(Continued from Page 18)
The millet then goes through the cutting line where workers cut
the sprays off the stem. At the grading line, workers sort stems
and sprays by size. The smaller pieces go into other products and
are stacked in trays in the storage area for processing later.
The sprays move next to the packaging area where they are
inserted carefully into appropriate product bags.
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
Gary gives away the millet that does not make grade to local
people to use for livestock feed. “We used to bale and sell it
but it was not worth the effort. Now, we just load it in a wagon
and let people know it is available for free, as long as they clean
up any mess they make.”
“Horses, particularly, love millet and pretty much react to it as
if it was alfalfa, one of their favorite feeds.”
Always exploring new frontiers, Gary also sells 25 semi-loads
of field cob corn annually to pet food manufacturers for squirrel
feed.
Gary farms 500 acres of potatoes in his Plainfield, WI potato
operation and has over 20 pieces of John Deere equipment,
including seven tractors.
EDITOR’S NOTE: When I was interviewing Gary for this story, he told me
he bought his first John Deere tractor 30 years ago. I asked him if he
remembered what model it was and quick as a wink, he said, “4450.”
Now, that’s a man and his Deere!
Top: Leftover millet is free to local farmers. Middle: Sprays of millet are being transferred
to the appropriate packaging. Bottom: Another view of the production line where much
of the work is hand processing.
Page 19
Neighbors-March 2011