Harvest Rhythm in Randolph Township
“Harvest Rhythm in Randolph Township” Every autumn in Randolph Township, McLean County, Illinois, the same ritual unfolds—timeless, dusty, and proud. A big green John Deere combine roars to life, carving through endless rows of golden corn like clockwork. The machine is more than steel and horsepower; it’s a symbol of continuity, of a community that knows the land and the labor like family. The fields stretch wide beneath a sky that’s seen it all—bumper crops and droughts, hailstorms and heatwaves. The combine’s path is etched with memory. Decades ago, it was a smaller rig, maybe red or rusted, driven by a grandfather whose hands bore the story of every harvest. Today, it’s GPS-guided, air-conditioned, and humming with precision. But the grit remains. Dust kicks up in plumes behind the tires, coating everything in a fine layer of effort. The air smells of husks and diesel. It’s not glamorous, but it’s honest. Some years bring bounty—bins overflowing, prices strong, smiles ...