Harvesting friendships
By Celeste Beam, Staff Reporter
Friday, 11/15/02
Posted on 11/14/2002 2:53:34 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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Harvesting friendships
By Celeste Beam, Staff Reporter
Friday, 11/15/02
|
For one farmer in Evansville, living in "small town rural America" is something he wouldn’t trade for anything else in the world.
For the last 20 years, Jeff Larson and his wife, Karen, have farmed on a fourth generation family farm.
It was built in the 1860s, creating a path of pride and heritage along the way.
Many friendships were also established — friendships that spoke volumes for what small town rural America is all about.
Last week, Jeff, Karen and their two children, Derek, 17, and Jenna, 16, found out how important those friendships really are.
This past summer, Jeff’s dad, Harold, who farmed side by side with him for the last 20 years, passed away from a heart attack.
Although this meant extra work for the family, Karen said they thought they could take care of it.
They got through most of the work, she said, but they were falling behind — 12,000 more acres needed to be harvested and winter was just around the corner.
Karen explained that a "couple of friends" saw that the family needed help and stepped up to the plate.
Friends of the family, Brent Johnson and Randy and Eric Satterlie, told Jeff they would come over and help, she said.
Then the family found out that one of their other friends, Rodney Weets, had been in contact with the fertilizer company and it was also willing to help the family out.
"Turns out," she said, "Rodney and the other guys had been planning this for several days.
"Jeff’s uncle, Ron, also told us he would be willing to run a tractor for the day," she noted.
The next morning, last Friday, the family found not just a couple friends were helping them out, but several.
"The last time I counted, there were 16 tractors in the field," Karen stated. "They were all over the place."
She said they also found out that two implement dealers — Farm Power Inc. and Amundson Equipment, both from Elbow Lake — donated equipment and drivers to help out for the day.
"It was overwhelming," she said. "We did not expect that much generosity.
"This was a tribute to Jeff’s dad and the man that he was," Karen stated. "Jeff was in awe of what his friends did. We all were. Tears welled up in our eyes and we realized how great those guys really are."
Jeff said, "Oh my — it was such a lift for our family. We really needed it at such a trying time.
"I have farmed side by side with my dad for so many years," Jeff stated. "He was more than just my dad, he was my best friend.
"I know my father would have also been overwhelmed," he added.
But the generosity didn’t stop with the men helping in the field.
Karen said Julie Satterlie, Randy’s wife, contacted her and told her not to worry about feeding the "couple of guys" that were coming to help out — she would take care of it.
Take care of it she did.
On Friday, Karen said Julie pulled up in the yard and her Suburban was full of food.
"About 12 ladies had donated enough food for the day," she said. "We served more than 30 people in our shed that day."
Once again, she said the family was in awe of the generosity of their friends.
Jeff noted that his kids even got to stay home from school that day.
"They probably learned more here anyway," Jeff stated. "They definitely learned the true meaning of friendship and the camaraderie we have.
"I know I will never forget it," he added. "It truly speaks volumes for our area and for small town rural America. Words just cannot explain it."
This is just another example of what makes America wonderful.
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