SMiLe, WInK, nOD!
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ON SATURDAY, OUR FAMILY TOOK A MINI-DAY TRIP...ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY. EACH OCTOBER WE SET OFF TO WATCH SUGAR BEET HARVESTING! ABOVE IS A TRACTOR WITH A SPECIAL SUGAR BEET CUTTER...IT'S CUTTING THE LEAVES OFF THE BIG, BUSHY PLANT!
THIS IS A SPECIAL SUGAR BEET HARVESTER...IT LOOKS LIKE A MINI-FERRIS WHEEL! IT'S LOADING THEM INTO THE TRUCK...........
AND THEN, THE TRUCK HAULS THEM TO THE SUGAR PLANT....
AND MORE TRUCKS...AND MORE TRUCKS AND EVEN MORE TRUCKS, STILL! NOTICE HOW OUR LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE THE TRUCKS TO HAVE TARPS ON THEIR TRAILER'S? ACCORDING TO BRAD...THIS IS ABOUT THE ONLY CROP THAT DOESN'T HAVE THIS REGULATION?! NEEDLESS TO SAY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF BIG AND HEAVY SUGAR BEETS THAT ROLL OFF ONTO THE ROAD...AND YES, WE HELD OUR BREATH AT EACH PASSING FULLY LOADED SEMI!
THE TRUCKS UNLOAD THEIR SUGAR BEETS... AND THERE ARE LITERALLY MILES AND MILES OF THEM PILED UP!
THIS IS THE VERY WELL-KNOWN SUGAR FACTORY...WHERE THE BEETS ARE BOILED DOWN, MUCH LIKE MAPLE SYRUP...HOW DO I KNOW THIS????? TOMMIE AND I HOPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND PICKED SOME SUGAR BEETS OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THREW THEM IN THE BACK AND CAME HOME, RESEARCHED AND BOILED THEM! OUR TWO LARGE SUGAR BEETS, PRODUCED ABOUT 2 TABLESPOONS OF CRYSTALIZED SUGAR! THE PROCESS TOOK ABOUT FOUR HOURS...IT SURE MAKES ME APPRECIATE ALL THAT GOES INTO MAKING SUGAR!
AFTER THE TRUCKS HAVE DUMPED THEIR LOADS...THEY HEAD BACK TO THE FIELD AND DUMP ANY REMAINING DIRT THAT'S LEFT IN THE BOX... AND START ALL OVER!
ABOUT TEN MILES FROM THE PLANT... WE VISITED A QUAINT LITTLE TOWN THAT IS GENERATED WITH WINDMILLS! IT'S ACTUALLY A WINDMILL FARM! WE COUNTED 35 WINDMILLS IN A ROW...
MOST OF THE OLD FARMS, LIKE THE ONE BELOW USE THIS ENERGY-SAVING METHOD, NOW. BRAD THINKS IT'S TOTALLY GREAT AND HOPE THE TREND CATCHES ON.
I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WINDMILL'S WORK. WHEN BRAD TRIES TO EXPLAIN IT TO ME... I JUST, "SMILE, WINK AND NOD!"
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