Mealtime at the field is for making memories

Kansas Wheat Spokesperson shares tips for harvest meals

Photo: Kids with meals in wheat field.

Anita DeWeese, Pratt, has been preparing meals for the field for years. Here, she shares some of her tips and tricks.

  • Implement several recipes that use the same meat. Cook that meat in advance and then use it for several recipes.
  • My go-to meats are ground meat (beef, sausage, and pork) and roasts (beef and pork). I brown 15-20 pounds of meat and then freeze in 2-pound quantities in freezer bags. This makes it easy to use in many recipes.
  • I also cook 3-4 roasts and then shredded that meat and freeze the shredded meat in freezer bags. 
  • Tried and true recipes — Use recipes that you have made and that the crew likes. Ask the crew for suggestions of meals.
  • I also use totes to store paper goods, serving utensils, pre-packaged snacks and other items that go to the field. These totes live in the back of my vehicle all summer long and for fall harvest as well.
  • Recycle laundry detergent jugs with a spout for hand washing stations. These go in the back of my vehicle, on the farm vehicles, and on the tractor. 
  • Have a list of meals that will be served. Make an ingredient list and use this as your grocery list.
  • Incorporate the kids into helping with the meals. Young kids can help pack totes, and older kids can help with the prep and cooking.
  • Find an old folding table that fits in the back of your vehicle and take that to the field or serve out of the back of the vehicle.
  • Use the Instapot, Crockpot, and other time-saving appliances.
  • Be sure to bring coolers of ice and bottled drinks.
  • Coolers can also be used to keep hot foods hot.
  • Pay attention to proper food safety — Keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold.
  • Baked goods can be made and frozen. Cookies, cakes freeze well
  • Casseroles can be made beforehand and frozen and then baked.
  • Easy lunches - Pack a cooler for each person and send to the field. Ideas include sandwiches, chips, wraps, frozen fruit cups, pudding or jello cups, cookies and snack mixes.
  • Be Flexible!

Anita's favorite websites for harvest meals: 

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Anita DeWeese became a Kansas Wheat spokesperson in spring 2015. She and her husband Jerry raise corn, soybeans, wheat and grain sorghum. They also lamb out around 40 ewes. Read more about Anita.

Image: Meal planning guide.