1 00:00:00,931 --> 00:00:04,298 "America's Heartland is made possible by..." 2 00:00:04,298 --> 00:00:07,464 Farm Credit - financing agriculture and rural 3 00:00:07,464 --> 00:00:09,731 America since 1916. 4 00:00:09,731 --> 00:00:11,831 Farm Credit is cooperatively owned by America's 5 00:00:11,831 --> 00:00:13,364 farmers and ranchers. 6 00:00:13,364 --> 00:00:16,498 Learn more at farmcredit.com 7 00:00:16,498 --> 00:00:19,231 The United Soybean Board whose "Common Ground" 8 00:00:19,231 --> 00:00:21,398 program creates conversations to help 9 00:00:21,398 --> 00:00:23,931 consumers get the facts about farming and food. 10 00:00:23,931 --> 00:00:28,364 There's more at: findourcommonground.com 11 00:00:28,364 --> 00:00:31,598 The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. 12 00:00:31,598 --> 00:00:33,631 Dedicated to building greater awareness and 13 00:00:33,631 --> 00:00:35,864 understanding of agriculture through education 14 00:00:35,864 --> 00:00:37,331 and engagement. 15 00:00:37,331 --> 00:00:40,564 More information at: agfoundation.org 16 00:00:40,564 --> 00:00:43,764 The Fund for Agriculture Education - A fund created 17 00:00:43,764 --> 00:00:47,364 by KVIE to support America's Heartland programming. 18 00:00:47,364 --> 00:00:49,398 Contributors include the following: 19 00:00:51,564 --> 00:00:54,598 ♪ 20 00:00:54,598 --> 00:00:56,898 We're on a pretty tight schedule. 21 00:00:56,898 --> 00:01:01,131 There are sheep to be fed at sunrise. 22 00:01:01,131 --> 00:01:03,598 My children get up earlier than most children. 23 00:01:03,598 --> 00:01:05,264 They don't know any different. 24 00:01:05,264 --> 00:01:06,931 I like to keep it that way. 25 00:01:06,931 --> 00:01:10,631 The children need to get to school. 26 00:01:10,631 --> 00:01:14,364 And cows need to be moved to greener pastures. 27 00:01:14,364 --> 00:01:17,198 It's this Kansas family's first year as full-time 28 00:01:17,198 --> 00:01:19,198 farmers. 29 00:01:19,198 --> 00:01:21,898 Dealing with the daily schedule...they face a 30 00:01:21,898 --> 00:01:23,731 larger challenge. 31 00:01:23,731 --> 00:01:24,631 Have you ever seen it like this? 32 00:01:24,631 --> 00:01:27,764 No, I've never seen this dry. 33 00:01:27,764 --> 00:01:31,431 A historic drought drying up crops in the fields. 34 00:01:31,431 --> 00:01:33,498 What does their future hold? 35 00:01:33,498 --> 00:01:36,398 What insights can they get from the farmers that came 36 00:01:36,398 --> 00:01:38,031 before them? 37 00:01:38,031 --> 00:01:38,998 You are running out of daylight. 38 00:01:38,998 --> 00:01:41,198 Exactly. 39 00:01:41,198 --> 00:01:43,864 That's normally how our days go. 40 00:01:43,864 --> 00:01:46,464 Come along as we spend dawn to dusk with a hard working 41 00:01:46,464 --> 00:01:48,331 Kansas farm family. 42 00:01:48,331 --> 00:01:51,831 It's all coming up on a special America's Heartland. 43 00:01:51,831 --> 00:01:53,898 We thank you for this good food and your blessings. 44 00:01:53,898 --> 00:01:54,798 Amen. 45 00:02:26,098 --> 00:02:27,864 We try to head out the door at six o'clock. 46 00:02:27,864 --> 00:02:28,964 Sharp. 47 00:02:28,964 --> 00:02:32,231 A little blurry-eyed in the dark every morning. 48 00:02:32,231 --> 00:02:34,864 While much of Kansas is still sleeping, 49 00:02:34,864 --> 00:02:40,098 the Brunkow family is up before dawn. 50 00:02:40,098 --> 00:02:43,464 But breakfast can wait. 51 00:02:43,464 --> 00:02:45,231 The first chores we do are to go out and feed the 52 00:02:45,231 --> 00:02:49,098 sheep. 53 00:02:49,098 --> 00:02:51,664 Right now we have six lambs that the children are gonna 54 00:02:51,664 --> 00:02:54,431 take on to the state fair in Wichita. 55 00:02:54,431 --> 00:02:57,164 And then we have a pen of four butcher lambs that 56 00:02:57,164 --> 00:02:58,398 we're raising up. 57 00:02:58,398 --> 00:03:01,164 We've got orders for some lambs. 58 00:03:01,164 --> 00:03:04,631 We think it's important that the kids understand that we 59 00:03:04,631 --> 00:03:07,098 need to take care of the animals. 60 00:03:07,098 --> 00:03:09,231 And to understand that their needs come first. 61 00:03:09,231 --> 00:03:12,364 It doesn't matter if it's 30 below or 105 degrees, 62 00:03:12,364 --> 00:03:16,931 we need to take care of them first. 63 00:03:16,931 --> 00:03:18,731 The Brunkow's other livestock is 64 00:03:18,731 --> 00:03:23,898 waiting...impatiently to move to a new pasture. 65 00:03:23,898 --> 00:03:27,098 More on why they are moving early in a bit. 66 00:03:40,964 --> 00:03:43,331 So how was lunch yesterday with the new lunch? 