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Seeing the picture of the combine brought back a bunch of memories. My uncle, Roy Mckee, ran a "string" of combines north to Canada, from Cashion, Oklahoma, during the 1950's. I made the harvest with him from '53-'57. A large farmer from Pine Bluff, Wyoming, John Jessen, had a GMC truck and a Massey combine (14' header) that he would bring to Cashion in early May. We'd cut in Okla. till the wheat in Kansas was ready, then head north. For road travel, we would just drive the combines onto the trucks, swinging the headers above cabs of the trucks. Seeing six or seven of these rigs, along with a pickup or two and another grain hauler pulling the kitchen/office trailer, was quite a sight. Any of you guys remember John Jessen (about 10 miles north of Pine Bluff, Wyo.) or his dad who used to be known as "the wheat King of western Nebraska"? John primarily used TD-14 Int'l (4 or 5) and other red wheel tractors (one Oliver diesel) for the dirt work. The TD-14's pulled a contraption about 50-60 ft. wide that was called a rod-weeder. Are they still used?? All years I went (except one), I would stay with Mr. Jessen when we got through in Pine Bluff and the rest of the crew would go on north. I worked with Mr. Jessen until early September, baling straw, running the 14's rod-weeding, plowing, etc., then returned to Ok to go to school. Thanks --- Bob Farrell
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