John Deere Therapy

There is so much work to do on a farm, but my favorite by far is haying. Hay season means I get to drive the John Deere to rake the hay. I never get to cut, dad does that. Something about those dozens of sharp sawing blades and I’d most likely cut my foot off, blah blah blah nonsense. Once the hay is cut and dried, it’s time to rake. The rake has hundreds of tines positioned in a V to create a furrow. Then the guys come along and bale it. I don’t get to bale either but that’s more of an issue of it jamming every tenth bale and me not able to fix a dang thing on it.

Hopping up on the tractor seat, I start her up, put her in gear, and head to the lower field. It is just me, my machine and the steady thrum of the turning hay. The sweet smell rises up while the sun beats down. After a good ten rotations I put my John Deere in neutral and take a long drink of the ice cold tea I brought.

Midway through the first field Richard walk out shaking his head back and forth because I’ve bowed the furrows, way, way out. I can never keep them in a straight line. “Andee, what the hell? Find a point at the other end of the field and go towards that,” he says impatiently while wildly gesturing to a point at the end of the row with his arms. “That’s exactly what I do,” I tell him.

I hear the frustration in his voice. I know it’s because he is going to be the one bailing, and it’s so much harder to do when the rows aren’t straight. I get it. When Rich rakes, each row is perfect and straight. It’s rather lovely, but I’m sure as hell not gonna tell him that. Problem is I get to looking around checking the gears and gauges or the neighbor guy who is 5 foot 11, blonde and beautiful, and just like that I have another bowed out furrow.

He tells me he’ll take over for a bit. I hop down and watch the master go to work. After only two rotations he has a perfect straight furrow. “Try a little harder sis, okay” as he heads back to whatever dad has him doing that afternoon.

And I will, but we both know what’s going to happen.