Editor/ Publisher

While I was in Ellsworth County last summer, I didn’t have the pleasure of photographing wheat harvest.

As I was learning the ropes of the newspaper, it didn’t phase me much — I had so much to learn (and I still do!).

Yet, this summer, it was my turn to hit the harvest circuit.

While this was my first Ellsworth County harvest, it is far from my first harvest ever.

I have memories of harvest from my days as an intern at the Hays Daily News. As the most junior member of the photo staff, I landed all of the grunt work. Day 1 of harvest was expected. Day 13 of photographing harvest? Not so much.

This could be a slight exaggeration, but not much. Ellis County loves harvest and harvest pictures. I feel like I photographed harvest for two straight weeks! At other papers in different times, I continued to photograph wheat harvest. Some farmers would groan when they saw me coming because inevitably, any audience meant their equipment would break down. Evidently no farmer wants to be photographed napping under their farm implement while they wait on the necessary part for the repair.

I did learn a few tricks along the way, though.

This year, I’ve watched the wheat as I’ve been on the road. Most of it looked short and squat. Thin and reedy. Not remarkable.

I’m far from an expert, but I’d heard from friends that it wasn’t an easy crop to harvest.

So when I found myself on a Friday afternoon with the assignment to photograph harvest, I knew it could be slim pickings. I wasn’t hitting harvest in the first few days, when combines were swarming the fields. I was hitting it between rain storms and at high noon, not really a setup for success.

I was undaunted. I knew what to do. I planted myself at a grain elevator and waited for a grain truck.

The employees eyed me wearily and warned me they only had one or two loads all morning and that I shouldn’t get my hopes up.

The reality was that I could burn two hours driving around back roads I am completely unfamiliar with, hoping to run into someone, or I could metaphorically shoot fish in a barrel and sit at the elevator. I chose the elevator.

Less than five minutes later, a truck pulled in. I was in business!

The driver warned me it was “a ways out” ... but again, I’d rather spend my time driving to where I know I will see harvest than driving in circles.

Off we went. Across roads and portions of Ellsworth County I’ve never seen before. It was dusty, but glorious. The winding roads took me up and down valleys and through some of the most beautiful portions of Kansas I’ve ever seen. It was worth every minute of the drive to a remote field to behold the stunning scenery of Ellsworth County.

Now, I just need to remember to stick my boots in the trunk for my next off-road adventure!

Bonar is the editor/publisher of the I-R and can be reached at kbonar@indyrepnews. com.