67 00:03:43,331 --> 00:03:44,931 Wasn't bad. 68 00:03:44,931 --> 00:03:46,564 Did you get enough? 69 00:03:46,564 --> 00:03:50,431 No, I went up and got a double order of nachos with 70 00:03:50,431 --> 00:03:55,031 poptarts. 71 00:03:55,031 --> 00:03:56,864 Killer, you're in charge. 72 00:03:56,864 --> 00:03:59,264 The kids and Jennifer head out the door at 7:30 73 00:03:59,264 --> 00:04:04,598 And my day is just startin'. 74 00:04:04,598 --> 00:04:07,764 So Glenn the kids are off to school? 75 00:04:07,764 --> 00:04:09,198 Things are quiet now. 76 00:04:09,198 --> 00:04:10,231 Time for you to get some work done. 77 00:04:10,231 --> 00:04:10,664 Exactly. 78 00:04:10,664 --> 00:04:11,598 Exactly. 79 00:04:11,598 --> 00:04:13,298 What do you have to do today? 80 00:04:13,298 --> 00:04:16,031 Well the herd of cattle that are a mile up the road at 81 00:04:16,031 --> 00:04:18,431 one of the pastures we rotate them to. 82 00:04:18,431 --> 00:04:20,698 We're going to move them down here. 83 00:04:20,698 --> 00:04:22,098 But before you move any cattle you have to... 84 00:04:22,098 --> 00:04:24,564 Got to make sure the fences are up. 85 00:04:24,564 --> 00:04:26,398 What happened to this one, this looks like a mess over 86 00:04:26,398 --> 00:04:27,331 here. 87 00:04:27,331 --> 00:04:28,698 The sheep went through it. 88 00:04:28,698 --> 00:04:29,931 They went through an electric fence? 89 00:04:29,931 --> 00:04:31,298 Yep, they went through the electric fence. 90 00:04:31,298 --> 00:04:32,931 They eventually figure out that their wool, 91 00:04:32,931 --> 00:04:36,298 and obviously there's is no electricity to it right now, 92 00:04:36,298 --> 00:04:39,898 they figure out that their wool doesn't allow the shock 93 00:04:39,898 --> 00:04:41,198 to get to them. 94 00:04:41,198 --> 00:04:42,231 So they go right through it? 95 00:04:42,231 --> 00:04:43,464 They go right through it. 96 00:04:43,464 --> 00:04:47,964 Then that means they go back to jail and get locked up. 97 00:04:47,964 --> 00:04:51,564 Winter project is to get this fence done, this year. 98 00:04:51,564 --> 00:04:54,131 Permanent so we don't have to worry about this every 99 00:04:54,131 --> 00:04:54,931 time. 100 00:04:54,931 --> 00:05:05,098 ♪ 101 00:05:05,098 --> 00:05:06,364 How far down does this fence go? 102 00:05:06,364 --> 00:05:09,298 It goes clear to the top of the hill the property line. 103 00:05:09,298 --> 00:05:16,864 My cows are so conditioned to the electric fence a lot 104 00:05:16,864 --> 00:05:20,931 of the time they won't even try it. 105 00:05:20,931 --> 00:05:22,431 Is that your dad coming in the pickup truck? 106 00:05:22,431 --> 00:05:23,631 Yeah. 107 00:05:23,631 --> 00:05:24,764 Yeah. 108 00:05:24,764 --> 00:05:29,131 He will take the lead and I'll bring up the rear. 109 00:05:29,131 --> 00:05:31,464 Dad and I work really closely every day we get 110 00:05:31,464 --> 00:05:36,198 along pretty well most of the time. 111 00:05:36,198 --> 00:05:38,664 If Jennifer could drive straight to the school from 112 00:05:38,664 --> 00:05:41,131 their farm it would be a three mile trip in the 113 00:05:41,131 --> 00:05:42,698 morning. 114 00:05:42,698 --> 00:05:46,498 But navigating around the Flint Hills on gravel roads 115 00:05:46,498 --> 00:05:50,998 turns the journey into a 15 minute drive. 116 00:05:50,998 --> 00:05:52,864 We have two children. 117 00:05:52,864 --> 00:05:54,264 Isaac is 14. 118 00:05:54,264 --> 00:05:58,331 And a 12 year old daughter, Tatum. 119 00:05:58,331 --> 00:06:00,531 You like the KSTATE ram? 120 00:06:00,531 --> 00:06:01,731 You don't? 121 00:06:01,731 --> 00:06:03,398 I said 'do you'? 122 00:06:03,398 --> 00:06:04,331 Like the new one. 123 00:06:04,331 --> 00:06:11,398 I hadn't really looked at it to see. 124 00:06:11,398 --> 00:06:13,664 Jennifer drives the kids to the nearby town of 125 00:06:13,664 --> 00:06:16,731 Westmoreland. 126 00:06:16,731 --> 00:06:22,464 Oh my god. 127 00:06:22,464 --> 00:06:25,898 Okay, go. 128 00:06:25,898 --> 00:06:31,098 Have a good day. 129 00:06:31,098 --> 00:06:32,764 I drop them off. 130 00:06:32,764 --> 00:06:35,631 They hop on the school bus to go to Rock Creek. 131 00:06:35,631 --> 00:06:42,698 We have a shuttle bus that runs to the school. 132 00:06:42,698 --> 00:06:45,564 Back on the farm Glenn's father Darold is ready to 133 00:06:45,564 --> 00:06:47,598 help out with the livestock. 134 00:06:47,598 --> 00:06:51,298 He's delivering a bale of hay to feed the sheep. 