Photography by Brian Gilbreath

End - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Don finished his last row on November 10th, 2017 ending his last harvest. With Don’s retirement, the era of the century farm that was tended to by his family for 4 generations came to a pause. For 2018 and the future, the land will stay in the family, and be leased out to other farmers.

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Driving Off - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Till Dusk - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Harvest continues into dusk.

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Another Load - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Back to the Fields - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries After depositing the grain in the bin, Don heads back out for more.

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Empty - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Don empties a load of corn from the cart into the auger. The auger will propel the grain up to the top of the bin.

Part of the series: Last Harvest

To and From the Carts - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

To speed up the process, Don rides an ATV to set up carts at opposing sides of the field. As he moves across the field in his combine, he can fill up carts on each end.

Part of the series: Last Harvest

​Grip - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Setting Up the Auger - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Down Ladder - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Don inspects one of his grain bins double checking it’s ready to receive the corn.

I learned bins are more than just storage containers, they also contain machinery to help the keep the grain at an optimal moisture. There is a spreader at the top that evenly distributes the grain, and also a exhaust fan that aerates the grain through ducts on the bottom of the bin.

Between Two Turbines - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Don drives his combine between two locally owned wind turbines. While we were visiting Don, the sustained wind was so strong that almost entire state was powered by Wind. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2017/10/28/high-winds-bring-milestone-iowa-utilitys-wind-power/809951001/

Spout - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Transfer - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

Docking Procedures - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

In the Cab - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

The Scraps - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest

After the combine has made its way through the field and processed all the corn, the leftover stalks, leaves and cobs are chewed up and thrown out the back.

Chaff - Anita, IOWA - October 26-30, 2017 #lastharvestseries

Part of the series: Last Harvest 

Corn chaff fills the air as Don deposits his load into the waiting cart. It takes a couple more of passes through the field to fill up the combine bin, and then a few more loads to fill up the cart.