The U.S. Custom Harvesters Hall of Fame

INDUCTEES OF USCHI HALL OF FAME

Keith and Sally Neufeld - (2012)

Keith Neufeld was born December 8, 1949 in Inman Kansas to Abe and Lenora Neufeld.

The Spring of 1952 marked the first harvest season for Abe and Lenora Neufeld as a married couple.  It also was the 1st harvest season for Keith who was 2 ½ years old.  This began a 58-year venture in the custom grain harvesting business.

Keith grew up in Inman Kansas attending Countryside Grade School then Inman High School. Every summer consisted of working with the family custom harvesting business. By 1957 there were four children along on harvest; Keith, Bruce, Doug and Nancy. They began their harvest careers like many others of that era, on open cab combines and cramped travel trailers without A/C.

After high school Keith attended Bethel College in North Newton Kansas. This is where he met Sally Friesen from Marion Kansas. Keith and Sally were married after wheat harvest on September 12, 1970. This was before they went back for their junior year in college. Most young married couples lived in houses or apartments on their college campuses. Keith and Sally however just pulled the harvest trailer back to North Newton and set up camp there for the college year. After graduating from college, Keith and Sally moved to Holyrood Kansas where Sally was the Home Economics teacher. During the winter, Keith did substitute teaching and worked for Cessna Corporation in Hutchinson Kansas, all of this while also getting equipment ready for the next harvest. When summer time arrived they hit the harvest trail again.

In 1977 Keith and Sally brought their son Kevin along for his first harvest at 6 months old, in 1982 6 month old Blane made his first appearance on harvest. Keith and Sally raised both boys on harvest from day one, instilling hard work values in both boys. Kevin and Blane started going to the field at young ages and didn’t have to look far for summer jobs.  Although the hours were long and the work was hard, Keith and Sally always provided a family first attitude. Almost always taking time to go to church on Sunday’s no matter what the rest of the harvesters in the trailer court were doing. Keith and Sally made the most of the traveling by taking Kevin and Blane (along with the employees) to the closest National Park, Professional Baseball Game or Amusement Park. Many things that people with “regular jobs” would not have the chance to experience. Keith and Sally also made it possible for Kevin and Blane to attend church and sporting camps during the summer no matter where they were at on harvest. When school time rolled around Sally loaded Kevin and Blane up and headed back to Inman, usually enrolling the day before school started. Even with the high demands of harvest, Keith stayed very involved in his family’s life. There were many trips made from Dalhart Texas on a Friday afternoon in the fall to wherever the football game was that night. Only to then drive back that night yet to make sure harvest got started right on Saturday.

Custom harvesting was a family business for the Neufeld’s. For many years it was known as Abe E. Neufeld and Sons Custom Combining. All family members played important roles in the business. In 1983 Abe and Lenora retired and the business became known as Neufeld Brothers Custom Combining. 1995 was Doug and Bruce’s last year on harvest. Keith and Sally continued on the harvest and the business was known as Neufeld Harvesting LLC. 2010 marked the last year of harvest for Keith and Sally.

Although the harvest rail typically ran Texas to Montana and the Dakotas, in the late 1980’s Keith and Sally broke from this trend and began the harvest in Bakersfield, California. This was the starting point for every harvest from then on. It also became almost a second home as eventually some of the fall harvest was there.

The late 1980’s also started a long working relationship with John Deere Company. Keith operated prototype and durability combines for many years, providing valuable experience and feedback.

Although the winter months were supposed to be the “down time” of harvest, this never was the case for Keith and Sally. For Keith the winter time meant full maintenance of all the equipment, fabricating and building combine trailers, travel trailers and grain trailers. Keith enjoyed traveling to East Moline to pick up new equipment. Keith spent many years on the Inman School Board and also served on the USCHI Board of Directors. Sally spent the winter months keeping up with her son’s many activities. She also was involved with the Bethel Mennonite Church Ladies Friendship Circle.

2011 marked the first summer at home for Keith and Sally. They are kept busy with work, projects around the house and three grandchildren.