LINKS
WELCOME
This site is dedicated to the creation of a video
memorializing the Martin family of Viola, Kansas, and the
harvesting business that has allowed them to leave their
mark from Texas to North Dakota.
So far the working title of this project is Harvest Run: The End of the Martin Harvesters Family Legacy, suggestions for other titles are always welcome. To find out more about this project and how you can follow its creation or make suggestions or submissions simply continue down or follow the links to the side (to be added soon).
UPDATE!!!
I have 5 video tapes of the last harvest.
I will transfer them to VHS to begin the editing process.
I need to start on ideas for ways to interview people.
Pictures of the burnt combine are one the site here.
THE
IDEA
How did this idea come about? Well it's a rather simple
story. My grandparents, Gene and Elaine Martin, have been
talking about retiring from the harvest run in a few
years. The time they are currently looking to retire by
will give them 45 years together doing the run. This got
me thinking.
The family tradition of going on the harvest run did not start with my grandparents. In fact it started with my great-grandfather, Anthony Martin. He started the tradition of custom harvesting in a time combines were not self propelled. That puts the Martin Harvesting legacy at around 60 years, and sadly there is no one interested in continueing the legacy.
With this many years under their belts I decided that it would be unacceptable to simply allow this legacy to slip away unnoticed. After all they've been in it long enough they at least deserve something, maybe even a retirement party, so I presented this idea to my father, who himself went on the run from birth until I was 12. He approved and so I started this.
THE
CONCEPT
My concept for this production is simply this. To put
together a video that celebrates the accomplishments of
the Martin Harvesters. I would like to do this through
interviews with family, family friends, fellow
harvesters, past and current clients, and some of the
many people over the years that were employeed by them.
I'd like to trace the history of Martin Harvesters
through the good times and bad, touching on some of the
terrible tragedies and celebrating some of the most
joyous moments.
NET
CONNECTIONS
This project found its way to the net in order to better
facilitate the video's production and keep well-wishers
up to date. With family in Oklahoma and past clients and
hired help spread all over America and the world it's
important that we have a way for everyone to stay
connected. So if you are familiar with Martin Harvesters
and would like to help guide me through this project or
offer you story please feel free to contact me. Until
then please check back often.