The Harvest Run

The Harvest Run

A Midwestern family struggles to hold onto their way of life, while facing the seemingly insurmountable hardship of economics, Mother Nature, and the changing American work ethic.

A documentary by Steven Balvanz & Aaron McAdams

The Story

The film follows the Beckley family of Colby, Kansas, who have harvested crops for three generations. Each spring they travel with their crew and equipment from Texas to the Canadian border on the "Harvest Run," a seven-month journey. The film examines their effort to keep this way of life amid economic pressure, weather, and changing attitudes toward work.

Production Stills

Harvest Run production still: combines in a line across a wheat field, with a convoy of grain trucks Harvest Run production still: a combine and grain cart harvesting wheat Harvest Run production still: a John Deere combine unloading grain Harvest Run production still: a family watches children climb on a John Deere header Harvest Run production still: two men talk in a stubble field beside pickup trucks Harvest Run production still: a man in a cap and a white field Harvest Run production still: an older couple smiling together Harvest Run production still: two men laughing beside a combine Harvest Run production still: a man sitting on the ladder of a combine Harvest Run production still: a man using a radio in a combine cab