Chopping

We enjoyed being a part of the corn chopping season this year.  Uncle Ryan bought a truck and chopper last year and after weeks of getting everything ready the big day was finally here so we all headed out to watch Ryan open his first field.  I'm pretty sure that our enthusiasm was as entertaining to the drivers as watching them work was to us. 

 

We know next to nothing about this, but in case you're wondering why the chopper is driving up the middle of the field in some of the picture below Ryan explained to us that when they "open the field" they drive around the outside edge and then up the middle in a few places to make a path for the trucks so that they don't have to drive all the way around every time they have a load.

Grammy and Cooper

Waiting for our first glimpse of the chopper.

Watching for Uncle Ryan

Here it comes!  You can't see it in the picture but Auntie Katie is actually driving this crazy machine.  What a good farmers wife!

Sadie was a bit afraid of the chopper because it was of course pretty loud, but Wyatt couldn't wait for his chance to ride with Uncle Ryan.  There's even a little seat next to the drivers seat for him with a seat belt and everything.  He was so proud and I can't tell you how many times he made us laugh talking about "-opping" with Uncle Ryan.  I think it was the very next day when we told him Uncle Ryan was out chopping that we laughed the hardest as he said in his most expressive squirt voice "UNCLE -IAN -OPPING -ITHOUT ME!?!?"  Sadie did eventually decide to ride with me towards the end of the season and says she won't be too afraid next year, and Wyatt says that when he grows up he's going to chop without Ryan.  I guess we will see about all of the above.