WEBVTT 00:00.931 --> 00:04.298 "America's Heartland is made possible by..." 00:04.298 --> 00:07.464 Farm Credit - financing agriculture and rural 00:07.464 --> 00:09.731 America since 1916. 00:09.731 --> 00:11.831 Farm Credit is cooperatively owned by America's 00:11.831 --> 00:13.364 farmers and ranchers. 00:13.364 --> 00:16.498 Learn more at farmcredit.com 00:16.498 --> 00:19.231 The United Soybean Board whose "Common Ground" 00:19.231 --> 00:21.398 program creates conversations to help 00:21.398 --> 00:23.931 consumers get the facts about farming and food. 00:23.931 --> 00:28.364 There's more at: findourcommonground.com 00:28.364 --> 00:31.598 The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. 00:31.598 --> 00:33.631 Dedicated to building greater awareness and 00:33.631 --> 00:35.864 understanding of agriculture through education 00:35.864 --> 00:37.331 and engagement. 00:37.331 --> 00:40.564 More information at: agfoundation.org 00:40.564 --> 00:43.764 The Fund for Agriculture Education - A fund created 00:43.764 --> 00:47.364 by KVIE to support America's Heartland programming. 00:47.364 --> 00:49.398 Contributors include the following: 00:51.564 --> 00:54.598 ♪ 00:54.598 --> 00:56.898 We're on a pretty tight schedule. 00:56.898 --> 01:01.131 There are sheep to be fed at sunrise. 01:01.131 --> 01:03.598 My children get up earlier than most children. 01:03.598 --> 01:05.264 They don't know any different. 01:05.264 --> 01:06.931 I like to keep it that way. 01:06.931 --> 01:10.631 The children need to get to school. 01:10.631 --> 01:14.364 And cows need to be moved to greener pastures. 01:14.364 --> 01:17.198 It's this Kansas family's first year as full-time 01:17.198 --> 01:19.198 farmers. 01:19.198 --> 01:21.898 Dealing with the daily schedule...they face a 01:21.898 --> 01:23.731 larger challenge. 01:23.731 --> 01:24.631 Have you ever seen it like this? 01:24.631 --> 01:27.764 No, I've never seen this dry. 01:27.764 --> 01:31.431 A historic drought drying up crops in the fields. 01:31.431 --> 01:33.498 What does their future hold? 01:33.498 --> 01:36.398 What insights can they get from the farmers that came 01:36.398 --> 01:38.031 before them? 01:38.031 --> 01:38.998 You are running out of daylight. 01:38.998 --> 01:41.198 Exactly. 01:41.198 --> 01:43.864 That's normally how our days go. 01:43.864 --> 01:46.464 Come along as we spend dawn to dusk with a hard working 01:46.464 --> 01:48.331 Kansas farm family. 01:48.331 --> 01:51.831 It's all coming up on a special America's Heartland. 01:51.831 --> 01:53.898 We thank you for this good food and your blessings. 01:53.898 --> 01:54.798 Amen. 02:26.098 --> 02:27.864 We try to head out the door at six o'clock. 02:27.864 --> 02:28.964 Sharp. 02:28.964 --> 02:32.231 A little blurry-eyed in the dark every morning. 02:32.231 --> 02:34.864 While much of Kansas is still sleeping, 02:34.864 --> 02:40.098 the Brunkow family is up before dawn. 02:40.098 --> 02:43.464 But breakfast can wait. 02:43.464 --> 02:45.231 The first chores we do are to go out and feed the 02:45.231 --> 02:49.098 sheep. 02:49.098 --> 02:51.664 Right now we have six lambs that the children are gonna 02:51.664 --> 02:54.431 take on to the state fair in Wichita. 02:54.431 --> 02:57.164 And then we have a pen of four butcher lambs that 02:57.164 --> 02:58.398 we're raising up. 02:58.398 --> 03:01.164 We've got orders for some lambs. 03:01.164 --> 03:04.631 We think it's important that the kids understand that we 03:04.631 --> 03:07.098 need to take care of the animals. 03:07.098 --> 03:09.231 And to understand that their needs come first. 03:09.231 --> 03:12.364 It doesn't matter if it's 30 below or 105 degrees, 03:12.364 --> 03:16.931 we need to take care of them first. 03:16.931 --> 03:18.731 The Brunkow's other livestock is 03:18.731 --> 03:23.898 waiting...impatiently to move to a new pasture. 