Yesterday was getting back into the field for us. I left early in the morning to pick up a land roller to roll the peas (pushing all the small rocks in to the ground and leveling the field, our combine headers appreciate this task). The night before I asked Landon if he would roll for me while I picked the larger rocks on the field. He was up at 5am and in our room wondering if it was time to go. I remember doing exactly the same thing when I was his age when my dad told me that the next day I would cultivate behind him spraying avadex on our fields, oh how history repeats itself. The only difference is I was in a 100hp tractor (with A/C) and steering a 20ft cultivator down the field, while Landon was in a 200hp Front wheel assist with auto-steer pulling a 45ft roller. He was on a 1 mile long field and he said it got a little boring on those long runs but he was so proud of himself when he finished the whole 160 acres. I have to admit, I was pretty proud too, he handled it like a pro. Struggled a little at first getting lined up after turning but by the end had it figured out.

I picked rocks on both quarters while he rolled(taking extra care because I had extra time with Landon running the roller now instead of me doing both fields) and then stayed on the field and watched him finish up. He was sure to radio me when he saw a rock I missed so that I could head over and pick it up. He had a long face when I told him he couldn’t roll the 2nd field, but it is littered with power poles and SaskTel pedestals, so just too many hazards.

We used our CIH 7140 on the roller, which is our general do it all tractor, but was the first to have auto-steer in it back when we used it for spraying. We still have the same auto-steer system (Ag Leader Easy Steer) and it works great after nearly a decade. I still remember the first time we let go of the steering wheel and couldn’t believe it was going to keep our tractor going straight down the field. Now it is just a given that you hit resume and away it goes. Landon, Logan, Gabby and Liam won’t know any different and I wonder what technology they will have when they are running the units in the future. I got a text from my Uncle Doug yesterday and it was of his auto-steer that he just installed on his seeding tractor. He experienced that same feeling yesterday and I am sure he was equally as amazed as we were the first time we used it. I am very glad he decided to go with it as I am sure he will enjoy it and make his seeding that much less stressful.

Happy Mother’s Day to all those mothers reading today, hope you get to spend sometime with your kids today, or at least talk with them. Nothing more special than our bond with our incredible mother. Love you Mom!