We were surprised to learn that every corn kernel has a silk attached and if it does not get pollinated from the tassels above, then the kernel will not form. Above are the golden locks of an ear.
All harvesting is done in the fall with combines, which are huge and roll through the fields sucking up the cobs and spitting out only kernels. Unfortunately we have not been able to see one in action, as they are only used later on during harvest. This one is six rows and is considered a moderate size.
Charlie Malley, a corn farmer and good storyteller.
Kevin Malley, who, along with his father, gave us his family history and explained everything you would ever need to know about tile and corn farming with lasers (which is apparently how everything is done these days).
Horseshoe nails pounded into wedding rings from Kevin's grandparents' farm.
A view of the grain bins, the skyscrapers of rural Illinois. Some of them hold upwards of 100,000 bushels of corn.
Keith Morling, his plots are spread over several counties, which makes it harder to farm in some respects, but also helps diffuse weather risks.
A view from the top of a grain bin.
Keith with one of his semi-trucks.
Doug Inness with his son's 4-H-bound calfs. Farmers these days rarely spend time out in the field, so raising calfs is one way to stay connected to the old family farming days. He blows fans on them three times a day to keep the flies off and brushes them by hand.
Doug bought this poster after seeing it in Sky Mall. He felt it epitomized his views on putting his family before farming.
This is Chris Bertelson, a seed seller for Crows, which is a division of Monsanto. We spent 9 hours with his putting up signs and checking out fields. It was interesting seeing the other side of the business (although Nora is still not a fan of the company, despite the fact they treated us to peanut butter m&ms and coffee).
Karl reviewing his field's stats.
Surveying growth.
One of Chris' customers.
Jim Purlee, a farmer who hit it big with ethanol farming 8,000 acres and now rarely steps out into the field because he can afford hired men.
Sunrise on the Thompson farm.
Susan and Tye.
Tye is a grilling machine. The outdoor kitchen has probably never seen that many vegetables, but since us veggies are in town, Tye conceded to upping the veggie count.
Everyone here is tye-dye crazy!
Kate helping the man by putting up a sign.
The tractors and combines here are so big the tires are taller than we are!
Out here in the Midwest we ride in style. We are headed off to the taste of Galesburg with Susan and Tye's son Sam and their exchange student Taps.
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