The U.S. Custom Harvesters Hall of Fame
INDUCTEES OF USCHI HALL OF FAME
Ron and Kristy Misener - (2011)
Ron was born to Donald and Alda Misener on March 8, 1949 in Watertown S.D. , he passed on December 7, 2010 . Ron was the oldest of five kids. He grew up in Troy S.D. working on the multigenerational farm. He graduated from Strandburg High School in 1967 and went on to Canby VoTech, where he graduated in 1969 with a Degree in Diesel Mechanics. He always wanted to go along with Myron Whitney of Whitney Harvesting, but his parents needed him at home. While going to school there he worked for the John Deere Dealership in Clear Lake S.D. He was the John Deere Shop Manager in '68 and '69 and then drafted into the United States Army. He went through Basic training and then went on to Airborne School . He served in the Army in ‘69 and ‘70 in Da Nang , Vietnam . He then came home and continued farming with his parents, and started what today is known as Misener Family Harvesters.
Kristy was born to Richard and Margaret Green on August 10, 1956 in Denver CO. Kristy is the oldest of five kids. She graduated from Kalispell High School in '75 and started college at Missoula Tech, where she spent 1 semester before her parents decided to move to Troy S.D. She then went to South Dakota State University.
This is where Dad and Mom's paths meet. Richard Green was in need of someone to move the monstrous amounts of snow in his driveway once they had moved to SD. He called down to the local café where they gave Grandpa, Ron's number. Dad went to move snow for grandpa, and there begins a life long friendship. When springtime came, Grandpa hired dad to plant his crops and help do some of the haying and harvesting. That is where mom and dad met and they were soon married on February 7, 1976.
Mom had a very active role in the harvesting business driving combines right along side dad for many years. During these years, they had six children, three of which are in the harvesting business with them today. Mom loves to tell the story of when dad was supposed to go combine for his long time customer, Buck. He talked to Buck on the phone Friday afternoon and told him that they would be there to harvest on Monday morning. What Buck did not know was that dad had sold his combine and at this point did not OWN one! Mom was having a heart attack about this, but dad kept telling her that it would work out. Sure enough, on Monday morning dad was in Buck's yard with a 6600 that he bought on Saturday! Another funny story is when dad bought his first JD 6620. They were running 2 combines then, a 6600, and this 6620. Dad asked mom which one she would like to drive and mom said, "go ahead and drive your new one”, as she knew that would mean more to dad. They were picking up windrows of buckwheat. After a couple of hours struggling with the 6600, mom realized that dad was not getting out when he would slug the pickup head. So, mom talked to him and that is when dad told her that the new combine had a reverser!
During this time, their operation grew from two combines up to three, and then four. All of us kids had an active role in the harvesting business whether it was helping mom in the kitchen keeping us all fed, doing laundry, running errands, or in the field running machinery. Dad was always there teaching us kids different aspects of harvesting, whether it was running a combine, grain cart, truck, or fixing something on the machinery. He always told us that these machines pay the bills and we need to take care of them to the best of our ability, always being proactive instead of reactive if possible. He taught us to fix something before it causes you down time, fixing while it is raining instead of fixing it when the sun is shining.
Dad and mom are both very active wherever we would be. Getting involved in the communities we would work in. Whether it is going to local fire department fundraisers (you never know when you might need them!), church bazaars, parades, gatherings, or helping someone in the community out, they are always there, ready to lend a hand.
We have had many different customers through out the years, some for the 40 years, and some we just started combining for this last season. Dad and mom put just as much effort and responsibility in a farmer who we have had forever or just got, as well as someone with 100 acres or 10000 acres. It does not matter the size of operation, everyone is equally important. They would never leave a 100-acre job just to get a 1000-acre job. First come first served, you give me your word and dad would give you his. He was a man of great integrity, honor, respect, fortitude, and personable responsibility. What Dad said, he did, always a man of his word. I have learned much from this great man. Whether it is how to work with different individuals, how to take care of unseen situations, or just being a good man, dad was always there as a great example. A very common theme with individuals that have worked for him is that Dad would never ask someone to do something he was not willing to do or wouldn't do. He was always the first person up in the morning on the crew, and the last to bed. He expected a lot out of you, but was also willing to help you do that. There was no such thing as a dumb question when it came to dad, always wanting to better an individual, helping them learn. He was always willing to give a helpful hand no matter the circumstances.
