It’s not every day that you get to ride in a combine and talk to a farmer. But these people did.
Some were local and others came from the Chicago suburbs for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Riding in a combine to watch field corn being harvested was the highlight of their day.
Nearly 85 people braved the cold, windy October day for a chance to sit alongside a farmer and learn more about corn harvest and the significant function of the large harvesting machine equipped with modern technology.
Farmers who shared their buddy seat with all ages and answered questions of the curious riders were combine drivers Glenn Bolander and Chuck Diehl in Sycamore farm fields and Carl Heide harvesting near his DeKalb home. A total of 60 rides were provided.
The combine rides were arranged by the DeKalb County Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. Proceeds from the rides support ag literacy programs.
A special thanks to the Bolander, Diehl and Heide families for a day of combine rides, R-Equipment for use of a utility vehicle, and the Sycamore FFA for transporting riders in the fields.
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- Chuck Diehl provides a ride for Alison and Timmy Durand in his Sycamore corn field.
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- Carl Heide offered a combine ride to Tasha and Garrett Sims in his DeKalb field.
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- Glenn Bolander takes Sycamore Mayor Curt Lang and grandson Andrew Swedberg for a combine ride in a corn field north of Sycamore.
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- Stephanie and Cole Hunter of Cortland finish their combine ride with Chuck Diehl and are assisted by Cole’s Grandpa Lawrence Link.
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- Four-year-old Cole Hunter liked shelling an ear of corn as he waited for a ride in the combine.
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- Three-year-old Mattis Vera of DeKalb enjoyed holding an ear of corn.
