Fall

The fall is traditionally known as harvesting time on the farm. Although many family farmers begin harvesting in mid-summer, when farmers plant winter wheat, the main harvesting time begins in the fall. Because of the harvest, many farmers find fall the most rewarding season of all. By observing the final product, farmers can infer what needs to be improved upon and what they should continue to do in the following year. As Dennis Shinaberry, a sheep and beef farmer from Fredricktown, explains, "Just putting it [the crop] in and seeing it come out at the end and seeing that you done it right [is rewarding]. It's nice to look at a nice piece of corn or soybeans."

The many fairs held within the county every fall, including the Fredericktown Tomato Show and the Centerberg Farm Festival, signify and acknowledge the great importance of the harvest season. Farmers' most prized crops are displayed and judged as a celebration of the harvest.

A major part of the farmers' fall is spent preparing for the winter months. This involves chopping the crops into silage to be stored in the silos, as well as baling the hay and straw and storing it in the barn for winter. Without this time in the fall the animals would be unable to survive the long, harsh winters of Knox County.

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