I love watching the ease and grace with which my brother operates the farm machinery.
When I used to plant soybeans, I wasn’t quite so graceful. I required my dad to put in no less than 4 end rows (yes, you read that correctly), only choose fields without neighboring ravines, and drive on the road for me. Let’s not mention what happened when the sensors on the planter started going off. In the days before GPS and auto-steer, I did a pretty good job getting the soybeans in the ground, but it was never completely natural for me.
My brother is the complete opposite. He’s adapted to all of the equipment as easily as riding a bicylce. The controls are just a natural extension of his arm. It’s like he doesn’t even have to think about what he’s doing; he just does it and the machinery obeys.
It amazes me because he had to learn just like me. Sure, dad had to learn too, but as far as I can remember he’s always known. My brother, on the other hand, is younger than me. He started driving those tractors after me. He became an expert well earlier than me.
He doesn’t need 4 end rows. He even puts the end rows in himself! He doesn’t care how deep the ravine is next to the field. He can drive all of the biggest equipment on the road. He knows what all of the sensors mean, and how to fix whatever the problem.
It’s pretty awesome to watch someone grow up and so naturally move into a position for which he was born.
I definitely don’t tell him often enough, but he’s pretty awesome and I’m so proud of him.
