The last couple of week have been pretty busy around my house as harvest is in full swing. My husband Adam and his family were busy harvesting our soybean crop and trying to beat the rains that came the last few days. The life of a farmer’s wife is always interesting as you never know what you’ll be asked to do or help with. It certainly keeps me on my toes! The most quality time we spent together all of last week was spent in a combine or semi-truck. Romantic right!? 😉 One of my favorite parts of this time of year is watching the harvest take place and recognizing how important each step is in regards to our food production. It’s easy to go to the store, pick out what you want, take it home, and eat it…but when you really think about where that food came from, it’s pretty amazing! Above is a picture I took as I rode in the combine with Adam as he harvested the soybeans.
This picture above is of us dumping the beans into the grain cart as we moved along. The grain cart then dumps the beans into a hopper trailer connected to a semi-truck and they are then taken to an elevator where they distribute them to food processors around the nation and world.
I took the above picture from our semi-truck as the beans were unloaded at the elevator. The pile of beans is on the right and they will eventually make another pile of corn in the center where the other auger is.
We are still waiting for the corn to dry out a bit more so we can harvest it. Soybeans and corn are used in uncountable foods and are an integral part of our food chain. Soybeans are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. The dried soybeans are an excellent heart healthy snack . I always find it fascinating to think about where our food products come from and I encourage you to do so as well. You just may appreciate what we have a little more…along with the farmers who work so hard to put that food on your table. When you have some time, I encourage you to check the ingredients of your foods. The ingredients are listed below the label and are listed most to least in regards to the amounts in that food product. Examine what the foods are and think about where they came from. Choosing a food with less ingredients means it’s less produced and a better choice. By being more aware of what is in our foods and where it comes will, will help you make better and healthier choices, and will help you live a healthier life!
-Kelsey
