| Welcome
to Stoskopf Farms!
We farm over 3,000 acres in central Kansas. Wheat is our main crop,
but we also have milo (grain sorghum), alfalfa, and a cow-calf herd.
This time of year, it’s really busy. This time of year, we really
watch the clouds. The April 12th freeze damage is now showing up in
most of our wheat, but a hail storm on May 16th also damaged 200 acres.
June 20th is a normal year’s target date for the beginning of wheat
harvest. Until then, all we can do is get the combine and truck ready,
and watch the weather.
It usually rains when we lay down the hay (swathe or cut the hay with
a machine called a swather). This year, we’re not getting that
"lucky" as the storm clouds are lifting and the rain is going
around us. We’re also getting ready to plant milo.
Dean is the fourth generation on this farm. He currently serves as the
Secretary of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. And this summer,
he’s also helping coach Julie’s softball team (10-12 year
old girls). Wayne is also playing ball so we’ll be at the ballpark
4 nights a week once ball season starts.
The Barton County Fair will be held in early July, so the kids are having
to work on their 4-H projects all month. Both Julie and Wayne have market
lambs. Wayne has a bucket calf, that we’re weaning off the bottle.
This is Julie’s first year to have a market steer. Solitaire is
from our own herd so we’re anxious to see how he does against the
competition.
We’ll be your hosts through the 1997 Kansas wheat harvest. It’s
an exciting time of the year and we hope you enjoy sharing it with us.
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to Stoskopf diary entries
Contact the Stoskopfs at info@wheatmania.com |
