Fall weather is officially here, so bundle up and get ready to witness changes in the landscape surrounding Eaton thanks to harvest season. Harvest season is a time to reap the benefits of a long, gruesome growing season of crop production with a shared sense of pride and accomplishment among those in agriculture. From the remnants of late spring or early summer, farmers plant seeds on acreage to grow crops.  With water for irrigation, chemistry for soil amendments and hard work to ensure it all happens at the correct time, crops thrive and mature to their harvest potential.  “Harvest season” happens after the growing season when the crops are mature and ready to be collected.  

     Northern Colorado is abundant with farmers that are currently experiencing the rush of harvest season. These farmers put all of their efforts into perfecting their craft. Grant Rose, a local farmer for Hunter Ridge Dairy, explained that the reason farmers work so hard perfecting their craft is because, “the greatest factor to profitability is yield.” In other words, how many tons that are reaped per acre is more important than any other outlier.

     Considering that there is only a short window of time when the weather conditions are good to harvest, Rose said that it is “definitely the busiest time of year. We have long hours- early mornings and late nights.” Rose has spent the last week driving a water truck for at least 12 hours a day. 

     Though the process is overwhelming, many are put at ease as it is also a very rewarding time. Months of preparation and hard work have led up to the moment of harvesting crops. It is a special thing to witness when looking through the lens of those who were involved throughout the entire life cycle of the plant, from inception to harvest.