135 00:06:51,298 --> 00:06:53,798 It's a two man job to get the pickup through and not 136 00:06:53,798 --> 00:06:55,464 let the ewes out. 137 00:06:55,464 --> 00:06:58,764 And we put the feed around them. 138 00:06:58,764 --> 00:06:59,864 Do you need my knife, dad? 139 00:07:07,398 --> 00:07:09,231 It's just a real blessing to get to work with him each 140 00:07:09,231 --> 00:07:12,998 day and to spend time with him. 141 00:07:12,998 --> 00:07:15,364 That's one of the benefits. 142 00:07:15,364 --> 00:07:19,264 Like any good teenager I assumed that my Dad didn't 143 00:07:19,264 --> 00:07:21,464 know anything and I was gonna go to college, 144 00:07:21,464 --> 00:07:24,531 and I was gonna learn what he didn't know. 145 00:07:24,531 --> 00:07:25,864 And the more I learned in college, 146 00:07:25,864 --> 00:07:30,831 the more I realized that he knew a lot. 147 00:07:30,831 --> 00:07:37,098 Well that was easier than I thought. 148 00:07:37,098 --> 00:07:38,798 Here at Westmoreland Elementary School I'm the 149 00:07:38,798 --> 00:07:40,098 school librarian. 150 00:07:40,098 --> 00:07:43,598 I help kids check out books and help them with their 151 00:07:43,598 --> 00:07:45,531 accelerated reading. 152 00:07:45,531 --> 00:07:46,831 Did you go anywhere this summer? 153 00:07:46,831 --> 00:07:48,398 I went to Hawaii. 154 00:07:48,398 --> 00:07:48,998 That's right. 155 00:07:48,998 --> 00:07:50,764 You went to Hawaii. 156 00:07:50,764 --> 00:07:52,164 This has been a popular book too. 157 00:07:52,164 --> 00:07:54,898 Have you read the Olympians? 158 00:07:54,898 --> 00:07:57,864 We have a mixture of farm kids and town kids. 159 00:07:57,864 --> 00:08:00,164 Some of our kids are military children. 160 00:08:00,164 --> 00:08:02,464 Who is the person in front of you? 161 00:08:02,464 --> 00:08:04,931 Are you going to pass that person? 162 00:08:04,931 --> 00:08:05,964 No. 163 00:08:05,964 --> 00:08:06,998 No. 164 00:08:06,998 --> 00:08:07,831 Okay. 165 00:08:07,831 --> 00:08:09,864 This is a full time job. 166 00:08:09,864 --> 00:08:14,531 I work from August till June. 167 00:08:14,531 --> 00:08:17,598 My job pretty much anymore is to pay for insurance. 168 00:08:17,598 --> 00:08:22,798 My husband gave up a full time 8 to 5 job. 169 00:08:22,798 --> 00:08:26,031 But decided this year to farm full time. 170 00:08:26,031 --> 00:08:30,898 Our monthly income is a lot more sparse than it was. 171 00:08:30,898 --> 00:08:33,564 We're looking at getting two or three paychecks a year 172 00:08:33,564 --> 00:08:34,731 vs. 173 00:08:34,731 --> 00:08:37,864 every two weeks. 174 00:08:37,864 --> 00:08:39,431 It was a big leap. 175 00:08:39,431 --> 00:08:42,498 Jennifer and I talked about it for a long time. 176 00:08:42,498 --> 00:08:45,698 You know, you can always find an excuse why not to. 177 00:08:45,698 --> 00:08:47,931 And I didn't want to look back on it later in life and 178 00:08:47,931 --> 00:08:50,998 say, "I wonder if I'd a tried". 179 00:08:50,998 --> 00:08:52,264 Ok. 180 00:08:52,264 --> 00:08:54,031 Now for the toughest part of the day. 181 00:08:54,031 --> 00:08:56,698 Glenn and his father now need to move a herd of 182 00:08:56,698 --> 00:08:59,164 cattle to another pasture. 183 00:08:59,164 --> 00:09:02,064 Our cows are so used to rotating pastures, 184 00:09:02,064 --> 00:09:04,631 pretty much you just gotta kind tell 'em what they're 185 00:09:04,631 --> 00:09:07,664 gonna do and they do it...And generally we can 186 00:09:07,664 --> 00:09:08,898 move 'em. 187 00:09:08,898 --> 00:09:11,198 Sometimes they can get cantankerous. 188 00:09:11,198 --> 00:09:13,631 But most of the time they do pretty well. 189 00:09:13,631 --> 00:09:16,831 One of the side effects of this record breaking drought 190 00:09:16,831 --> 00:09:20,098 across the heartland is wandering cattle. 191 00:09:20,098 --> 00:09:22,731 Farmers and ranchers across the state are dealing with 192 00:09:22,731 --> 00:09:24,131 it here in Kansas. 193 00:09:24,131 --> 00:09:26,664 The situation is there's just not a lot of forage 194 00:09:26,664 --> 00:09:29,664 left in any pastures because conditions are so dry. 195 00:09:29,664 --> 00:09:33,698 All you need is a break in a fence or an open gate and 196 00:09:33,698 --> 00:09:36,164 you've got farmers spending their nights rounding up 197 00:09:36,164 --> 00:09:38,664 cattle that have wandered onto their neighbors' 198 00:09:38,664 --> 00:09:40,831 property or even onto the road. 199 00:09:40,831 --> 00:09:46,898 ♪ 200 00:09:46,898 --> 00:09:50,798 The Brunkow's cattle have not escaped. 201 00:09:50,798 --> 00:09:53,698 But when Darold shows up to let them out, 202 00:09:53,698 --> 00:09:56,664 their bellowing is a telltale sign they are ready 203 00:09:56,664 --> 00:09:57,598 to move. 204 00:10:07,664 --> 00:10:17,231 The hay bale is a teaser to get the cows moving. 