Dad and mom are also Patriots. Dad, served in the U. S. Military in Vietnam , he had a special place in his heart for this great country that we call home. Home of the free, because of the brave. That is why we ALWAYS fly the American Flag PROUDLY atop every single one of our combines, grain carts, and vehicles. They love to pass on that patriotism to all, especially our employees. Be Proud of who you are, what you do, and the country you come from!
To wrap up the reason that I feel Ron and Kristy Misener deserve this great honor, I would say that they live and breathe what the U. S. Custom Harvesters stand for. They are constantly trying to further our industry, bring new people to this industry, teach the next generation where their food comes from, wanting to pass on to the next generation what they have had the privilege to be apart of so that it is here for generations to come.
Dan Misener
Offices Held
- Township Supervisor, Troy Township
- President South Dakota Soybean Association
- Board Member American Soybean Association
- Board Member South Dakota Soybean Association
- Finance Committee Holy Rosary Catholic Church
- President South Dakota USCHI
- President USCHI 2003-2004
- Committee Member of the Elk City Farm and Home Show
- Gathering of the Green Organizing Committee Member
Dad and Mom have been featured in countless publications, including Modern Marvels, Fastline, Fast Company, High Plains Journal, and Farm and Ranch Guide just to name a few. He was also a regular guest on numerous radio stations through out the harvest run including Harvest USA .
The Misener household is built on optimism. Dad and mom have created a faith filled, loving home for all of us kids, and to anyone that has entered any of our lives. Dad always says, ‘The bridge will be there', and even though sometimes I doubt him, it really IS always there. Regardless of any situation, there is always something worse that can happen.
I will forever hold with me everything my mom and dad have taught me through-out the years. Even though I am 22 years old, I believe that I have learned life lessons that some do not have the opportunity to learn. This is not because I believe I am an ‘above average person', no, it is because of the two wonderful people I have been blessed to have as parents. They have taught me, and continue to teach me, what it means to BE a person of integrity, to just simply, be patient with others, and give people the benefit of the doubt. Save your money, treat your friends like you want to be treated, do not do anything you would not want Jesus to see! I could go on forever, but the fact is, I remember them, and they will always be with me.
There are so many things I could say about mom, but I simply must say that she is truly the glue, that holds firm anything and everything that has to do with the Miseners. Whether it is the business, or something personal, she always has an answer. If I say, ‘Mom, I have a question for you', she always says, ‘I have an answer, lets see if they match!' I honestly do not know how she is so strong. She has and is still teaching me all of the tricks of the trade as far as cooking, being a homemaker, or just being able to read people, or put your feelings in words not just emotion. I had to take over her job for a couple of days this summer, as I have a few times in the past, and let me tell you, she can have it BACK! If the meals, laundry, cleaning, number crunching and bills, parts running, and on-call for the field isn't enough, the simple fact that she ALWAYS has time for you, and what is important to you, is enough for me. This is why mom is more than worthy of receiving this honorable award. She is a figure I will always strive to be in my own future.
Same song, second verse for dad. He always had confidence, and trust in me from the very beginning. I remember begging dad to let me drive the combine. After taking time and a LOT of patience with me, he finally let me drive it by myself. Of course, to do this, I had to know all of the safety precautions. ‘Safety first!' he said. Before he even let me touch the steering wheel, he had me read the operators manual, know every button or switch, and know exactly what to do in case of any kind of an emergency, and that meant a test! It was then that I figured out that it WAS NOT just a big lawn mower with a 30-foot head! I know now what he was teaching me, and what it really meant. Ever since I was 15 years old, I have taught the new hired men or women how to run the combine. Moreover, I must say, what dad taught me, definitely had an effect on me, (I am told I am very particular!) As my father taught me: ‘Safety first!' I do not think I will really ever have as much patience as my dad did. He truly was the most patient man I have ever known. This whole paragraph is just about dad's patience; imagine if I kept on, how long this book would really become! He always said, ‘The 4 F's: Faith, Family, Friends, and Farm.' My dad was an example of how a life should be lived, and I can only hope that I am blessed with half as much patience, enthusiasm, patriotism, and gumption as he had. This is why dad is more than worthy of receiving this honorable award.
In whole, dad and mom are an example not only to family, friends, and other custom harvesters, but also to the world. Harvesting is not a job for them, as my brother said; it is a way of life. I can only hope that one day; I too can have the same love and determination as they do, in my own life.
Emma Misener.
