WOYM - On The Road Again
The Official Podcast for Kansas Wheat
Hosted by Aaron Harries
In this episode of the Wheat's on Your Mind Podcast, Aaron Harries talks with Lyle Friesen of Friesen Harvesting—a third-generation, family-run custom harvesting business based in Meade, Kansas.
Starting with humble roots in 1949, Lyle shares how the operation has grown to include modern John Deere combines and Kenworth trucks, all while maintaining deep-rooted family values and relationships with customers, including one family they've harvested for since the beginning.
Listeners get an insider’s view of the logistical and agricultural challenges of a northbound harvest route stretching from Oklahoma to Montana.
The conversation touches on the realities of wheat production across states, crop conditions, equipment evolution, and the often-overlooked difficulties of running a mobile business.
Lyle provides candid insights into the labor challenges, the pressure of working with increasingly narrow harvest windows, and why new wheat varieties are changing the custom harvesting landscape.
Whether you're in agriculture or simply curious about the lives behind your daily bread, this episode delivers a rich slice of wheat country life.