The most wonderful time of the year

Now I wish I could pinpoint the exact reason why fall is my favorite season, but unfortunately there are far too many reasons why this season tops my list.

Growing up on a family farm outside of Granville, I, like many children, knew that once combines were pulled out of the shed, it was time.

There was nothing better (except when we broke down) than sitting alongside my father as he drove the combine back and forth through the field filling the hopper with what looked to be a promising crop. But let’s be honest, at the age of 8, I didn’t know, nor did I care what a promising crop was.

All I knew was I was Daddy’s little girl, and I was helping him harvest.

Those memories are priceless, and although my life tends to get busier and busier the older I become, I still manage to find myself yet again alongside my father riding in the combine reliving those childhood memories and creating new ones each year.

Mother Nature has another large role in my favorite season.

As September rolls into October, the spectacular color show she puts on is simply breathtaking.

We all have that one place we revisit when the fall comes, whether it’s a location far out into the country where the trees stretch their branches over the road completely engulfing you in a sea of vibrant colors, or the park bench where you sit and watch the children play in mountains of colorful leaves that have fallen, laughing as they dive through the piles they spent endless hours creating.

This fall my suggestion to everyone is to take the time to enjoy a hike through Starved Rock, a walk on the canal or a drive along the river roads and enjoy all the different shades of red, orange, gold and purple the fall has to offer.

As the summer of 2012 has taken a substantial impact on this year’s crop due to excessive heat and lack of moisture, producers may have a different reason to look forward to the fall.