Farm Machines At Work

Children love to see giant machines in action, and farm equipment certainly fills that bill. Kurt Ewald is a real farmer, with a building the size of an airplane hanger packed with heavy equipment. And what fascinating equipment it is. Each has a specific purpose--cultivating, spraying, or harvesting--and we see each item used during the course of the growing season. When a sprayer unfolds its giant extensions, it looks like a B-52 with drooping wings, and the humorous script plays on this with voice-over from an air traffic controller. In another scene, as a machine makes a wake passing through a field, viewers are treated to Jaws-like music. Grandpa wearing tattered bib overalls running 40 acres with a mule is ancient history. Although Ewald keeps up on the status of his crops for harvesting by using traditional methods of tasting and smelling the grain, he also uses computers to monitor weather, and lab equipment to check for things like moisture content. It is still somehow reassuring to see Ewald roll grain in his hand, smell it, and then tell us how many days until harvest. There are spectacular scenes of emergency night time repairs when a big chunk of rusty steel is harvested instead of veggies. Besides the allure of giant equipment, this production tells an important story; the immense effort needed to keep those supermarket bins stocked like a horn of plenty. Good photography and lively music enhance the show. An excellent choice for kids 5-12. Editor's Choice. (E. Swanson)