It’s harvest season, and for many farm families, that means long days in the field, unpredictable weather, and the familiar hum of combines moving through the crops. For the Moran family, it also means carrying on a legacy that stretches back more than a century.
Shaun Moran, one of the family owners of Moran Farms, has been working the land for 51 years. He says the operation is deeply rooted in tradition.
“My great-grandfather started in 1906, so together, we've had six generations on the farm,” Moran explains.
Today, the Morans farm around 17,000 acres of crops west of Portage, ranging from corn and soybeans to canola and spring wheat. Their land stretches as far as Sandy Bay, which keeps the crew plenty busy this time of year.
So far, they've had a steady harvest, despite a challenging growing season marked by an unseasonably dry July. Moran says the family is grateful for how things have turned out so far.
“We’re just about halfway through harvest. The canola and wheat are off, and we’re quite happy with the yields for the little bit of rain that we received during the summer,” he notes.
Like many producers, Moran has noticed the smoky skies that lingered through much of the summer. While unusual, he feels it may have had a small benefit.
“The smoke cuts the sun back, so we likely didn’t lose as much moisture from the sun drying it out. Every year is different, and other than the pricing, it’s turned out pretty good so far," he adds.
Looking ahead, the Morans expect to be in the field for several more weeks.
“It’ll probably be a couple of weeks before we start in soybeans, and we hope to wrap up corn by the end of October, hopefully before the snow comes," he jokes.
Harvest is a family-oriented effort for the Morans. They have approximately 15 people currently working in the fields, half of whom are family members. Moran says the team effort is something they don’t take for granted.
“Our family relies on a bunch of family members and workers who help put everything together to make things go smoothly. We appreciate them all very much,” he says.
The crew managed to pause yesterday to enjoy a Harvest Lunch Delivery, provided by Boston Pizza, before getting back to work.
As the combines roll on and another season’s work continues, the Moran family is once again showing that farming isn’t just about crops, it’s about legacy, teamwork, and the community that supports them.
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