205 00:10:17,231 --> 00:10:20,164 The cattle march down the lonely county road with a 206 00:10:20,164 --> 00:10:23,098 little help from today's farm visitor, 207 00:10:23,098 --> 00:10:25,064 making sure they don't wander down the neighbors' 208 00:10:25,064 --> 00:10:26,498 driveway. 209 00:10:26,498 --> 00:10:39,664 ♪ 210 00:10:39,664 --> 00:10:40,798 The cattle are hungry, right? 211 00:10:40,798 --> 00:10:41,898 Oh yeah. 212 00:10:41,898 --> 00:10:42,964 You see them? 213 00:10:42,964 --> 00:10:44,031 Ha. 214 00:10:44,031 --> 00:10:46,298 They've got a lot to eat out here for a while now. 215 00:10:46,298 --> 00:10:47,564 They seem happy now. 216 00:10:47,564 --> 00:10:48,598 Oh yeah. 217 00:10:48,598 --> 00:10:50,031 They will be for a week or so. 218 00:10:50,031 --> 00:10:53,664 Normally the cattle could stay on this grazing ground 219 00:10:53,664 --> 00:10:55,298 for a few weeks. 220 00:10:55,298 --> 00:11:00,598 But it is so dry they'll have to move again sooner. 221 00:11:00,598 --> 00:11:02,831 Glenn was saying this is the worst he's seen it and he 222 00:11:02,831 --> 00:11:03,898 hasn't been at it as long as you. 223 00:11:03,898 --> 00:11:05,231 No, no. 224 00:11:05,231 --> 00:11:08,898 It's been - I don't remember it any worse. 225 00:11:08,898 --> 00:11:11,631 And how long have you been at it? 226 00:11:11,631 --> 00:11:14,864 All of my 69 years except three years I spent at 227 00:11:14,864 --> 00:11:16,531 Phoenix. 228 00:11:16,531 --> 00:11:18,164 Is there anything you can do about it? 229 00:11:18,164 --> 00:11:19,631 Ha. 230 00:11:19,631 --> 00:11:20,464 ha. 231 00:11:20,464 --> 00:11:21,531 Pray. 232 00:11:21,531 --> 00:11:22,464 Yeah. 233 00:11:22,464 --> 00:11:23,631 That's it right? 234 00:11:23,631 --> 00:11:25,298 You just need some rain? 235 00:11:25,298 --> 00:11:27,498 Is it in the forecast? 236 00:11:27,498 --> 00:11:31,798 Tomorrow a slight chance and then all of next week no. 237 00:11:31,798 --> 00:11:33,131 Is that how the summer has been? 238 00:11:33,131 --> 00:11:34,298 Pretty much. 239 00:11:34,298 --> 00:11:38,398 We didn't get the rains in May and June to grow the 240 00:11:38,398 --> 00:11:40,031 grass out. 241 00:11:40,031 --> 00:11:43,631 Glenn took me to a nearby pasture to see just how dry 242 00:11:43,631 --> 00:11:46,131 things are. 243 00:11:46,131 --> 00:11:47,798 Look how dry this is. 244 00:11:47,798 --> 00:11:49,798 You don't want drop your cell phone down in this 245 00:11:49,798 --> 00:11:50,864 crack. 246 00:11:50,864 --> 00:11:53,264 You may never find it. 247 00:11:53,264 --> 00:11:54,598 You probably don't see that very often. 248 00:11:54,598 --> 00:11:56,031 No, no not at all. 249 00:11:56,031 --> 00:11:59,964 In fact we've got some heavier clay ground that's 250 00:11:59,964 --> 00:12:01,464 got even bigger cracks in it. 251 00:12:01,464 --> 00:12:02,731 And that's just because it's so dry. 252 00:12:02,731 --> 00:12:05,331 It's so dry the ground is cracked and opening up. 253 00:12:05,331 --> 00:12:06,698 Yeah, it is. 254 00:12:06,698 --> 00:12:08,231 So this is supposed to be a pond. 255 00:12:08,231 --> 00:12:09,398 This is supposed to be a pond. 256 00:12:09,398 --> 00:12:10,798 Usually this is two or three feet deep in water. 257 00:12:10,798 --> 00:12:14,864 It's not much of a pond but it hardly ever goes dry. 258 00:12:14,864 --> 00:12:16,098 And look how dry it is now. 259 00:12:16,098 --> 00:12:17,398 It's been dry for a couple months. 260 00:12:17,398 --> 00:12:19,264 Whew. 261 00:12:19,264 --> 00:12:20,564 So on a normal year... 262 00:12:20,564 --> 00:12:21,798 It'd be up about knee deep. 263 00:12:21,798 --> 00:12:23,498 Knee deep in water. 264 00:12:23,498 --> 00:12:26,164 Yeah, it will stay ahead of the cattle. 265 00:12:26,164 --> 00:12:28,631 There's a little bit of a spring or something here. 266 00:12:28,631 --> 00:12:30,564 It will stay ahead of the cattle usually when we're in 267 00:12:30,564 --> 00:12:32,098 here. 268 00:12:32,098 --> 00:12:33,264 Have you ever seen it like this? 269 00:12:33,264 --> 00:12:35,164 No, I've never seen this dry. 270 00:12:35,164 --> 00:12:38,664 Usually there's some water in here anyway. 271 00:12:38,664 --> 00:12:39,864 Are you worried about the water situation? 272 00:12:39,864 --> 00:12:41,231 Yeah, I am, I am. 273 00:12:41,231 --> 00:12:42,998 We're on a well at our house, 274 00:12:42,998 --> 00:12:45,064 and we're not on rural water. 