Harvest Blogs

If you had told me years ago that I would spend my summers living in a camper, following combines across the country and calling a new town home every few weeks, I’m not sure I would have believed you. But here I am.

My name is Ashley, and my husband, Korey, owns Maurer Harvesting & Trucking LLC, a custom harvesting operation based in Ipswich, South Dakota. During harvest, our life revolves around crops, combines, trucks, weather forecasts and a crew of people working long days to get the crop out of the field.

For those who aren’t familiar with custom harvesting, we’re essentially a traveling harvest crew. Farmers hire us to harvest their crops, and as they become ready, we move north with them. That means moving equipment, trucks, campers, employees—and our family—from one stop to the next. It is a lifestyle I don’t think you can completely understand until you’ve lived it.

Our 2026 harvest started on the Oklahoma/Texas border. From there, we followed the wheat into Kansas before eventually making our way north to Montana. Every stop is different. The fields are different. The weather is different. The towns are different. And somehow, within a day or two of pulling the camper in, you figure out where the grocery store is, where to get a good cup of coffee, and you start calling that little patch of ground “home.” And if I’m being honest, I’ve learned I can find my way around a new town pretty quickly—especially if there’s a small coffee shop involved. No matter where harvest takes us, I always seem to end up finding one that becomes my favorite place in town, even if it’s only for a few weeks. Meanwhile, the crew settles into its own rhythm.

Mornings start early. Coffee is made, weather is checked, lunches are packed and plans are discussed. Once the combines start rolling, the days can stretch late into the evening. When the crop is ready and the weather cooperates, you go. Of course, harvest rarely goes exactly according to plan. There are breakdowns. Rain delays. Flat tires. Fields that are still bumping green. Long moves between stops. Days when everything seems to happen at once—and days when everyone is sitting around staring at the sky, waiting for the sun to come back out.

This year has already given us a little of everything. We’ve had mornings where things ran smoothly and you almost don’t want to say it out loud for fear of jinxing it, and we’ve had afternoons where a simple repair turned into a full-day project in the middle of a field in Kansas heat. We’ve also had those quiet moments in Montana where the mountains sit in the distance and you’re reminded just how far from home you really are.

Behind all of that is the part of harvest I find most interesting: the people. My role looks a little different than the guys running combines and trucks every day. I handle bookkeeping and other pieces of the business, but I’m also a wife and mom trying to make a temporary home wherever harvest takes us. Some days that means business paperwork at the camper table. Other days it means groceries, laundry, and finding a small-town coffee shop that quickly becomes my favorite place in town while we’re there.

And somewhere in between all of that, life keeps happening. That’s the side of harvest I hope to share here. There will certainly be plenty of combines, wheat fields and equipment along the way. But I also want to show you what happens outside the cab—the small towns we call home for a few weeks, the people we meet, the challenges nobody plans for, the funny moments, the hard days and the little things that make this unusual lifestyle something worth writing about.

We’re already well into the 2026 season, and as I look back at the miles we’ve traveled from Oklahoma to Kansas and now Montana, I’m reminded how much life can happen in just one harvest. There are still fields ahead of us, miles left to travel and plenty of stories that haven’t happened yet. So, for now, consider this my introduction.

I’m Ashley, and for the next few months, I’ll be taking you along for the ride.

Ashley and her husband, Korey, own Maurer Harvesting & Trucking LLC out of Ipswich, South Dakota. They harvest grain across the United States.

There are plenty of people who can tell you how a forage harvester works.

I’m not one of them.

What I can tell you is what this life looks like from the outside looking in, the long days, the miles traveled, the friendships built, and the people who make custom harvesting more than just a job.

My name is Morgan, and this season I’ll be sharing the story of Schippers Harvesting LLC here on the U.S. Custom Harvesters blog.

Schippers Harvesting is owned and operated by Sam Schippers, a first- generation custom forage harvester from Northwest Kansas.

Young, hungry, and willing to chase every opportunity, Sam built Schippers Harvesting one chopper, one truck, one customer, one season, and one mile at a time. Today, Schippers Harvesting consists of eight forage harvesters, nine packing tractors, and eighteen trucks. Traveling throughout Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas, helping dairies and feedlots harvest quality feed when timing matters most.

As for me, I’m simply fortunate to have a front-row seat to this lifestyle. While I’m usually at home raising kids, I enjoy traveling to harvest whenever I can. Whether it’s making a parts run, helping with social media, or just spending time with the crew, I’ve gained an appreciation for an industry I knew very little about before meeting Sam.

