Friends and neighbours of a Stornoway district farmer who died in a farm accident in August, assembled last week to harvest his 400 acres of oats.
Mark Strutynski, who farmed with his wife Lynn about three miles east of Stornoway, died in a farm accident on August 29, said Trish Strutynski, a cousin and neighbour.
鈥淢ark was a stand-up guy and he would have done this if the situation was reversed,鈥� Trish said last week. 鈥淗e was a hard-working man and was well respected in the farming and business communities.鈥�
September 24 was the third attempt at harvesting the oats, she said, explaining that the community had come together twice before, but both times it had rained, thereby preventing the harvest.
鈥淭his time it was dewy in the morning, but we decided 鈥榳e have to go,鈥� and we did,鈥� she said.
Fifteen combines, both from neighbours and from people who live out of the area began to arrive at 10 a.m., said Keith Strutynski, Trish鈥檚 husband. 鈥淲e had a dozen semis, five tractors with grain carts and the hauling companies, Assiniboine Valley Transfer of Wroxton and Highway 16 out of Yorkton sent super B units.
鈥淲e started the harvest shortly after noon, and were done by 4 p.m., Keith said. 鈥淲e were a crew of about 50.鈥�
The oats was hauled directly to Grain Millers at Yorkton which took it all, he said. 鈥淲e had the entire Grain Millers establishment to ourselves.鈥�
Keith gave a shout-out to Shane Lacusta and Sherry, 鈥渨ho brought a donut wagon with coffee which was greatly appreciated. Sherry is a great baker.鈥�
He said Grain Millers of Yorkton provided a pizza lunch and supper was donated by Mr. Mike鈥檚 of Yorkton.
鈥淓veryone wanted to help,鈥� Trish said. 鈥淔armers realize that when it鈥檚 time to harvest, it鈥檚 time to harvest. You can鈥檛 put it on hold.
鈥淣o one who came to help with the harvest was done with his or her own harvest,鈥� she said, adding that the Strutynskis still have some canola to do, which was to be harvested by volunteers within the next few days.
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