By Bethaney Phillips

Courtesy photos

Longtime customer harvester, Mike Parker, was inducted into the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. Hall of Fame. The Waterville native was honored after more than 50 years in the industry.

Parker began his operation in the summer of 1975, just after graduating high school. He loaded up his John Deere 6600 combine and headed south to start harvesting wheat. As a third-generation harvester, the work was nothing new; he’d helped seasonally since he was old enough to work. Under his grandfather, then Dad, D.O., Parker operated Massey 82s, 92s, and Super 92 combines. Today, these models are considered collectors items. Produced in the 50s and 60s, the Massey-Harris 82 was a self-propelled combined equipped with a Chrysler flathead six-cylinder gas engines. Headers were available in 12, 14, or 16-foot headers and the three-speed transmission hosted an open cab.

He grew the operation from his single 6600, to seven John Deere combines. All are hauled by Parker’s signature blue semi trucks. The color is to honor his Dad’s longtime use of blue Chevy trucks.

For more than 50 years, Parker has left Waterville in May, not returning until after Thanksgiving. He and his crew cut anywhere from 250-1,200 miles away, including every state between Texas and Montana. In the summers that means wheat and in the fall it’s high moisture corn and milo. However, they also cut specialty crops, like lentils, mustard, garbanzo, and irrigated brew barley. Parker has never missed a harvest in 50 seasons.

The family business is now in its fifth generation, with Parker’s grandchildren. Almost 100 years ago, his grandfather, Tracy, began custom harvesting to feed his family during the great depression. Parker’s father joined at the age of 16, followed by him in 1975. In 2001, his son, Brett joined as the fourth generation of harvesting Parkers.

More information about Parker’s induction to the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. Hall of Fame can be found on the organization’s website.