IF NOT FOR THE TRAFFIC that surrounds me on this four-lane on a Saturday afternoon, I might be traveling directly into a rural scene from the fifties or sixties.
For there, over to the right along this Appleton, Wisconsin, area roadway, a farmer works the field with his Case tractor towing a pull-behind corn picker that drops ears of corn into a wagon.
I get one chance to photograph the scene, but plenty of time to ponder why this farmer chose to harvest his crop with vintage farm machinery.
Is he simply trying to reclaim an era when farmers worked with the wind at their backs, the sun upon their faces, the scent of plant and earth in the air, embracing harvest from the seat of an open air tractor?
(NOTE: This photo was taken in mid-October.)
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Well that is interesting that it is an open air tractor!!! Maybe the new harvester was in for repairs and the harvest had to be done!!!
That’s possible. But I think it’s likely the farmer wanting to farm the old-fashioned way.
I am not sure how this works – run over the corn and the pull-behind somehow lifts and harvests it? I’ve seen one that pull behind, but are off-set to the side.
I should know these things, farm girl that I am. But it’s been too many decades since my dad farmed this way. My husband would know, but he’s not here presently to ask. Readers?
Like my father would say you use what you know and trust when it comes to farming and sometimes old school is best:) Great Capture – Happy Thursday!
Now there’s a viewpoint.
He was born on the farm and raised on farms. He beat into our heads growing up about these are machines not toys and to be responsible while using said machines – ha!
Your father was a smart man.
Could this be as simple as, “this works – why change”?
That’s possible.
I love the advances technology has made but there is something really special about the way things were done in the good ol’ days – we were so much more connected with what we were doing xx
I totally agree with you.
I guess if it still works… use it! Great photo,so cool to see an old tractor doing field work.
It is fun seeing old farm equipment out in the field. Typically when I see old tractors, etc., they are parked at a tractor show or being driven in a parade.
Having gone to many antique power shows in the past two years I have to think it was simply because he could. The sheer joy in some of them old timer’s and young timer’s faces when they are out there threshing and plowing is something to see. My uncle has a few antique John Deere tractors. He lives by Windom MN and there is an annual Delft Plow day where they roll out the old tractors and plow a field video here. My uncle at 6:45 time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7oHf4b7azw
I have to go with your “simply because he could” view, Ryan.