been watching you tell stories for the past three years.

Fascinating story!

Tracy love your videos I have followed you from day one and your videos keep getting better love the stories and this one today on how things got started fantastic job 👍👍👍

Interesting Stories Thankyou Tracy How many acres do your new friends family harvest

I did not think that I could enjoy your videos any more than I already did. But, this one is the best ever and brought me so much enjoyment in watching. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into this.

Tracy, this is the video I have been waiting for. So nice of you to share your family history with the harvest. I have really enjoyed this one. Thanks.

Love your story so much history that you can be very proud of your family and the way they have brought the harvest in for so many people. God bless you.

Loaded the Massey combine many times that way.

Great video and memories..thank you for the pics of the Massey 410 and the 750.. Massey built a great Combine..but I remember the reason Dad switched to Deere was dealership support... couldn't get parts .

My mom’s parents and her four brothers were lifelong farmers. I have countless fond memories of helping them combine wheat and beans and bale hay and straw. I thoroughly enjoy your Utube videos of custom combining out west. Farming is the best profession that there is. Families working together. It can’t be beat! Thank you. Dan from north central Ohio.

Thank You !!!!!!

Thanks y’all, for the old pictures and great stories, great stuff. Like the music also. Y’all be safe and GBR🌽🏈🌽

Tracy I love your stories of your journey. I would really like to here the story of how you ended up in the new holland machine. I have never heard the complete story.

Your videos and footage is amazing! I grew up on the harvest trail and have always missed it! I haul fuel now across a 5 state region and always enjoy watching combines harvesting wheat. When I have to park at night to reset my hours I sure enjoy your videos to pass the time. Thanks and have a great harvest!!!

Thanks for the drone shots, you just cannot see that driving down the county roads. Magnificent

It is a beautiful well told and much appreciated story. I was raised on a small farm in SE Kansas. My dad is still around and just turned 99 on the 16th of sept, 2023. I'll be 79 in few more months and all I do now is the lawn mowing of the farm...:) About 2.5 acres.... Yes I'm old enough to know what it takes to sit the seat of an "H" or "WC" for 10hrs a day pulling a 2bottom plow, etc. Must say I most enjoyed the harvest time as we began with a 1 row cornpicker, a 5foot pulltype combine. Love it all. Thank you!

Good job.

Great video and the story behind your work and passion. I can only think positive thoughts about the work and life you are sharing. 😊👍