Coleman picking bee
Farming community supports their own
MERNA - The definition of community, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is a social group whose members reside in a locality, share a government and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. However, a rural community extends that definition to include coming together to help its members in a time of need.
Earlier this summer, Greg Coleman was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. This was life changing news for Greg and his family.
Greg has been a lifetime farmer, raising crops on the same land that was homesteaded by his family in the 1880s. He already had corn planted, hay in the field and cows to take care of when he learned of his diagnosis. Farming is a very demanding job, and dealing with cancer on top of it was going to make it very difficult.
The Coleman family gathered around Greg to offer their support. Jim Coleman, Greg’s cousin, kept telling him, “We’ll get your corn picked, Greg. Don’t worry about it.”
Word spread throughout the community about Greg’s condition and immediately neighbors were asking how they could help. Jim, along with Neil Coleman, Greg’s brother, and Chad Coleman, Greg’s son, decided to hold a picking bee. Neighbors from all around would come with their machinery and pick Greg’s corn in one day.
Chad Coleman said, “Some people were still in the middle of their own harvest and dropped everything to come help for the day.”
On Tuesday, Nov. 16, a crew of more than 80 people rallied at the Coleman farm for the picking bee. There were 11 combines, 13 grain carts, and 44 trucks in total. Crews of one to two combines and their accompanying grain carts were assigned to seven different fields. To keep things simple and efficient, each crew stayed in their field until it was done. Trucks hauled over 70 loads of corn to Thomas Livestock Company and around 45 loads to Adams Land and Cattle.
Bruning Bank of Broken Bow supplied a sack lunch to the crew. Off-Broadway donated cookies and Dairy Queen provided a Dilly Bar with each meal. AKRS Equipment came out to the Coleman farm to distribute the lunches to each person in the machines and trucks.
“I’m so proud to live in this community where people care about each other,” Jim Coleman said. “I want to thank them all for helping out on this deal. We all have a lot to be proud of living in the midwest when you see what’s going on in big cities. I’m so thankful everyone pitched in and got it done.”
By 4 p.m., the last of the corn was out of the fields and just under 1,000 acres of corn had been picked. What would normally take over a week to get done, took only one day with the help of the community.
“I just want to thank everyone who helped. It’s been huge. It’s one less thing Dad will have to worry about going through the treatments,” Chad said.
Combines and grain carts were provided by Jim and Jeremy Coleman,; Gary Coleman and his sons; Don Cantrell; Joel Bartak; Brian and Jim Bartak; Clifford Sterner; Kyle Geiser and sons; and Roger Safranek.
Chad spoke with some of the farmers after the day was finished. The Bartak brothers said, “This is an honor to come help your dad through this time. We’ve had family members that have been in this situation, and we know it’s a big help.”
Neil Coleman, Greg’s brother, said “I get choked up thinking about it. Greg’s in the fight of his life with this cancer.” He also said that Greg just can’t believe the outpouring of people that wanted to help.
Greg and his family still have a long road ahead of them, but they can breathe a litter easier knowing that harvest is taken care of for the year.
During this week of Thanksgiving, we can all be thankful that we live in a rural community that is willing to help each other in a time of need.
“I don’t want the glory for doing it (coordinating the bee). I just wanted to do what I know Greg would do for me,” Jim Coleman said. “We all felt real good about being able to do that for him.”