Day 2

Day 2 has started at a closer to normal farm time with a wake-up call at 0630.  However, breakfast seems to be extending beyond 8am and past the time we told the hired man we'd be in the field.  The camper received a pleasant surprise as matching blue chambray wrangler shirts were issued.

The camper received high remarks on his first pot of coffee.  The camp counselor served toast and eggs and considering his affinity for cheese it came as no surprise the liberal amounts on top of the eggs.

Another 1/2 gallon of milk consumed

Time to start fffffffarming.....

After a 630am wake-up call we spun our wheels a bit leaving the farmhouse as we didn't make it outside til sometime after 815am.  Part of the reason was due to a dismal performance in the attire department the previous day.  The counselor didn't want his camper showing up at the local cafe with the previous day's dress, in fear of being run out of town by the other 'trained farmers'.

With a new pair of shit kickers and matching blue shirts we were off in the semi to fill the pterodactyl looking sprayer,  but not before stopping at the mail box to mail some important farm documents.  While at the mailbox we noticed a strong chemical smell coming from the cab and found that we had punctured a can of ether under the seat.  We were lucky not to have been smoking.

After covering several miles and grinding several gears (counselor doesn't like to use the clutch) we arrived at the sprayer and it was down to business and we sprayed over 100 acres of wheat.  This took nearly an hour and a half, so by the time we were done it was off to the bowling alley for lunch.  The counselor may be too humble to say it, but I recently found out that he sits on the board of directors at the lanes and partially responsible for the day-to-day operations.  The food was excellent!

Once lunch ended, we toured the park and drove back to the farm to discuss the afternoons plan.  The counselor has an unshakeable desire to mow at an abandoned farm site this afternoon, but before executing the plan we decided to have a pot of coffee.

Over coffee the plan altered to show the camper the importance of farm business.  The counselor let the camper spread his wings and allowed him to drive the issued farm vehicle into town to order chemical and to get the mail.

After this task was accomplished we mowed the alternate farm site where the 'No Rules' van has been laid to rest.  Showing some serious confidence in the camper, he allowed him to drive the 4-wheel drive tractor.  The camper was able to keep a much straighter line than the z-track mower.   When asked what inspired such confidence the counselor responded, 'Now that he looks like a farmer, he will start to think like a farmer.'  And it appears the counselor was correct on his assumption as the camper showed a much higher aptitude for batwing mowing than z-track mowing.

This evening the plan is to grill, finish the yard work, and finish the photo shoot for the 2012 farm calendar as well as film several action sequences for a short farm video.