The Last Farewell to the Last Harvest

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Tom OConnor

Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Just finished harvesting the last crop of my farming career. Some of the fields I have planted and harvested for well over sixty years. It has been a beautiful fall harvest, one of the nicest and easiest that I can remember. The years that really stick in your mind are the ones that you work all fall in soil conditions that remind you of working in about a foot of fresh cement and loading all the trucks on the side of the road. Not this year, you drive the truck anywhere you want it in the field. A lot of memories and thoughts have been going through my mind this fall. What am I the most proud of? We did it all safely. The most serious injury on the farm was an older man I had helping me jumped off the back of a truck and broke his leg years ago. Thats it. Over seven thousand logged instrument hours in the air as pilot in command, nearly a million miles in a semi tractor trailer, over sixty years on this farm all done safely. It has been a good run and I have been truly Blessed. I am not really sure why I have been so fortunate but I shall be forever grateful. My wife was over in the field with me and I will attach a few pictures that she took of the "Last Farewell."

 

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Greg1959

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Tom OConnor- A wonderful tribute! and bittersweet farewell.

Thanks for posting and Good Luck on your next endeavor!

 

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Bryce Frazier

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Congratulations on many, many jobs well done.......

Bryce

 

greenmech

Well-known Member

Location

Lakeville MN

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Well done! Ron Mn

 

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TomH in PA

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Well deserved retirement. Enjoy it.

 

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agonair

Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Brought a tear to my eye! Good Luck in your next chapter!

 

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01gentdc

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

sounds like you are runnin too good to quit now ,,. you got it all mastered ,,. well done ,, Blessings to you and your dear wife

 

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fixerupper

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

I second all of the previous comments. You have worked hard in life and now you deserve a rest. Congratulations and what a nice fall to end it with.

 

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55 50 Ron

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

My stupidity will show, but I have to ask. What is that air blower mechanism on the header?? What does it do??

 

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blue water massey

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Thanks for posting and Good Luck on your next endeavor!

 

SweetFeet

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Congratulations on farming safely so long... and especially on your retirement.

Tell your wife great photos.

May you find other interests that you really enjoy in your retirement - more tractor shows, more travel, more time with family and friends... remember to take the camera along!

Just an FYI - you may well a bit lost next spring when crops start going in the ground - but it gets a little easier with the passing of each farming season... until you find you actually enjoy the freedom. (At least that's the way it worked out for my husband.)

 

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JD Seller

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

55 50 Ron: That is an air reel. It blows air in a high volume stream back at the header. This will blow any shattered beans and short plants back into the header. They help with feeding in short crops.

 

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JD Seller

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Tom I wish you well in your retirement. I do not see the day when I quit. It maybe in my future but I just do not see it happening. There is little else I like doing so it is not really work to me.

 

Ande

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

My hat is off to you sir, I only wish you time now to really have fun, as obviously you have had a fun and good life so far.

 

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donjr

Well-known Member

• Oct 18, 2015

• #1

Tom, it's a bit hard on me to see a farmer hang it up and retire, because I'm getting close to it myself. But, going out on top is a real accomplishment that you can be proud of.

Good luck and many keepers....

 

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Alan K

Well-known Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

You have a lot to be proud of. Best of luck to you. Now you can be a supervisor.

 

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centash

Well-known Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Just took the first step on that journey my self--share cropping half my land with a nephew next year---mixed feelings--but will give me more time to use my pilot's licence.

Good luck to you,sir, and a job well done!

Ben

 

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Bonnan

Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Great Job Tom! It is a pleasure to share the occasion with you.

JD. "It is only work IF you would rather being doing something else".

 

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MARK ROBKE

Well-known Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your retirement,and get to watch someone else farm it who does a good job with it.Mark

 

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BradyW

Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Great Run! You should be proud..... There is no job or weather condition that is so important we can't take the time and preform our tasks safely.

 

WI Dan

Well-known Member

Location

Northern Wisconsin, Price County

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Congratulations Tom. Well done. Glad to hear the harvest was safe. I appreciate your sharing this with a bunch of internet folks you'll probably never meet. Tip of the hat to you!

 

Blackhole49

Well-known Member

Location

White Lake MI

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Congratulations on retirement! That is some awfully nice looking equipment, hope someone puts it to good use.

 

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Spook

Well-known Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Congrats. Not many folks plan as well as you, or work the plan as well.

 

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Dave H (MI)

Well-known Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

What are you going to do with all your free time? If I remember correctly isn't a fella right there locally taking over your fields? You picked a good year to go out.

Your old Chevy C-50 and I are headed to the local pit here in a couple of hours. Going to bring back two loads of sand and finish off the north side of the equipment shed. Looks like a nice day for it.

 

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Cooter143

Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Tom, that's a lot of instrument time. What type of flying were you doing?

 

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rrlund

Well-known Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Condolences. I don't know if I can quit entirely.

 

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37chief

Well-known Member

Location

California

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

I know the decision probably wasn't an easy one. congratulations,you did it. Now enjoy your time. Stan

 

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Rick Kr

Well-known Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Tom,
You have got to be pretty close to me as I grew up in that area.

Im sure I would know you if we ran into each other. Only two guys I can think of close that would take over your fields.

Rick

 

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Dune Country

Well-known Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

congrats, I'll be there sometime, what is the gross with all of those axles?

 

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Frank41

Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

If you would have taken that last round first, you would have been done a long time ago.

I had a 9610 with a 930F that was much better than the 9500 with a 925 before. But they couldn't hold a candle to the 9670 with a 630F that I have now.

 

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Paul from MI

Well-known Member

• Oct 19, 2015

• #1

Congrats on the retirement. Just think of all the knowledge you've acquired that could really help some young guy. Think about the best way to share it, maybe even write a book. Lots of people can't wait to read the experiences of a real farmer, not secondhand in some novel.

 

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ml_work

Member

• Oct 20, 2015

• #1

Mr. OConnor,
This is the 3rd time I have looked at your pictures. Although I do not know your and will probably never meet you, I get choked up each time. It is a pleasure to see someone that has done so well in a time so many complain. We live in the Greatest place on earth and you have taken advantage of it very well. A good life, hope you the best in your next adventure.

Keep LOOkin Up!
Michael
Joshua 1:8