275 00:12:45,064 --> 00:12:47,931 It could run, if we run out of water at the house we're 276 00:12:47,931 --> 00:12:48,731 in trouble. 277 00:12:48,731 --> 00:12:49,798 Yeah I bet. 278 00:12:49,798 --> 00:12:50,864 Disappointing. 279 00:12:50,864 --> 00:12:52,298 It is disappointing it is. 280 00:12:52,298 --> 00:12:54,564 But that's kind of what we signed up for so... 281 00:12:54,564 --> 00:12:56,464 Taking it in stride. 282 00:12:56,464 --> 00:12:58,264 You've got to take it in stride or it'll drive you 283 00:12:58,264 --> 00:12:59,331 nuts. 284 00:12:59,331 --> 00:13:00,731 You don't want anybody to feel sorry for you. 285 00:13:00,731 --> 00:13:05,698 No, no, no, this is the lifestyle we chose and it's 286 00:13:05,698 --> 00:13:07,631 just part of the game. 287 00:13:07,631 --> 00:13:09,798 My uncle tells me this will make every other year seem 288 00:13:09,798 --> 00:13:11,731 good. 289 00:13:11,731 --> 00:13:29,664 ♪ 290 00:13:29,664 --> 00:13:34,631 It's mid-day and Isaac's Agriculture class is underway. 291 00:13:34,631 --> 00:13:36,464 Well Issac you wanna tell us a little about your summer 292 00:13:36,464 --> 00:13:37,564 and what'd you do? 293 00:13:37,564 --> 00:13:39,731 Well, all summer I pretty much worked with my 294 00:13:39,731 --> 00:13:42,498 show sheep and cattle. 295 00:13:42,498 --> 00:13:45,164 And so I had to wake up pretty much every morning 296 00:13:45,164 --> 00:13:48,031 and walk my sheep down the road and run them back, 297 00:13:48,031 --> 00:13:49,464 so it's like weightlifting. 298 00:13:54,464 --> 00:13:57,564 And since it's only the second day of school Tatum's 299 00:13:57,564 --> 00:14:01,631 classmates are working on some name games. 300 00:14:01,631 --> 00:14:08,364 I am "Rapid Reitz." 301 00:14:08,364 --> 00:14:10,031 Rapid Reitz. 302 00:14:10,031 --> 00:14:11,831 Curious Katie. 303 00:14:11,831 --> 00:14:12,698 Wait. 304 00:14:12,698 --> 00:14:14,131 Creative Katie. 305 00:14:14,131 --> 00:14:14,764 I'm. 306 00:14:14,764 --> 00:14:17,864 Curious Carmen. 307 00:14:17,864 --> 00:14:19,264 Zany Zach. 308 00:14:19,264 --> 00:14:21,398 Marvelous Meghan. 309 00:14:21,398 --> 00:14:24,131 Itsy Izzy. 310 00:14:24,131 --> 00:14:25,464 Humble Haley. 311 00:14:25,464 --> 00:14:28,198 Faithful Faith. 312 00:14:28,198 --> 00:14:29,964 Dancing Dylan. 313 00:14:29,964 --> 00:14:31,731 Mad Marshal. 314 00:14:31,731 --> 00:14:34,798 The values that I'm hoping my children are getting is 315 00:14:34,798 --> 00:14:36,431 working hard pays off. 316 00:14:36,431 --> 00:14:40,431 Terrific Tatum. 317 00:14:40,431 --> 00:14:42,064 We want our kids to be able to talk to us about 318 00:14:42,064 --> 00:14:43,064 anything. 319 00:14:43,064 --> 00:14:45,164 And that's hard in this - today's world. 320 00:14:45,164 --> 00:14:48,931 But hopefully our kids grow up to be good responsible 321 00:14:48,931 --> 00:14:51,564 and make good choices. 322 00:14:51,564 --> 00:14:53,564 They're like every brother and sister. 323 00:14:53,564 --> 00:14:56,731 They will fight like cats and dogs, 324 00:14:56,731 --> 00:14:59,298 but when somebody does something to the other, 325 00:14:59,298 --> 00:15:04,598 they're there to defend them. 326 00:15:04,598 --> 00:15:07,298 Glenn recently left his full time job as a county 327 00:15:07,298 --> 00:15:11,864 agriculture extension agent to farm full time, 328 00:15:11,864 --> 00:15:14,698 but he works about 15 hours a week as the director of 329 00:15:14,698 --> 00:15:20,231 two non-profit foundations in nearby Wamego. 330 00:15:20,231 --> 00:15:22,764 So, we don't want to handle the money so can we work 331 00:15:22,764 --> 00:15:23,898 with you on this? 332 00:15:23,898 --> 00:15:25,431 Sure, that's what we are here for. 333 00:15:25,431 --> 00:15:29,264 It is a very worthy project. 334 00:15:29,264 --> 00:15:31,498 Back on the farm Glenn's father has his own 335 00:15:31,498 --> 00:15:34,164 challenge. 336 00:15:34,164 --> 00:15:38,498 A chain on the corn harvester needs fixing. 337 00:15:38,498 --> 00:15:41,264 Parts for this old equipment are hard to come by so 338 00:15:41,264 --> 00:15:47,098 they've been waiting days on a new one to arrive. 339 00:15:47,098 --> 00:15:49,631 After a quick stop for lunch Glenn checks in on the 340 00:15:49,631 --> 00:15:51,998 progress. 341 00:15:51,998 --> 00:15:53,798 They may not get a big harvest thanks to the 342 00:15:53,798 --> 00:15:56,864 drought, but if this equipment doesn't get fixed 343 00:15:56,864 --> 00:15:59,731 they won't get anything! 