I’ve been spending a lot of time in the tractor cabs this month as we continue our fall harvest marathon.

Spending so much time operating the grain cart during the fall harvest gave me plenty of time to keep up with podcasts, opportunities to start and finish new audiobooks, and listen to the latest songs on the radio again and again.

Although I had this extra time at the tractor, I was also missing other important tasks. Laundry needs attention. It took me a while to respond to my emails. October birthdays will be celebrated later in November. And I officially told my kids that they had to keep the groceries I brought home on the weekends because I couldn’t do any special shopping during the week. If we lack milk, drink water.

If I’m not in a tractor, I’ve been driving across the countryside in a truck pulling material to the next field waiting to be harvested. I spent a lot of time on the back roads to get to the next field.

The other afternoon my daughter was in the truck with me while I pulled the fuel trailer out to a field. She would chat about her day, test me on her latest jokes and riddles she had been working on, and update me on the latest book she had read.

As we approached a tree-lined part of the dirt road, she stopped talking and just stared out the window until we passed through the trees full of changing leaves.

“You know, Mom,” she said. “I think it’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

I couldn’t argue with her. The trees are at just the right time of the season, where the green leaves of summer have transformed into the vibrant yellows, reds and oranges that are synonymous with fall. They shimmer in the afternoon sunlight as they move with the wind, still clinging to tree branches, suggesting that there is plenty of life left before winter arrives.

Everywhere I look right now, a warm, fiery palette presents itself to viewers.

There are people who pay a lot of money to go see the color changes in other states. Individual vacations, bus tours and train trips are scheduled around this particular season. Many people head to the mountains to see the aspens turn or head back east to see the maples, birches and cherry trees displaying their peak fall foliage.

But me? I’m perfectly happy enjoying the view from the cab of a tractor or while driving on dirt roads as we continue to harvest our fall crops. The background colors of these most beautiful leaves complement the natural, warm hues of the soybean and sorghum fields still awaiting harvest.

I know it won’t last long, so I’m making sure to enjoy all those peak views now before the leaves dry and fall off their trees to usher in winter.
It truly is the most beautiful time of the year.

_ _ _

“Insight” is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Desklargest in the state farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

Kim Baldwin is a McPherson County farmer and rancher