Tanner didn't have school on Friday, so we took a trip out to the Farm to see Daddy for lunch. It is potato harvest, so Dave is very busy, and works long hours. We miss him at home! It was so fun to see the harvest operation and meet the people that he works with.
I think it is silly to admit that I have never really seen a harvest operation. I lived in Idaho the last 10 or so years, and my Granddad is a potato farmer, but, that is how it is. So here it is for all of you as "sheltered" as I...
The potatoes come out of the ground with a digger that fills up a potato truck. The truck drives to the scale and weighs itself, then comes here to dump its load, which goes down a conveyor belt into a booth where ladies are picking out the vines, rocks, and rotten potatoes.
Then the spuds continue down the conveyor to 2 other pickers, catching the missed vines, rocks, and rottens, and then continue down the conveyor to the cellar where they are piled high (like 100 high, is what Tanner said!)
Dave took us into the cellar and showed us the fans that blow cool air into the plenums which keep the piles cool, which keeps them from rotting.
The boys were really nervous about being in the dark cool cellar, but it was neat to stand at the top of the cellar and see the pile of "100 potatoes".
Dave is in charge of all the storages, making sure that they stay the right temps and that the refrigeration units are working properly. It is kind of an important job, since millions of dollars of potatoes are sitting in there. I am so proud of my potato farmer. He is so smart and is learning so much. He seems to fit right in around there, and considering the fact that the only thing he knew about potatoes before this is that they make fries and chips, he has come a long way!
We will be so glad when Harvest is over though. He comes home at night so tired, so he eats and goes to bed, which leaves me up alone wishing my friends and family would update their blogs so I had something interesting to read while I sit around! (hint, hint!)
1 comment:
Oh boy! What a fun job! Look at all those potatoes. Fun outing for you and the boys!
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