I’ve learned that custom forage harvesting is about much more than chopping corn. It’s about earning trust, adapting to whatever Mother Nature throws your way, working long hours, and showing up for your customers when every hour counts. It’s about the people, the crew members who become family, the producers who put their trust in you, and the communities you return to season after season.

My hope is that this blog gives you a look beyond the machines. I’ll be sharing stories from the road, behind-the-scenes moments, the people who make this industry special, and the experiences that make custom harvesting more than just a business.

Thanks for following along, I am glad you are here, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you.

Morgan's boyfriend, Sam, owns Schippers Harvesting LLC. out of Hoxie, Kansas. They harvest forage across the United States.

Fortuna, ND: Hello all! My name is Christy Paplow with Paplow Customs LLC. I have been harvesting with my husband, Paul, for the last 16 years, and what a journey it has been. I did not grow up in the Ag industry, but have learned so much, and wouldn’t change a minute of it.

Paul runs 4 late model Case IH combines, with Case tractors and Brent and Elmer’s grain carts. We run MacDon flex drapers during the wheat run, and have Peterbilt semis with Wilson hopper bottoms for hauling grain. We usually start harvest in Texas, yet as many of you know, Texas wasn’t on the list this year due drought, hail damage, etc. We continue on through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. From there we head West to Montana and North Dakota, ending with our fall season in Minnesota and Iowa with soybeans and corn.

Whereas we thought last year was an odd year with conditions heavily effecting crops, this year tops that. We are down a lot of acres but have thankfully been able to cut enough to keep the crew rolling. We were fortunate enough to pick some acres up in Kansas. Kansas wheat averaged anywhere between 20 to 85 bushels per acre. Rains have been heavy this summer, which is good for everywhere, but has certainly hindered our ability to cut consistently.

Horizons opened up greatly when we made it out to Montana. It was a bit of a slow start with wheat averaging only about 30 to 60 bushels per acre. As we moved to wheat that had seen more moisture during the spring, we saw fields of barley hit averages of 130 bushels per acre. Montana always proves to be a sweet spot for harvest.

We currently have a crew working in Montana on peas, and Paul and I are here in North Dakota working on Lentils. We received about four inches of rain the last 24 hours, and it did not bode well for some durum in the area. It went down and is still very green. It might be a very difficult harvest for those acres.

We never know what harvest has in store for us, and it changes daily, as we’ve seen here lately. Prayers are needed for farmers, and harvesters alike. But one way or another, it’ll get done, and get done to the best abilities we have. Wishing everyone safe travels and a safe harvest.

Christy and her husband, Paul, own Paplow Customs LLC out of Ocheyedan, Iowa. They harvest grain across the United States.

Fortuna, ND: Hi, I’m Zoey Paplow. My parents Paul and Christy Paplow own Paplow Customs LLC. I also have my dog Penny, and before you ask, yes, we take her on the run too. I would say my favorite part about harvest is seeing and meeting all these new people. You get to do so much, I would never get an opportunity to run all the equipment I have these past few years. When I was 8, I started in the combine with my dad. But as of last year, with one of our girls, Issy, I really started to like driving the grain cart. This summer I have started to drive grain cart which I really enjoy.                                                                                     

I have to leave my dad in North Dakota or Montana to head back to school, which this year I will be going into 6th grade or middle school. I’m looking forward to playing all the activities I’m in as I play dance, basketball and volleyball. I also have a musical side which I play the trumpet in my school band and play piano.

As much I am sad to leave our crew when I go back to school, we do get to do fall harvest around home so I will be able to go out to the field and run grain cart and see all my friends on the crew. I’m also looking forward to seeing all my home friends.

Zoey's parents, Paul and Christy, own Paplow Customs LLC out of Ocheyedan, Iowa. They harvest grain across the United States.

I worked on a couple projects around the house, rode motorcycles with my boys, ate a hamburger and went to town for a classic rock cover band and a fireworks show.  Sounds pretty typical, right?  Well, not for me.  You see, I have been a custom harvester my entire life.  That means that my summers are spent away from home, harvesting wheat for farmers in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado.  Of the 45 Independence Days that I have been able to celebrate, I have been at home for a grand total of three.  What made this one even more unique was that the wheat harvest this year that was already much below average because of drought, was over by the end of June.  Over, as in; done, finished, completed.  An entire month earlier than normal.  I wish I could say that it was just because we are really good at what we do. I’m not saying that we’re not, but that wasn’t the reason.  The winter wheat crop in the states that we harvest in, and many others, really struggled this year. 

