Farming & Family: The Jeschke's

Wow today is day 7 of our Farming & Family feature!  I am still getting emails and messages pouring in and can't wait for you to read all about these amazing farm families.  Today's family includes a custom harvest operation, which is something many folks don't know much about.  Take a moment and enjoy reading about today's family and their farm!  

1. Who are you and where are you located?

We are  Jared and Megan Jeschke. We Live in Troy, KS, which is in the Northeast Corner of the Great state of Kansas. We have 2 boys, and 1 girl Harley (a Boston terrier).
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  Brody is 9 years old, going on 18. He is a 4th grader. We also have a toddler, Cutler,  with more energy than all three of us put together. He sure adds so much excitement and joy to our lives. Harley (the dog) is 2 ½. She loves to ride in the tractor and combine


2. How did your farm begin? 
 Jared and I grew up around the farm. From watching his Grandpa farm, and always catching rides with him to the hog/cattle sells, Jared is the 4th Generation in his farming family. He and his dad work side by side farming together every day. I grew up going to work with my dad as he milked cows and helped on the farm. From a small town we all have a little country in us.

3. What does your farm produce?

We plant corn and beans in the spring and costume harvest wheat in the summer. We raise Angus Cattle and currently have 18 meat goats.
   
4. What is the busiest time of year for your farm?

To sum up our year… We start off in April planting corn and beans. We are very lucky to plant some for ourselves and very fortunate to be able to custom plant for several others in our area. When the planting is all done we wash up the planter and tractor and switch over and get geared up for Wheat harvest. We will pack up clothes and supplies, fuel, service and prep the semi, service the combine, maybe even wash it up so everything shines as Jared heads south to OK. He and Simpson Harvesting cut wheat from OK all the way Up to Colorado. We Travel 36 Hwy into wheat Country. Wheat harvest usually runs from end of May to the end of June… Maybe mid July. Depending on Kansas Weather, which we all know can be unpredictable. I help Jared’s dad mow, rack and move hay during hay season for our cattle. 

I also work in town as a local hair dresser. In between hay time the boys and I will travel out to get our fix of Wheat Country and take time to meet the great families we cut wheat for. Those trips are usually short, but 4 in one combine is starting to get a bit crowded. When wheat harvest is complete, we are in full swing for our County 4-H Fair. That is one busy week for us. Usually we will wash up the combine, trailer, and semi. Also Washing up 3 more combines from Simpson Harvesting crew as well. We bleed GREEN. From August to September we get all odds and ends done before Fall harvest. Once we finish up fall harvest we try to apply anhydrous before the cold sets in. Winter time we feed hay to the cows twice a week. We even get some time to sit in a stand with our bows and wait for the right Whitetail to show up. Which brings us back to spring… Whew! Ahh the farm life. Living the dream…..One acre at a time.

5. How do younger generations help on the farm?

Both of our kids right now are just our side kicks. They both have had plenty of rides in the buddy seat. Both have had their fair share of uncomfortable naps. Brody cant wait to be able to drive the tractor, because he knows his dad isnt going to share the combine seat for a while. Lol Jared loves that seat…. He loves his job and truly takes in every moment of it.

6. With all there is to do on a farm, are you involved off the farm?
We are involved in our local 4-H group. We have put together a  tractor cruise, helped with tractor pulls (which all proceeds go back to the 4-H) and county Fair. It’s a great way to teach our kids that hard work and dedication pay off.  Plus they can meet all kinds of new friends. 

7. What's your favorite activity to do together as a family on the farm?
We do everything together. We love to go on a ranger ride and check the cows, stand out and enjoy the goats eating in the pasture, and enjoying a home cooked meal around the table at our home. Home sweet Home! You know you don’t get to be home much during harvest and planting season so when you are able to be at home and relax with your family by your side those are the best times.

8. Why is family important to your farm?
We make a great team. We all have our own Jobs that take place. Jared’s dad Sprays all the crops, our Uncle Jimmy mows all the fields and roadsides. They always look great. Jared is the planter guy, anhydrous applicator and combine operator, sometimes the semi driver. I pull tanks, drive the tractor and cart (I haven’t learned how to drive the semi) If someone is missing we are all able to help pitch in where help is needed. Like I said we make a great team

9. What's one thing you want non-farm families to know?
There is a lot more to farming than just planting the seed. Sweat, tears, and Gray hairs… We grow them naturally, and love every minute of it.

10. Do you have a blog, a farm Facebook page, twitter, etc where people can find out more about you and your farm?  

A big thank you to the Jeschke Family for sharing about their farm. If you have a question for them please feel free to leave it in the comments.

Until next time...may God bless you & keep you.

Caci

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