Roger-Kansas
Member
My father has been told his time is short so there has been a lot of reminiscing around here lately; mostly about farming. I know this story has been told on this page before but it is a favorite around here.
When my youngest daughter Renee turned 15 she decided it was time for her to drive wheat trucks. My father and I decided to start her out hauling 200 bushels at a time with the Red Ford. We were the only farmers with a semi at that time and were going to use it as a catch truck. If it got full I would take time off from planting row crop and unload it. For the next 3 days I listened to Renee complain about hauling “GIRL” loads. She wanted to move up to the tandem truck. I owned an old 1966 Dodge D800 that would haul 700 bushels. No air conditioning and no power steering. I told my father to load about 600 bushels to the back so it would be easier to steer. Renee came home that night complaining. Grandpa won’t fill the Dodge full; I don’t want to haul no “GIRL” loads, tell him to fill it up. By now I’ve had it with her complaining so I told my father – fill the tandem full. A day of arm-strong steering that thing will shut her up. The next evening I quit planting Milo early and unloaded the semi, Renee was not far behind in the tandem. I was setting at the kitchen table when Renee came through the door. She threw a handful of scale tickets on the table and said – look at that dad. My smallest load was 704 bushels; my big load was 745 bushels. Clint and Brad (neighbor boys and a year older) never broke 675 bushels today and their trucks have power steering. I want to drive the semi tomorrow.
You can see the pride in my father’s face when this story is told.
When my youngest daughter Renee turned 15 she decided it was time for her to drive wheat trucks. My father and I decided to start her out hauling 200 bushels at a time with the Red Ford. We were the only farmers with a semi at that time and were going to use it as a catch truck. If it got full I would take time off from planting row crop and unload it. For the next 3 days I listened to Renee complain about hauling “GIRL” loads. She wanted to move up to the tandem truck. I owned an old 1966 Dodge D800 that would haul 700 bushels. No air conditioning and no power steering. I told my father to load about 600 bushels to the back so it would be easier to steer. Renee came home that night complaining. Grandpa won’t fill the Dodge full; I don’t want to haul no “GIRL” loads, tell him to fill it up. By now I’ve had it with her complaining so I told my father – fill the tandem full. A day of arm-strong steering that thing will shut her up. The next evening I quit planting Milo early and unloaded the semi, Renee was not far behind in the tandem. I was setting at the kitchen table when Renee came through the door. She threw a handful of scale tickets on the table and said – look at that dad. My smallest load was 704 bushels; my big load was 745 bushels. Clint and Brad (neighbor boys and a year older) never broke 675 bushels today and their trucks have power steering. I want to drive the semi tomorrow.
You can see the pride in my father’s face when this story is told.