03:23.898 --> 03:27.098 More on why they are moving early in a bit. 03:40.964 --> 03:43.331 So how was lunch yesterday with the new lunch? 03:43.331 --> 03:44.931 Wasn't bad. 03:44.931 --> 03:46.564 Did you get enough? 03:46.564 --> 03:50.431 No, I went up and got a double order of nachos with 03:50.431 --> 03:55.031 poptarts. 03:55.031 --> 03:56.864 Killer, you're in charge. 03:56.864 --> 03:59.264 The kids and Jennifer head out the door at 7:30 03:59.264 --> 04:04.598 And my day is just startin'. 04:04.598 --> 04:07.764 So Glenn the kids are off to school? 04:07.764 --> 04:09.198 Things are quiet now. 04:09.198 --> 04:10.231 Time for you to get some work done. 04:10.231 --> 04:10.664 Exactly. 04:10.664 --> 04:11.598 Exactly. 04:11.598 --> 04:13.298 What do you have to do today? 04:13.298 --> 04:16.031 Well the herd of cattle that are a mile up the road at 04:16.031 --> 04:18.431 one of the pastures we rotate them to. 04:18.431 --> 04:20.698 We're going to move them down here. 04:20.698 --> 04:22.098 But before you move any cattle you have to... 04:22.098 --> 04:24.564 Got to make sure the fences are up. 04:24.564 --> 04:26.398 What happened to this one, this looks like a mess over 04:26.398 --> 04:27.331 here. 04:27.331 --> 04:28.698 The sheep went through it. 04:28.698 --> 04:29.931 They went through an electric fence? 04:29.931 --> 04:31.298 Yep, they went through the electric fence. 04:31.298 --> 04:32.931 They eventually figure out that their wool, 04:32.931 --> 04:36.298 and obviously there's is no electricity to it right now, 04:36.298 --> 04:39.898 they figure out that their wool doesn't allow the shock 04:39.898 --> 04:41.198 to get to them. 04:41.198 --> 04:42.231 So they go right through it? 04:42.231 --> 04:43.464 They go right through it. 04:43.464 --> 04:47.964 Then that means they go back to jail and get locked up. 04:47.964 --> 04:51.564 Winter project is to get this fence done, this year. 04:51.564 --> 04:54.131 Permanent so we don't have to worry about this every 04:54.131 --> 04:54.931 time. 04:54.931 --> 05:05.098 ♪ 05:05.098 --> 05:06.364 How far down does this fence go? 05:06.364 --> 05:09.298 It goes clear to the top of the hill the property line. 05:09.298 --> 05:16.864 My cows are so conditioned to the electric fence a lot 05:16.864 --> 05:20.931 of the time they won't even try it. 05:20.931 --> 05:22.431 Is that your dad coming in the pickup truck? 05:22.431 --> 05:23.631 Yeah. 05:23.631 --> 05:24.764 Yeah. 05:24.764 --> 05:29.131 He will take the lead and I'll bring up the rear. 05:29.131 --> 05:31.464 Dad and I work really closely every day we get 05:31.464 --> 05:36.198 along pretty well most of the time. 05:36.198 --> 05:38.664 If Jennifer could drive straight to the school from 05:38.664 --> 05:41.131 their farm it would be a three mile trip in the 05:41.131 --> 05:42.698 morning. 05:42.698 --> 05:46.498 But navigating around the Flint Hills on gravel roads 05:46.498 --> 05:50.998 turns the journey into a 15 minute drive. 05:50.998 --> 05:52.864 We have two children. 05:52.864 --> 05:54.264 Isaac is 14. 05:54.264 --> 05:58.331 And a 12 year old daughter, Tatum. 05:58.331 --> 06:00.531 You like the KSTATE ram? 06:00.531 --> 06:01.731 You don't? 06:01.731 --> 06:03.398 I said 'do you'? 06:03.398 --> 06:04.331 Like the new one. 06:04.331 --> 06:11.398 I hadn't really looked at it to see. 06:11.398 --> 06:13.664 Jennifer drives the kids to the nearby town of 06:13.664 --> 06:16.731 Westmoreland. 06:16.731 --> 06:22.464 Oh my god. 06:22.464 --> 06:25.898 Okay, go. 06:25.898 --> 06:31.098 Have a good day. 06:31.098 --> 06:32.764 I drop them off. 06:32.764 --> 06:35.631 They hop on the school bus to go to Rock Creek. 06:35.631 --> 06:42.698 We have a shuttle bus that runs to the school. 06:42.698 --> 06:45.564 Back on the farm Glenn's father Darold is ready to 06:45.564 --> 06:47.598 help out with the livestock. 06:47.598 --> 06:51.298 He's delivering a bale of hay to feed the sheep. 06:51.298 --> 06:53.798 It's a two man job to get the pickup through and not 06:53.798 --> 06:55.464 let the ewes out. 06:55.464 --> 06:58.764 And we put the feed around them. 06:58.764 --> 06:59.864 Do you need my knife, dad? 07:07.398 --> 07:09.231 It's just a real blessing to get to work with him each 07:09.231 --> 07:12.998 day and to spend time with him. 07:12.998 --> 07:15.364 That's one of the benefits. 07:15.364 --> 07:19.264 Like any good teenager I assumed that my Dad didn't 07:19.264 --> 07:21.464 know anything and I was gonna go to college, 07:21.464 --> 07:24.531 and I was gonna learn what he didn't know. 07:24.531 --> 07:25.864 And the more I learned in college, 07:25.864 --> 07:30.831 the more I realized that he knew a lot. 07:30.831 --> 07:37.098 Well that was easier than I thought. 07:37.098 --> 07:38.798 Here at Westmoreland Elementary School I'm the 07:38.798 --> 07:40.098 school librarian. 07:40.098 --> 07:43.598 I help kids check out books and help them with their 07:43.598 --> 07:45.531 accelerated reading. 07:45.531 --> 07:46.831 Did you go anywhere this summer? 07:46.831 --> 07:48.398 I went to Hawaii. 07:48.398 --> 07:48.998 That's right. 07:48.998 --> 07:50.764 You went to Hawaii. 07:50.764 --> 07:52.164 This has been a popular book too. 07:52.164 --> 07:54.898 Have you read the Olympians? 07:54.898 --> 07:57.864 We have a mixture of farm kids and town kids. 07:57.864 --> 08:00.164 Some of our kids are military children. 08:00.164 --> 08:02.464 Who is the person in front of you? 08:02.464 --> 08:04.931 Are you going to pass that person? 08:04.931 --> 08:05.964 No. 08:05.964 --> 08:06.998 No. 08:06.998 --> 08:07.831 Okay. 08:07.831 --> 08:09.864 This is a full time job. 08:09.864 --> 08:14.531 I work from August till June. 08:14.531 --> 08:17.598 My job pretty much anymore is to pay for insurance. 08:17.598 --> 08:22.798 My husband gave up a full time 8 to 5 job. 08:22.798 --> 08:26.031 But decided this year to farm full time. 08:26.031 --> 08:30.898 Our monthly income is a lot more sparse than it was. 08:30.898 --> 08:33.564 We're looking at getting two or three paychecks a year 08:33.564 --> 08:34.731 vs. 08:34.731 --> 08:37.864 every two weeks. 08:37.864 --> 08:39.431 It was a big leap. 08:39.431 --> 08:42.498 Jennifer and I talked about it for a long time. 08:42.498 --> 08:45.698 You know, you can always find an excuse why not to. 08:45.698 --> 08:47.931 And I didn't want to look back on it later in life and 08:47.931 --> 08:50.998 say, "I wonder if I'd a tried". 08:50.998 --> 08:52.264 Ok. 08:52.264 --> 08:54.031 Now for the toughest part of the day. 08:54.031 --> 08:56.698 Glenn and his father now need to move a herd of 08:56.698 --> 08:59.164 cattle to another pasture. 08:59.164 --> 09:02.064 Our cows are so used to rotating pastures, 09:02.064 --> 09:04.631 pretty much you just gotta kind tell 'em what they're 09:04.631 --> 09:07.664 gonna do and they do it...And generally we can 09:07.664 --> 09:08.898 move 'em. 09:08.898 --> 09:11.198 Sometimes they can get cantankerous. 09:11.198 --> 09:13.631 But most of the time they do pretty well. 09:13.631 --> 09:16.831 One of the side effects of this record breaking drought 09:16.831 --> 09:20.098 across the heartland is wandering cattle. 09:20.098 --> 09:22.731 Farmers and ranchers across the state are dealing with 09:22.731 --> 09:24.131 it here in Kansas. 09:24.131 --> 09:26.664 The situation is there's just not a lot of forage 09:26.664 --> 09:29.664 left in any pastures because conditions are so dry. 09:29.664 --> 09:33.698 All you need is a break in a fence or an open gate and 09:33.698 --> 09:36.164 you've got farmers spending their nights rounding up 09:36.164 --> 09:38.664 cattle that have wandered onto their neighbors' 09:38.664 --> 09:40.831 property or even onto the road. 09:40.831 --> 09:46.898 ♪ 09:46.898 --> 09:50.798 The Brunkow's cattle have not escaped. 09:50.798 --> 09:53.698 But when Darold shows up to let them out, 09:53.698 --> 09:56.664 their bellowing is a telltale sign they are ready 09:56.664 --> 09:57.598 to move. 10:07.664 --> 10:17.231 The hay bale is a teaser to get the cows moving. 10:17.231 --> 10:20.164 The cattle march down the lonely county road with a 10:20.164 --> 10:23.098 little help from today's farm visitor, 10:23.098 --> 10:25.064 making sure they don't wander down the neighbors' 10:25.064 --> 10:26.498 driveway. 10:26.498 --> 10:39.664 ♪ 10:39.664 --> 10:40.798 The cattle are hungry, right? 10:40.798 --> 10:41.898 Oh yeah. 10:41.898 --> 10:42.964 You see them? 10:42.964 --> 10:44.031 Ha. 10:44.031 --> 10:46.298 They've got a lot to eat out here for a while now. 10:46.298 --> 10:47.564 They seem happy now. 10:47.564 --> 10:48.598 Oh yeah. 10:48.598 --> 10:50.031 They will be for a week or so. 10:50.031 --> 10:53.664 Normally the cattle could stay on this grazing ground 10:53.664 --> 10:55.298 for a few weeks. 10:55.298 --> 11:00.598 But it is so dry they'll have to move again sooner. 11:00.598 --> 11:02.831 Glenn was saying this is the worst he's seen it and he 11:02.831 --> 11:03.898 hasn't been at it as long as you. 11:03.898 --> 11:05.231 No, no. 11:05.231 --> 11:08.898 It's been - I don't remember it any worse. 11:08.898 --> 11:11.631 And how long have you been at it? 11:11.631 --> 11:14.864 All of my 69 years except three years I spent at 11:14.864 --> 11:16.531 Phoenix. 11:16.531 --> 11:18.164 Is there anything you can do about it? 11:18.164 --> 11:19.631 Ha. 11:19.631 --> 11:20.464 ha. 11:20.464 --> 11:21.531 Pray. 11:21.531 --> 11:22.464 Yeah. 11:22.464 --> 11:23.631 That's it right? 11:23.631 --> 11:25.298 You just need some rain? 11:25.298 --> 11:27.498 Is it in the forecast? 11:27.498 --> 11:31.798 Tomorrow a slight chance and then all of next week no. 11:31.798 --> 11:33.131 Is that how the summer has been? 11:33.131 --> 11:34.298 Pretty much. 11:34.298 --> 11:38.398 We didn't get the rains in May and June to grow the 11:38.398 --> 11:40.031 grass out. 11:40.031 --> 11:43.631 Glenn took me to a nearby pasture to see just how dry 11:43.631 --> 11:46.131 things are. 11:46.131 --> 11:47.798 Look how dry this is. 11:47.798 --> 11:49.798 You don't want drop your cell phone down in this 11:49.798 --> 11:50.864 crack. 11:50.864 --> 11:53.264 You may never find it. 11:53.264 --> 11:54.598 You probably don't see that very often. 11:54.598 --> 11:56.031 No, no not at all. 11:56.031 --> 11:59.964 In fact we've got some heavier clay ground that's 11:59.964 --> 12:01.464 got even bigger cracks in it. 12:01.464 --> 12:02.731 And that's just because it's so dry. 12:02.731 --> 12:05.331 It's so dry the ground is cracked and opening up. 12:05.331 --> 12:06.698 Yeah, it is. 12:06.698 --> 12:08.231 So this is supposed to be a pond. 12:08.231 --> 12:09.398 This is supposed to be a pond. 12:09.398 --> 12:10.798 Usually this is two or three feet deep in water. 12:10.798 --> 12:14.864 It's not much of a pond but it hardly ever goes dry. 12:14.864 --> 12:16.098 And look how dry it is now. 12:16.098 --> 12:17.398 It's been dry for a couple months. 12:17.398 --> 12:19.264 Whew. 12:19.264 --> 12:20.564 So on a normal year... 12:20.564 --> 12:21.798 It'd be up about knee deep. 12:21.798 --> 12:23.498 Knee deep in water. 12:23.498 --> 12:26.164 Yeah, it will stay ahead of the cattle. 12:26.164 --> 12:28.631 There's a little bit of a spring or something here. 12:28.631 --> 12:30.564 It will stay ahead of the cattle usually when we're in 12:30.564 --> 12:32.098 here. 12:32.098 --> 12:33.264 Have you ever seen it like this? 12:33.264 --> 12:35.164 No, I've never seen this dry. 12:35.164 --> 12:38.664 Usually there's some water in here anyway. 12:38.664 --> 12:39.864 Are you worried about the water situation? 12:39.864 --> 12:41.231 Yeah, I am, I am. 12:41.231 --> 12:42.998 We're on a well at our house, 12:42.998 --> 12:45.064 and we're not on rural water. 12:45.064 --> 12:47.931 It could run, if we run out of water at the house we're 12:47.931 --> 12:48.731 in trouble. 12:48.731 --> 12:49.798 Yeah I bet. 12:49.798 --> 12:50.864 Disappointing. 12:50.864 --> 12:52.298 It is disappointing it is. 12:52.298 --> 12:54.564 But that's kind of what we signed up for so... 12:54.564 --> 12:56.464 Taking it in stride. 12:56.464 --> 12:58.264 You've got to take it in stride or it'll drive you 12:58.264 --> 12:59.331 nuts. 12:59.331 --> 13:00.731 You don't want anybody to feel sorry for you. 13:00.731 --> 13:05.698 No, no, no, this is the lifestyle we chose and it's 13:05.698 --> 13:07.631 just part of the game. 13:07.631 --> 13:09.798 My uncle tells me this will make every other year seem 13:09.798 --> 13:11.731 good. 13:11.731 --> 13:29.664 ♪ 13:29.664 --> 13:34.631 It's mid-day and Isaac's Agriculture class is underway. 13:34.631 --> 13:36.464 Well Issac you wanna tell us a little about your summer 13:36.464 --> 13:37.564 and what'd you do? 13:37.564 --> 13:39.731 Well, all summer I pretty much worked with my 13:39.731 --> 13:42.498 show sheep and cattle. 13:42.498 --> 13:45.164 And so I had to wake up pretty much every morning 13:45.164 --> 13:48.031 and walk my sheep down the road and run them back, 13:48.031 --> 13:49.464 so it's like weightlifting. 13:54.464 --> 13:57.564 And since it's only the second day of school Tatum's 13:57.564 --> 14:01.631 classmates are working on some name games. 14:01.631 --> 14:08.364 I am "Rapid Reitz." 14:08.364 --> 14:10.031 Rapid Reitz. 14:10.031 --> 14:11.831 Curious Katie. 14:11.831 --> 14:12.698 Wait. 14:12.698 --> 14:14.131 Creative Katie. 14:14.131 --> 14:14.764 I'm. 14:14.764 --> 14:17.864 Curious Carmen. 14:17.864 --> 14:19.264 Zany Zach. 14:19.264 --> 14:21.398 Marvelous Meghan. 14:21.398 --> 14:24.131 Itsy Izzy. 14:24.131 --> 14:25.464 Humble Haley. 14:25.464 --> 14:28.198 Faithful Faith. 14:28.198 --> 14:29.964 Dancing Dylan. 14:29.964 --> 14:31.731 Mad Marshal. 14:31.731 --> 14:34.798 The values that I'm hoping my children are getting is 14:34.798 --> 14:36.431 working hard pays off. 14:36.431 --> 14:40.431 Terrific Tatum. 14:40.431 --> 14:42.064 We want our kids to be able to talk to us about 14:42.064 --> 14:43.064 anything. 14:43.064 --> 14:45.164 And that's hard in this - today's world. 14:45.164 --> 14:48.931 But hopefully our kids grow up to be good responsible 14:48.931 --> 14:51.564 and make good choices. 14:51.564 --> 14:53.564 They're like every brother and sister. 14:53.564 --> 14:56.731 They will fight like cats and dogs, 14:56.731 --> 14:59.298 but when somebody does something to the other, 14:59.298 --> 15:04.598 they're there to defend them. 15:04.598 --> 15:07.298 Glenn recently left his full time job as a county 15:07.298 --> 15:11.864 agriculture extension agent to farm full time, 15:11.864 --> 15:14.698 but he works about 15 hours a week as the director of 15:14.698 --> 15:20.231 two non-profit foundations in nearby Wamego. 15:20.231 --> 15:22.764 So, we don't want to handle the money so can we work 15:22.764 --> 15:23.898 with you on this? 15:23.898 --> 15:25.431 Sure, that's what we are here for. 15:25.431 --> 15:29.264 It is a very worthy project. 15:29.264 --> 15:31.498 Back on the farm Glenn's father has his own 15:31.498 --> 15:34.164 challenge. 15:34.164 --> 15:38.498 A chain on the corn harvester needs fixing. 15:38.498 --> 15:41.264 Parts for this old equipment are hard to come by so 15:41.264 --> 15:47.098 they've been waiting days on a new one to arrive. 15:47.098 --> 15:49.631 After a quick stop for lunch Glenn checks in on the 15:49.631 --> 15:51.998 progress. 15:51.998 --> 15:53.798 They may not get a big harvest thanks to the 15:53.798 --> 15:56.864 drought, but if this equipment doesn't get fixed 15:56.864 --> 15:59.731 they won't get anything! 15:59.731 --> 16:02.964 There's a feeder chain on one of the rows, 16:02.964 --> 16:05.431 that feeds the stalks of corn and ears of corn into 16:05.431 --> 16:09.631 the combine and it's just worn. 16:09.631 --> 16:12.564 It look like it was going to work. 16:12.564 --> 16:15.864 We tried to put a new sprocket on it and tried to 16:15.864 --> 16:25.998 fix the chain. 16:25.998 --> 16:30.031 It just didn't work. 16:30.031 --> 16:35.364 Just going to have to go without it? 16:35.364 --> 16:37.698 Fortunately there are two chains on either side...so 16:37.698 --> 16:41.831 Glenn and Darold decide to give it a try without that 16:41.831 --> 16:44.031 broken chain. 16:44.031 --> 16:48.164 It's a triage a lot of times that you do in the field and 16:48.164 --> 16:54.898 just make it work. 16:54.898 --> 16:56.131 Hey Rock Creek! 16:56.131 --> 16:57.531 It has been a great two days. 16:57.531 --> 17:00.364 Back at school - classes are out. 17:00.364 --> 17:01.998 We'll see you back here on Monday morning, 17:01.998 --> 17:03.131 you are dismissed. 17:03.131 --> 17:06.298 ♪ 17:13.364 --> 17:14.731 Tatum plays volleyball and basketball 17:14.731 --> 17:16.364 and softball. 17:16.364 --> 17:18.064 Isaac plays football and baseball. 17:38.864 --> 17:42.764 We try to give our kids every opportunity that they 17:42.764 --> 17:54.898 can if they want to do something. 17:54.898 --> 17:56.964 These beans don't look so good, Glenn. 17:56.964 --> 17:59.431 No, they're turning yellow, they're pretty close to the 17:59.431 --> 18:01.864 end of their life cycle. 18:01.864 --> 18:07.198 Let's grab one here and we'll take a look at it, 18:07.198 --> 18:09.064 and then I'll show you one of the good ones. 18:09.064 --> 18:10.598 They have pods on there, I can see.. Yeah, 18:10.598 --> 18:14.164 there're pods on there, they're gonna start dropping 18:14.164 --> 18:15.698 off and they're not filling up. 18:15.698 --> 18:16.964 This one is starting to fill, 18:16.964 --> 18:19.064 it's about the size of a pea. 18:19.064 --> 18:20.398 How big should that be right now? 18:20.398 --> 18:23.031 Oh it should be, a full size soybean it should be at 18:23.031 --> 18:24.598 least twice that big. 18:24.598 --> 18:25.931 So fill up your hand essentially? 18:25.931 --> 18:27.364 And look at them there. 18:27.364 --> 18:29.731 And then these would all make beans if we got some 18:29.731 --> 18:32.131 rain and if the plant lived long enough. 18:32.131 --> 18:33.798 Each one of these blooms. 18:33.798 --> 18:35.998 You can see they are already starting to drop off. 18:35.998 --> 18:40.631 I mean there should be three pods there on that nodule. 18:40.631 --> 18:43.598 There should be two or three pods on each nodule. 18:43.598 --> 18:44.964 So you'll get nothing out of that essentially. 18:44.964 --> 18:45.798 Yeah. 18:45.798 --> 18:47.298 There will be hardly anything. 18:47.298 --> 18:49.064 But this patch back here looks a little greener to 18:49.064 --> 18:50.598 me. 18:50.598 --> 18:52.264 Yeah, there is some hope out here yet. 18:52.264 --> 18:53.364 So these are taller. 18:53.364 --> 18:56.631 Yeah, they're much better beans. 18:56.631 --> 18:58.964 You can see the difference in all the pods are on here. 18:58.964 --> 19:01.131 The pods are starting to fill. 19:01.131 --> 19:03.531 If we get some rain these pods will fill. 19:03.531 --> 19:06.064 This is probably only 15-20 bushel beans as they stand 19:06.064 --> 19:06.898 here. 19:06.898 --> 19:08.598 And what typically would it be? 19:08.598 --> 19:10.698 37-39 is our average. 19:10.698 --> 19:11.698 So half. 19:11.698 --> 19:13.664 Half, if we are lucky. 19:13.664 --> 19:16.164 I see this stubble in here from old corn stocks. 19:16.164 --> 19:17.764 You said that is helping out? 19:17.764 --> 19:18.931 That is last year's residue. 19:18.931 --> 19:22.231 That actually holds in the moisture and adds organic 19:22.231 --> 19:25.164 matter, so we are building our soil up over time. 19:25.164 --> 19:27.898 But it did help this year, you could really tell the 19:27.898 --> 19:29.598 difference between the conventionally tilled and 19:29.598 --> 19:33.664 the no till because we held our moisture in longer. 19:33.664 --> 19:36.631 This field has held on about 2, 19:36.631 --> 19:38.531 3 weeks longer than I thought it would. 19:38.531 --> 19:40.364 And that's, you think because of the no-till 19:40.364 --> 19:41.464 practices? 19:41.464 --> 19:47.298 I definitely do. 19:47.298 --> 19:50.031 Today's harvest is just a test of their mechanical 19:50.031 --> 19:53.364 issue, also to see if the corn is dry enough to 19:53.364 --> 19:56.398 harvest and to get a sense of just how much corn 19:56.398 --> 20:00.198 they'll get out of their fields this year. 20:00.198 --> 20:02.198 I think it is pretty wet yet, isn't it? 20:02.198 --> 20:03.398 Yes. 20:03.398 --> 20:07.231 It's pretty soft. 20:07.231 --> 20:10.831 That is some really sorry looking corn. 20:10.831 --> 20:17.064 Yeah, I've never seen ears like that. 20:17.064 --> 20:21.564 Glenn drives a small sample of the corn back to Wamego. 20:21.564 --> 20:26.064 It gets tested for moisture content at the local co-op. 20:26.064 --> 20:26.864 Hi Glenn. 20:26.864 --> 20:27.931 Hello. 20:27.931 --> 20:28.731 What ya got? 20:28.731 --> 20:29.731 Some corn. 20:29.731 --> 20:30.964 Really bad corn. 20:30.964 --> 20:32.198 Really bad corn. 20:32.198 --> 20:33.564 We don't like really bad corn. 20:33.564 --> 20:35.198 Well it looks a lot like what you got it in that 20:35.198 --> 20:42.364 bucket there. 20:42.364 --> 20:44.964 Dad's not cutting the combines in the barn. 20:44.964 --> 20:46.798 Oh, so this is hand shucked? 20:46.798 --> 20:51.198 No, no.. Oh, 16-4. 20:51.198 --> 20:52.331 Yeah, that's not too bad. 20:52.331 --> 20:55.064 The corn is not quite dry enough for harvest. 20:55.064 --> 20:56.264 Well we'll get out of your hair. 20:56.264 --> 20:59.531 Okay. 20:59.531 --> 21:01.864 Volleyball and football practice are done and the 21:01.864 --> 21:06.264 Brunkow kids are on the move again. 21:06.264 --> 21:11.164 The activity bus takes them into Westmoreland. 21:11.164 --> 21:12.398 There's a lot of running back and forth I noticed 21:12.398 --> 21:13.898 today. 21:13.898 --> 21:17.098 There is a lot of running back and forth. 21:17.098 --> 21:19.464 It takes a few minutes for you to get off the gravel 21:19.464 --> 21:22.964 and to a highway that is paved. 21:22.964 --> 21:25.431 Yeah, in the winter time we have bad weather it can be a 21:25.431 --> 21:26.764 little rough. 21:26.764 --> 21:30.531 When it snows we've been snowed in for a couple days. 21:30.531 --> 21:32.064 Is it worth it living out here in the country? 21:32.064 --> 21:32.831 It's worth it. 21:32.831 --> 21:35.964 It really is. 21:35.964 --> 21:39.831 It occurs to me it is 6:00pm you still have to pick the 21:39.831 --> 21:42.831 kids up, do chores, go to a meeting, 21:42.831 --> 21:46.464 have dinner and maybe homework, 21:46.464 --> 21:47.498 if there's homework. 21:47.498 --> 21:49.864 You are running out of daylight. 21:49.864 --> 21:52.331 Exactly. 21:52.331 --> 21:55.398 That's normally how our days go. 21:55.398 --> 21:59.931 ♪ 22:25.498 --> 22:28.764 The day is winding down but like breakfast, 22:28.764 --> 22:34.898 their dinner will have to wait. 22:34.898 --> 22:37.464 After evening chores the family needs to head back 22:37.464 --> 22:41.131 into town for a 4-H meeting. 22:41.131 --> 22:43.131 You don't just raise something that goes down to 22:43.131 --> 22:44.698 the sale barn and goes through. 22:44.698 --> 22:45.798 You're raising that. 22:45.798 --> 22:47.164 You are raising beef. 22:47.164 --> 22:49.631 This year the Brunkow children raised cattle that 22:49.631 --> 22:52.731 got sold and processed for beef. 22:52.731 --> 22:55.264 At this meeting they get to see just how that beef was 22:55.264 --> 22:59.731 graded and how they stacked up to their fellow 4-H'ers. 22:59.731 --> 23:04.364 Roy and Todd are passing out the how the cattle placed 23:04.364 --> 23:05.931 out. 23:05.931 --> 23:12.598 I got a check for how much my steer graded and weighed. 23:12.598 --> 23:17.498 My participation check, and here's the results. 23:17.498 --> 23:22.964 I got 15th place which is better than last. 23:22.964 --> 23:38.764 ♪ 23:38.764 --> 23:42.464 It's well past dinnertime, and Glenn is at the grill. 23:42.464 --> 23:46.431 Unsurprisingly, beef is what's for dinner. 23:46.431 --> 23:49.031 These aren't just hamburger patties for the family. 23:49.031 --> 23:52.298 Glenn is testing his latest product. 23:52.298 --> 23:55.998 He sells custom cuts of beef fresh from the farm. 23:55.998 --> 23:57.364 It's one of my favorite things. 23:57.364 --> 23:59.198 Jennifer laughs cause I can hardly ever get more than 23:59.198 --> 24:00.931 one delivery in a night. 24:00.931 --> 24:03.331 Because I go pick it up, I take it to them, 24:03.331 --> 24:04.998 I help them take it out. 24:04.998 --> 24:08.998 I like talking to them about what we do. 24:08.998 --> 24:11.031 I explain it to them why we do what we do. 24:11.031 --> 24:12.864 How we handle our cattle. 24:12.864 --> 24:14.264 How we feed our cattle. 24:14.264 --> 24:17.398 And tonight - all these customers want is something 24:17.398 --> 24:19.731 to eat now. 24:19.731 --> 24:21.598 Lord, we thank you for this day and thank you for all 24:21.598 --> 24:23.131 the blessings today. 24:23.131 --> 24:25.564 We ask for your guidance and thank you for this good food 24:25.564 --> 24:26.664 and your blessings. 24:26.664 --> 24:28.131 Amen. 24:28.131 --> 24:32.231 A day that started with 6 am chores...draws to a close 24:32.231 --> 24:36.131 after 9 at the dinner table. 24:36.131 --> 24:38.598 These full-time farmers will be back at it again 24:38.598 --> 24:41.564 tomorrow...from dawn to dusk. 24:47.898 --> 24:49.764 That's going to do it for this special edition of 24:49.764 --> 24:50.998 America's Heartland. 24:50.998 --> 24:53.598 Thanks for visiting Kansas and the Brunkow family with 24:53.598 --> 24:54.698 us. 24:54.698 --> 24:56.431 Always remember you can catch more of our show 24:56.431 --> 24:59.264 online at americasheartland.org and 24:59.264 --> 25:01.364 find us on many of your favorite social media sites 25:01.364 --> 25:02.498 as well. 25:02.498 --> 25:03.998 We'll see you next time right here in America's 25:03.998 --> 25:05.898 Heartland. 25:19.598 --> 25:26.031 ♪You can see it in the eyes of every woman and man ♪ 25:26.031 --> 25:32.031 ♪in America's Heartland living close to the land. ♪ 25:32.031 --> 25:35.064 ♪There's a love for the country ♪ 25:35.064 --> 25:38.064 ♪and a pride in the brand ♪ 25:38.064 --> 25:44.498 ♪in America's Heartland living close, ♪ 25:44.498 --> 25:47.131 ♪close to the land ♪ 25:47.131 --> 25:48.798 ♪ 25:48.798 --> 25:52.531 "America's Heartland is made possible by..." 25:52.531 --> 25:55.864 Farm Credit - financing agriculture and rural 25:55.864 --> 25:57.464 America since 1916. 25:57.464 --> 25:59.798 Farm Credit is cooperatively owned by America's 25:59.798 --> 26:01.264 farmers and ranchers. 26:01.264 --> 26:04.464 Learn more at farmcredit.com 26:04.464 --> 26:06.931 The United Soybean Board whose "Common Ground" 26:06.931 --> 26:08.998 program creates conversations to help 26:08.998 --> 26:11.764 consumers get the facts about farming and food. 26:11.764 --> 26:16.764 There's more at: findourcommonground.com 26:16.764 --> 26:19.564 The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. 26:19.564 --> 26:21.431 Dedicated to building greater awareness and 26:21.431 --> 26:23.864 understanding of agriculture through education 26:23.864 --> 26:24.998 and engagement. 26:24.998 --> 26:28.398 More information at: agfoundation.org 26:28.398 --> 26:31.598 The Fund for Agriculture Education - A fund created 26:31.598 --> 26:35.364 by KVIE to support America's Heartland programming. 26:35.364 --> 26:39.364 Contributors include the following: