Roland Harvesting
Alan and Loretta Roland
455 County Road 65
Hemingford, Nebraska 69348
Alan's Cell: (308) 760-0396
Brandon's Cell: (308) 760-9095
Home Phone: (308) 487-3545
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Proud Members of the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc
HARVEST ROUTE
Every summer Roland Harvesting heads south to Texas and works their way north through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and back to Hemingford as they follow the wheat harvest. In August, they travel to Wyoming and Idaho to harvest malting barley. The season is finished in late fall with corn, bean, and sunflower harvest in the panhandle of Nebraska. Roland Harvesting is always looking for new job opportunities.
Alan, Loretta, Ashley, Megan and Brandon Roland
In the summer of 2000
2010 Harvest Crew: Megan, Alan, Brandon, Jason and Taylor
HISTORY
In 1978 Alan Roland graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. He graduated top of his class with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanized Agriculture Degree. Upon completion of his Bachelor's Degree, Alan returned to the family farm in Hemingford, Nebraska.
During the summer of 1978 he purchased his first combine (a New Holland TR '70) and harvested wheat, corn, and edible beans in the local area. In 1979 a local custom harvester, Leonard Thomas, from Alliance, Nebraska asked Alan to accompany him on harvest. Leonard had been doing custom harvesting since the 1940's and was in the process of swapping his conventional combines to the new rotary combines that came into existence. Alan's background and familiarity with the New Holland machines allowed him to successfully assist Leonard with this change. Alan and Leonard operated a custom harvesting business together for the next two years. They traveled to southern Oklahoma to combine wheat and went as far north as Hemingford; finally, they headed to San Luis Valley in Colorado to combine malting barley for Coors.
EQUIPMENT
For over 30 years Roland Harvesting has operated Twin Rotor New Holland combines, but with the recent introduction of the CR New Holland machines, Alan has updated. He has switched over to the new CR 9070 New Holland combines. Roland Harvesting is currently operating two of these CR combines with 36 foot draper headers. In addition, they have 3 semis to haul the grain. A tractor and grain cart are also brought on the road to help with the harvest, along with a service truck that assists with maintenance of the machinery.
Many times Alan and Loretta's family members would help out the operation by running meals to the field, moving and operating equipment, and delivering parts when needed. Over the years, Alan and Loretta's immediate family has grown as they now have 3 children. Currently, their daughters, Ashley and Megan, are both in college and their son, Brandon, is still in high school. They have been raised on their family farm and have been involved in the harvesting operation from birth. For them, responsibility was learned at a young age. They have all spent many summers on the road as part of the harvest crew. Harvest is a very important aspect of the entire family's lives and has provided countless memories, adventures and experiences.
At one time Roland Harvesting operated up to four combines. Throughout the years, Alan has continually updated equipment to keep up with the times. However, he has conclusively run New Holland rotary combines for over 30 years! Roland Harvesting is proud to state that they have owned and operated New Holland twin rotor combines since their introduction in 1977!
In 1981, Alan purchased his second New Holland TR '70 combine. Alan and his crew headed south to Vernon, Texas to continue custom harvesting work on his own. The crew followed the wheat harvest north through Oklahoma, Kansas, and back home to Nebraska.
In 1983, Alan was married to Loretta Fraser. Loretta then accompanied him on the road to follow the wheat harvest for many summers. At this point, after wheat harvest in Hemingford, they began to travel to Riverton, Wyoming to harvest malting barley for Coors and Anheuser Busch.