344 00:15:59,731 --> 00:16:02,964 There's a feeder chain on one of the rows, 345 00:16:02,964 --> 00:16:05,431 that feeds the stalks of corn and ears of corn into 346 00:16:05,431 --> 00:16:09,631 the combine and it's just worn. 347 00:16:09,631 --> 00:16:12,564 It look like it was going to work. 348 00:16:12,564 --> 00:16:15,864 We tried to put a new sprocket on it and tried to 349 00:16:15,864 --> 00:16:25,998 fix the chain. 350 00:16:25,998 --> 00:16:30,031 It just didn't work. 351 00:16:30,031 --> 00:16:35,364 Just going to have to go without it? 352 00:16:35,364 --> 00:16:37,698 Fortunately there are two chains on either side...so 353 00:16:37,698 --> 00:16:41,831 Glenn and Darold decide to give it a try without that 354 00:16:41,831 --> 00:16:44,031 broken chain. 355 00:16:44,031 --> 00:16:48,164 It's a triage a lot of times that you do in the field and 356 00:16:48,164 --> 00:16:54,898 just make it work. 357 00:16:54,898 --> 00:16:56,131 Hey Rock Creek! 358 00:16:56,131 --> 00:16:57,531 It has been a great two days. 359 00:16:57,531 --> 00:17:00,364 Back at school - classes are out. 360 00:17:00,364 --> 00:17:01,998 We'll see you back here on Monday morning, 361 00:17:01,998 --> 00:17:03,131 you are dismissed. 362 00:17:03,131 --> 00:17:06,298 ♪ 363 00:17:13,364 --> 00:17:14,731 Tatum plays volleyball and basketball 364 00:17:14,731 --> 00:17:16,364 and softball. 365 00:17:16,364 --> 00:17:18,064 Isaac plays football and baseball. 366 00:17:38,864 --> 00:17:42,764 We try to give our kids every opportunity that they 367 00:17:42,764 --> 00:17:54,898 can if they want to do something. 368 00:17:54,898 --> 00:17:56,964 These beans don't look so good, Glenn. 369 00:17:56,964 --> 00:17:59,431 No, they're turning yellow, they're pretty close to the 370 00:17:59,431 --> 00:18:01,864 end of their life cycle. 371 00:18:01,864 --> 00:18:07,198 Let's grab one here and we'll take a look at it, 372 00:18:07,198 --> 00:18:09,064 and then I'll show you one of the good ones. 373 00:18:09,064 --> 00:18:10,598 They have pods on there, I can see.. Yeah, 374 00:18:10,598 --> 00:18:14,164 there're pods on there, they're gonna start dropping 375 00:18:14,164 --> 00:18:15,698 off and they're not filling up. 376 00:18:15,698 --> 00:18:16,964 This one is starting to fill, 377 00:18:16,964 --> 00:18:19,064 it's about the size of a pea. 378 00:18:19,064 --> 00:18:20,398 How big should that be right now? 379 00:18:20,398 --> 00:18:23,031 Oh it should be, a full size soybean it should be at 380 00:18:23,031 --> 00:18:24,598 least twice that big. 381 00:18:24,598 --> 00:18:25,931 So fill up your hand essentially? 382 00:18:25,931 --> 00:18:27,364 And look at them there. 383 00:18:27,364 --> 00:18:29,731 And then these would all make beans if we got some 384 00:18:29,731 --> 00:18:32,131 rain and if the plant lived long enough. 385 00:18:32,131 --> 00:18:33,798 Each one of these blooms. 386 00:18:33,798 --> 00:18:35,998 You can see they are already starting to drop off. 387 00:18:35,998 --> 00:18:40,631 I mean there should be three pods there on that nodule. 388 00:18:40,631 --> 00:18:43,598 There should be two or three pods on each nodule. 389 00:18:43,598 --> 00:18:44,964 So you'll get nothing out of that essentially. 390 00:18:44,964 --> 00:18:45,798 Yeah. 391 00:18:45,798 --> 00:18:47,298 There will be hardly anything. 392 00:18:47,298 --> 00:18:49,064 But this patch back here looks a little greener to 393 00:18:49,064 --> 00:18:50,598 me. 394 00:18:50,598 --> 00:18:52,264 Yeah, there is some hope out here yet. 395 00:18:52,264 --> 00:18:53,364 So these are taller. 396 00:18:53,364 --> 00:18:56,631 Yeah, they're much better beans. 397 00:18:56,631 --> 00:18:58,964 You can see the difference in all the pods are on here. 398 00:18:58,964 --> 00:19:01,131 The pods are starting to fill. 399 00:19:01,131 --> 00:19:03,531 If we get some rain these pods will fill. 400 00:19:03,531 --> 00:19:06,064 This is probably only 15-20 bushel beans as they stand 401 00:19:06,064 --> 00:19:06,898 here. 402 00:19:06,898 --> 00:19:08,598 And what typically would it be? 403 00:19:08,598 --> 00:19:10,698 37-39 is our average. 404 00:19:10,698 --> 00:19:11,698 So half. 405 00:19:11,698 --> 00:19:13,664 Half, if we are lucky. 406 00:19:13,664 --> 00:19:16,164 I see this stubble in here from old corn stocks. 407 00:19:16,164 --> 00:19:17,764 You said that is helping out? 408 00:19:17,764 --> 00:19:18,931 That is last year's residue. 409 00:19:18,931 --> 00:19:22,231 That actually holds in the moisture and adds organic 410 00:19:22,231 --> 00:19:25,164 matter, so we are building our soil up over time. 411 00:19:25,164 --> 00:19:27,898 But it did help this year, you could really tell the 412 00:19:27,898 --> 00:19:29,598 difference between the conventionally tilled and 413 00:19:29,598 --> 00:19:33,664 the no till because we held our moisture in longer. 