After getting a good stand after planting in the fall and some areas getting a little snow, our entire region had an extremely dry and fairly warm spring.  The wheat just didn’t have a chance when temperatures rose into the 90’s and stayed there and the rain never came.  This led to yields that were mostly below average and, for me, it meant that we harvested around 40% less acres than we normally do.  The drought and the heat caused the wheat crop to be harvested a little bit earlier than normal, too.  This combined with the fact that we didn’t even go to our last stop in Colorado because the wheat there lost its battle with the tag team of drought, freeze, mosaic and hail meant I was at home for the Fourth of July. 

I have to admit, I really did enjoy spending the day like I envision a typical American. I hope that I don’t have the opportunity to do so again for the same reason for many years to come.

Beau and his wife, Becca, own Froese Brothers Inc. out of Inman, Kansas. They harvest both forage and grain across the United States.

In the summer, I play baseball, go swimming, or go to the lake, just like all the rest of my friends, or that’s what I would be doing if I didn’t get to go on the wheat harvest run with my family. Instead of getting to sleep in like most people my age, I get up early every morning to drive the combine, and that is what I’ve been doing in my summers for 3 years now. By the way, I’m 14.

Normally, we start our wheat harvest in northern Texas around May 19, but sometimes it has been as early as May 2 or as late as May 31. The process of moving south from our home in central Kansas is no simple task; we first have to take our combines and grain cart down for a 17-hour round trip plus unloading the machines. Then we have to do it all over again when we take our trailer house and bunk house down. Usually, we spend about 2 and a half weeks in Texas. 

The wheat run progresses from southeast to northwest, so since our first stop is in Texas, we move north to Oklahoma, then 3 stops through Kansas, and our largest stop in east-central Colorado to finish our wheat season.

On a normal day on the harvest run, I get up at 7 a.m. and leave our trailer house at 8:00. When I get to our current field, I start the day by fueling up our machines and servicing my combine. Then, after that is done, we start cutting. On an average day, we end somewhere between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.

Micah's parents, Beau and Becca, own Froese Brothers Inc. out of Inman, Kansas. They harvest both forage and grain across the United States.

Hi, my name is Payzlee Neumiller and my parents are Mychal & Kimberly. I have a brother, Bentley, and a dog named Gus.  My family owns Neumiller Harvesting out of Bowdon, North Dakota. I am ten years old and will be in the fifth grade. During school I play basketball, volleyball and wrestle. I love hanging out with my friends, spending time with my family, playing with Gus and I love to be in school, sometimes. I have gone with my family south since I was a baby and have helped my mom cook, clean, and deliver meals to the field. I sometimes like to go to the field with my mom and dad. I wanted to learn how to drive the cart this year, but we had enough employees and not enough wheat for me to be in the field.

My favorite part of harvest is being able to see my friends that I don’t get to see often. Some friends I only get to see at one spot and some I might only get to see once every few years.  I also like to go to different places to see what the town has. This year I really liked going to the trampoline park in Bowman, North Dakota and Billings, Montana. I enjoy doing fun things with my family on rain days. I am not ready to be in the field like Bentley, but I will go and help mom when she needs to be out there.

I hope you guys have a good week. I am excited to share my harvest life with you.

Neumiller Harvesting is owned by Mychal and Kim, Cole and Karlie, and Logan and Danica Neumiller. They are a family-owned grain operation from Bowdon, North Dakota.

Hi, my name is Bentley Neumiller. My parents are Mychal & Kimberly and I have one sister, Payzlee. My family owns Neumiller Harvesting out of Bowdon, North Dakota. I am going to be in the eighth grade and I am involved in football, wrestling, baseball and FFA. My dad and two uncles own the business now after my grandpa retired. I have been going on the harvest trail since I was just a baby. I liked going to work with dad whenever I was able to, but I also liked to spend time at camp with friends, go on bike rides, go swimming and hang with the crew. The older I got, the more I wanted to be in the field. When I was seven, Dad let me drive the grain cart so I could learn how to do it. The next year I was in the grain cart as much as I could or whenever they needed me. I would need help dumping on the trucks, because if you know me, I had a hard time seeing over the trailer. Still true to this day.  I finally got to run the combine last year and have been in the combine seat quite a bit this year. I think at one point this summer I combined more acres than my dad. We had to leave Dad in Montana since I started football early so once they are back in North Dakota, we will go visit for the weekend where I hope to be back in the combine.

Thank you for reading. Stay tuned for my next article.

Neumiller Harvesting is owned by Mychal and Kim, Cole and Karlie, and Logan and Danica Neumiller. They are a family-owned grain operation from Bowdon, North Dakota.