Wheat harvest time in Williamson County

A few years ago, after my lungs were straining after breathing in massive amounts of dust, I said that was the last time I’d do photographs during a wheat harvest. The fault was of my own making. Riding in a combine with a farmer, the late-day light was so compelling, I suggested better photos were to be taken from outside. The farmer was kindly reluctant.

“Are you sure?” The farmer knew his crop’s properties well. 

Then I hopped out, got nice shots, but it took weeks to get my eyes and lungs back to normal. 

This week, I got a text from farmer Aaron Martinka.

“Harvesting wheat near Weir.” 

So it was back in the saddle again, finally catching up with Martinka and his crew north of Jonah as they continued harvesting 700 acres of wheat. 

Martinka, like most farmers I know, is a busy man. In addition to wheat, he’s growing many acres of corn, too. Thankfully, that harvest can wait until July. 

On this outing, recalling my last wheat harvest experience, I did get out of the combine, but was careful to stay well away from the dust. 

In addition to some family helpers, Martinka is getting a helping hand from friends Larry Svehlak, a retired farmer who still likes the work, and Kyle Kokel, a fellow I mostly see manning the smoking pits every November at Zion Lutheran Church’s Wurstbraten. 

Of all the crops I’ve documented over the years, wheat is among the most elegant.