414 00:19:33,664 --> 00:19:36,631 This field has held on about 2, 415 00:19:36,631 --> 00:19:38,531 3 weeks longer than I thought it would. 416 00:19:38,531 --> 00:19:40,364 And that's, you think because of the no-till 417 00:19:40,364 --> 00:19:41,464 practices? 418 00:19:41,464 --> 00:19:47,298 I definitely do. 419 00:19:47,298 --> 00:19:50,031 Today's harvest is just a test of their mechanical 420 00:19:50,031 --> 00:19:53,364 issue, also to see if the corn is dry enough to 421 00:19:53,364 --> 00:19:56,398 harvest and to get a sense of just how much corn 422 00:19:56,398 --> 00:20:00,198 they'll get out of their fields this year. 423 00:20:00,198 --> 00:20:02,198 I think it is pretty wet yet, isn't it? 424 00:20:02,198 --> 00:20:03,398 Yes. 425 00:20:03,398 --> 00:20:07,231 It's pretty soft. 426 00:20:07,231 --> 00:20:10,831 That is some really sorry looking corn. 427 00:20:10,831 --> 00:20:17,064 Yeah, I've never seen ears like that. 428 00:20:17,064 --> 00:20:21,564 Glenn drives a small sample of the corn back to Wamego. 429 00:20:21,564 --> 00:20:26,064 It gets tested for moisture content at the local co-op. 430 00:20:26,064 --> 00:20:26,864 Hi Glenn. 431 00:20:26,864 --> 00:20:27,931 Hello. 432 00:20:27,931 --> 00:20:28,731 What ya got? 433 00:20:28,731 --> 00:20:29,731 Some corn. 434 00:20:29,731 --> 00:20:30,964 Really bad corn. 435 00:20:30,964 --> 00:20:32,198 Really bad corn. 436 00:20:32,198 --> 00:20:33,564 We don't like really bad corn. 437 00:20:33,564 --> 00:20:35,198 Well it looks a lot like what you got it in that 438 00:20:35,198 --> 00:20:42,364 bucket there. 439 00:20:42,364 --> 00:20:44,964 Dad's not cutting the combines in the barn. 440 00:20:44,964 --> 00:20:46,798 Oh, so this is hand shucked? 441 00:20:46,798 --> 00:20:51,198 No, no.. Oh, 16-4. 442 00:20:51,198 --> 00:20:52,331 Yeah, that's not too bad. 443 00:20:52,331 --> 00:20:55,064 The corn is not quite dry enough for harvest. 444 00:20:55,064 --> 00:20:56,264 Well we'll get out of your hair. 445 00:20:56,264 --> 00:20:59,531 Okay. 446 00:20:59,531 --> 00:21:01,864 Volleyball and football practice are done and the 447 00:21:01,864 --> 00:21:06,264 Brunkow kids are on the move again. 448 00:21:06,264 --> 00:21:11,164 The activity bus takes them into Westmoreland. 449 00:21:11,164 --> 00:21:12,398 There's a lot of running back and forth I noticed 450 00:21:12,398 --> 00:21:13,898 today. 451 00:21:13,898 --> 00:21:17,098 There is a lot of running back and forth. 452 00:21:17,098 --> 00:21:19,464 It takes a few minutes for you to get off the gravel 453 00:21:19,464 --> 00:21:22,964 and to a highway that is paved. 454 00:21:22,964 --> 00:21:25,431 Yeah, in the winter time we have bad weather it can be a 455 00:21:25,431 --> 00:21:26,764 little rough. 456 00:21:26,764 --> 00:21:30,531 When it snows we've been snowed in for a couple days. 457 00:21:30,531 --> 00:21:32,064 Is it worth it living out here in the country? 458 00:21:32,064 --> 00:21:32,831 It's worth it. 459 00:21:32,831 --> 00:21:35,964 It really is. 460 00:21:35,964 --> 00:21:39,831 It occurs to me it is 6:00pm you still have to pick the 461 00:21:39,831 --> 00:21:42,831 kids up, do chores, go to a meeting, 462 00:21:42,831 --> 00:21:46,464 have dinner and maybe homework, 463 00:21:46,464 --> 00:21:47,498 if there's homework. 464 00:21:47,498 --> 00:21:49,864 You are running out of daylight. 465 00:21:49,864 --> 00:21:52,331 Exactly. 466 00:21:52,331 --> 00:21:55,398 That's normally how our days go. 467 00:21:55,398 --> 00:21:59,931 ♪ 468 00:22:25,498 --> 00:22:28,764 The day is winding down but like breakfast, 469 00:22:28,764 --> 00:22:34,898 their dinner will have to wait. 470 00:22:34,898 --> 00:22:37,464 After evening chores the family needs to head back 471 00:22:37,464 --> 00:22:41,131 into town for a 4-H meeting. 472 00:22:41,131 --> 00:22:43,131 You don't just raise something that goes down to 473 00:22:43,131 --> 00:22:44,698 the sale barn and goes through. 474 00:22:44,698 --> 00:22:45,798 You're raising that. 475 00:22:45,798 --> 00:22:47,164 You are raising beef. 476 00:22:47,164 --> 00:22:49,631 This year the Brunkow children raised cattle that 477 00:22:49,631 --> 00:22:52,731 got sold and processed for beef. 478 00:22:52,731 --> 00:22:55,264 At this meeting they get to see just how that beef was 479 00:22:55,264 --> 00:22:59,731 graded and how they stacked up to their fellow 4-H'ers. 480 00:22:59,731 --> 00:23:04,364 Roy and Todd are passing out the how the cattle placed 481 00:23:04,364 --> 00:23:05,931 out. 482 00:23:05,931 --> 00:23:12,598 I got a check for how much my steer graded and weighed. 483 00:23:12,598 --> 00:23:17,498 My participation check, and here's the results. 484 00:23:17,498 --> 00:23:22,964 I got 15th place which is better than last. 485 00:23:22,964 --> 00:23:38,764 ♪ 486 00:23:38,764 --> 00:23:42,464 It's well past dinnertime, and Glenn is at the grill. 487 00:23:42,464 --> 00:23:46,431 Unsurprisingly, beef is what's for dinner. 488 00:23:46,431 --> 00:23:49,031 These aren't just hamburger patties for the family. 489 00:23:49,031 --> 00:23:52,298 Glenn is testing his latest product. 490 00:23:52,298 --> 00:23:55,998 He sells custom cuts of beef fresh from the farm. 491 00:23:55,998 --> 00:23:57,364 It's one of my favorite things. 492 00:23:57,364 --> 00:23:59,198 Jennifer laughs cause I can hardly ever get more than 493 00:23:59,198 --> 00:24:00,931 one delivery in a night. 494 00:24:00,931 --> 00:24:03,331 Because I go pick it up, I take it to them, 495 00:24:03,331 --> 00:24:04,998 I help them take it out. 496 00:24:04,998 --> 00:24:08,998 I like talking to them about what we do. 497 00:24:08,998 --> 00:24:11,031 I explain it to them why we do what we do. 498 00:24:11,031 --> 00:24:12,864 How we handle our cattle. 499 00:24:12,864 --> 00:24:14,264 How we feed our cattle. 500 00:24:14,264 --> 00:24:17,398 And tonight - all these customers want is something 501 00:24:17,398 --> 00:24:19,731 to eat now. 502 00:24:19,731 --> 00:24:21,598 Lord, we thank you for this day and thank you for all 503 00:24:21,598 --> 00:24:23,131 the blessings today. 504 00:24:23,131 --> 00:24:25,564 We ask for your guidance and thank you for this good food 505 00:24:25,564 --> 00:24:26,664 and your blessings. 506 00:24:26,664 --> 00:24:28,131 Amen. 507 00:24:28,131 --> 00:24:32,231 A day that started with 6 am chores...draws to a close 508 00:24:32,231 --> 00:24:36,131 after 9 at the dinner table. 509 00:24:36,131 --> 00:24:38,598 These full-time farmers will be back at it again 510 00:24:38,598 --> 00:24:41,564 tomorrow...from dawn to dusk. 511 00:24:47,898 --> 00:24:49,764 That's going to do it for this special edition of 512 00:24:49,764 --> 00:24:50,998 America's Heartland. 513 00:24:50,998 --> 00:24:53,598 Thanks for visiting Kansas and the Brunkow family with 514 00:24:53,598 --> 00:24:54,698 us. 515 00:24:54,698 --> 00:24:56,431 Always remember you can catch more of our show 516 00:24:56,431 --> 00:24:59,264 online at americasheartland.org and 517 00:24:59,264 --> 00:25:01,364 find us on many of your favorite social media sites 518 00:25:01,364 --> 00:25:02,498 as well. 519 00:25:02,498 --> 00:25:03,998 We'll see you next time right here in America's 520 00:25:03,998 --> 00:25:05,898 Heartland. 521 00:25:19,598 --> 00:25:26,031 ♪You can see it in the eyes of every woman and man ♪ 522 00:25:26,031 --> 00:25:32,031 ♪in America's Heartland living close to the land. ♪ 523 00:25:32,031 --> 00:25:35,064 ♪There's a love for the country ♪ 524 00:25:35,064 --> 00:25:38,064 ♪and a pride in the brand ♪ 525 00:25:38,064 --> 00:25:44,498 ♪in America's Heartland living close, ♪ 526 00:25:44,498 --> 00:25:47,131 ♪close to the land ♪ 527 00:25:47,131 --> 00:25:48,798 ♪ 528 00:25:48,798 --> 00:25:52,531 "America's Heartland is made possible by..." 529 00:25:52,531 --> 00:25:55,864 Farm Credit - financing agriculture and rural 530 00:25:55,864 --> 00:25:57,464 America since 1916. 531 00:25:57,464 --> 00:25:59,798 Farm Credit is cooperatively owned by America's 532 00:25:59,798 --> 00:26:01,264 farmers and ranchers. 533 00:26:01,264 --> 00:26:04,464 Learn more at farmcredit.com 534 00:26:04,464 --> 00:26:06,931 The United Soybean Board whose "Common Ground" 535 00:26:06,931 --> 00:26:08,998 program creates conversations to help 536 00:26:08,998 --> 00:26:11,764 consumers get the facts about farming and food. 537 00:26:11,764 --> 00:26:16,764 There's more at: findourcommonground.com 538 00:26:16,764 --> 00:26:19,564 The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. 539 00:26:19,564 --> 00:26:21,431 Dedicated to building greater awareness and 540 00:26:21,431 --> 00:26:23,864 understanding of agriculture through education 541 00:26:23,864 --> 00:26:24,998 and engagement. 542 00:26:24,998 --> 00:26:28,398 More information at: agfoundation.org 543 00:26:28,398 --> 00:26:31,598 The Fund for Agriculture Education - A fund created 544 00:26:31,598 --> 00:26:35,364 by KVIE to support America's Heartland programming. 545 00:26:35,364 --> 00:26:39,364 Contributors include the following: