The U.S. Custom Harvesters Hall of Fame

INDUCTEES OF USCHI HALL OF FAME

David Wolf - (2018)

David's passion for custom harvesting began when he was 12 years old. He was born the third youngest of nine children to a dairy farmer in South Heart, North Dakota. In 1974 David's father and older brother were asked by a fellow harvester for help in Texas. Then in the spring of 1975, they purchased an L Gleaner combine with a couple of tandem axle box trucks and started Wolf Brothers Combining. They traveled the wheat harvest from Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and ending back home in North Dakota. They didn't have a camper or hotel available when they were in Kiowa, Kansas. An older lady there heard about them and turned her garage into a living quarters with only beds. They had to use her bathroom in the house and she cooked a meal every once in a while for them. As the years went on, they upsized to three L2 Gleaners and one N6 Gleaner with all the support equipment needed.

David met his true love Janel Obrigewitch of Belfield, ND, in the summer of 1980. Janel's brother had just returned home from the wheat harvest with the Wolfs. The couple was united in marriage in 1984. Their honeymoon consisted of a trip to all the harvest trail towns and farmer visits at each. David then continued harvesting with his family for a few years and operated the 100-head dairy farm with Janel.

In 1987-88, David and Janel bought out the harvesting business from his brother. This business then consisted of a couple L2 Gleaners and an N7 Gleaner with all the support equipment. Over the next few years, David and his younger brothers and two nephews continued the harvest run from Kansas to North Dakota, along with fall harvest in South Dakota.

David and Janel were blessed with one son, Michael, in 1994. Michael traveled along with his dad in the harvest and trucking business as a little boy in the car seat and his diaper bag. At age 8, Michael started going along on the harvest run learning work ethics, wrenching, and other skills of operating the tractor and grain cart, then combines and trucks later on. After high school Michael purchased half shares in an A 86 Gleaner combine with David. Michael and Janel operate Wolf Harvesting and Trucking today after David's death in December of 2016.

In the 2000's, David, along with his wife and son, expanded their operation to 4 Gleaners and 7 Peterbilts that traveled the same route for many years. In 2014 due to trouble finding employees, David decided to downsize to 3 machines that are still operated today. David looked forward to the spring every year and getting all his equipment out of cold storage to get it ready and geared up for harvest. In the off season, David and Michael ran trucks hauling equipment, grain, propane, NH3, and oil rigs.

Although David never received any rewards for his dedication and service of 42 years to the agriculture industry, he influenced many. His legacy of leadership, dedication, and love for the harvest will be lived on and felt for many generations. Other than his family, he had such a glorious pride for his black and chrome Peterbilts and Fords!

David Wolf