We decided to make our trek to Schrute Farms in November. We were told by friends that November would be a safe time since the beet harvest occurs in early fall. Unfortunately, heavy rains throughout September and October pushed the harvest back. We came smack dab in the middle of the two week sugar beet harvest. The threat of an early November frost cast a pall on the entire farm during our stay, and our proprietor - a tall, gangly fellow with a steely, yet discomforting stare - informed us that our morning breakfast hayride would be pushed up to 4AM and that by 4:15AM, we would be given a pair of overalls and work gloves and taken by truck to the beet fields to aid in the harvest. The first day began with an early breakfast (and we do mean early) followed by an hour long lecture on the Beet Army Worm. The topics included identification (hint - the cream colored orbicular spot on the hindwing is a dead giveaway) and application of Lorsban (AKA chlorpyrifos). I now know more about beet armyworm mitigation than anyone in my acquaintance. They then administered a pop quiz - I scored quite poorly - I was publically castigated for my answers on the sugar content of Big Red hybrid variety - just fyi - they contain 12-18% sugar content...I said %5...not good. We then boarded another vehicle ( a pre industrial era carriage whose operation mystified us all) and headed for the local day laborer camp up the road. On our way back, my wife and I got to know an illegal migrant worker named Jose Calderon and his children very well, though the children were terrfied of the prpprietor's amish cousin Mose.



Much to our chagrin, the frost came early - the harvest came early, and the beet crop turned to an icy mush. Mr. Schrute announced that lunch and dinner were postponed (till after our stay had ended) until further notice. We decided that enough was enough. We packed up and left at 3AM the next day, though Mose tried to stop us - I don't think he sleeps.



needless to say, i will NEVER look at a beet the same again. One positive - I have now become a tireless advocate for oppressed beet farmers against big agrotourism.