Recent KHS graduate named scholarship winner

Monica Wasielewski was recently named one of 20 winners of the “Western Knowledge. Exceptional Communities.” essay contest sponsored by Fontanelle Hybrids.

According to a recent press release the contest Fontanelle Hybrids awarded the winners across Nebraska with $1,000 to advance their education.

Giving our local youth the tools they need to succeed helps the future of Nebraskan agriculture throughout our community, the release stated.

The contest, which was open to Nebraska high school seniors that were active in 4-H, FFA or other certified agricultural organization, gave essayists an opportunity to describe how agriculture has impacted their lives.

Applicants submitted a 250-word essay on the topic, “What has had the greatest impact on production agriculture in your local community over the last 80 years?”

According to the press release, students shared stories ranging from the passion of farmers in their community to the impact that new technology has made in their lives.

Wasielewski’s winning essay:

Production agriculture has improved greatly over the last 80 years in many different ways. In my community there have been a multitude of improvements that have helped people in the production of agriculture. The one thing that sticks out the most to me, is the advancements we have made with combines. When combines were first invented they were pull type reaper-threshers, which could only cut around fifteen acres in a day. Combines now are so advanced that they drive themselves and producers can cut somewhere close to 250 acres in a day. Bin storage of the machine has increased as well. Old combines could only hold about 30 bushels of grain and now a new combine can hold up to 300 bushels of grain. Combines grain efficiency has improved as well, for older combines didn’t have the most efficient bins to hold the grain. When the grain was being harvested some grain was lost due to the cracks in the bin or the poor headers that were used. Grain quality has improved greatly due to the advancements in combine technology, such as technologically engineered cutter bars, conveyors, threshing drums and straw walkers. Contemporary farmers have come a long way over the last 80 years in Kimball County in grain production. The Caterpillar Lexion 590R combine is the largest combine of its kind. Harvesting exponentially more and faster than hundreds of human laborers and thrashers of its yesteryear predecessors. My prediction for the next 80 years is remotely satellite controlled machines that will require minimal human labor.