When we were kids, my brother and I would stomp the trailers full of cotton with our feet, eager for the upcoming ride in it to the cotton gin. It was a simple joy that filled our days with excitement and anticipation.

Fun note -Every summer, without fail, my brother and I were equipped with new chopping hoes. We would arrive at the field, armed with our water jugs and hoes, ready to embark on a day of weed-ridden challenges. As we ventured through the fields, our hoes in hand, we diligently chopped away at the relentless weeds standing in our way. However, In true brother-and-sister fashion, our competitive spirits and sibling rivalry would occasionally bubble to the surface, resulting in petty arguments over territorial chopping rights. Leading to us being separated further apart, to focus on our own section of field. Despite our occasional squabbles, there was an unspoken bond forged in those sweltering summer days. Looking back, those moments of bickering over who chops what now serve as fond memories of our childhood summers spent diligently tending to the land, one weed at a time.

Next came the module builder, a personal favorite until this day. After each round of the picker emptying its basket, the stomper came into play to pack everything down. Once packed to the top, rolling out a tarp over it was the next step, followed by lifting the back gate. If there was an extra hand available, they would perch on the back of the module builder while you maneuvered the tractor away from the module, simultaneously tarping it. The thrill of diving into the cotton was undeniably the highlight of the process. However, the task of collecting the loose cotton scattered on the ground and placing it back into the builder posed a less enjoyable challenge. This stray cotton often spilled out of the side of the picker basket, adding to the complexity of the operation. For a visual representation of this intricate dance on the farm, envision the workflow detailed below.

During the post-cotton harvest period, there arose the tedious task of manually removing cotton stalks from the fields to avoid incurring substantial fines. Yes, walking the fields and pulling them by hand. This obligation often proved to be a burdensome and unenjoyable experience for those of us nvolved, given the labor-intensive nature of the task…NOT FUN!

Cotton harvest was always a grueling time of year, but this particular task stood out as one of the least favored. The repetitive process of the cotton picker stomping a module and then dropping it on the turn row. Each module had to be tarped, a physically demanding and time-consuming task.

To streamline the process, my dad devised a pole system that proved to be a game-changer. It made the task more manageable, although the workload remained substantial. Cotton harvest typically kicked off in August, during the sweltering heat of a Texas summer, adding an extra layer of challenge to the already arduous work. Ensuring that everything was properly tarped was crucial, as the module trucks would soon arrive to transport them to the cotton gin.

Two picker modules would be equivalent to one stomped module. It was essential to tag each module and expedite their removal from the field promptly. Time was always of the essence in this race against Mother Nature, who operated on her own unpredictable schedule.

Despite the pole system and efforts to optimize efficiency, the combination of nature's whims and inevitable breakdowns meant that cotton harvest season always felt like an endurance test, stretching on longer than anticipated.

In the current process, the cotton picker creates round bales, wraps them, and drops them in the field while continuing to pick cotton.. The "B Team" then takes charge, using a tractor with a bale mover attached to pick up each bale left in the field. These bales are then stacked in groups of four on the turn row. This stacking method ensures that the maximum number of bales that can fit into the module truck are efficiently transported to the gin in one go.

The transition from one large module to two picker modules and then to four round bales in the truck optimizes the transportation process. The objective is to handle the bales carefully while transporting from the field to the turn row to prevent any damage to the wrap. The "B Team" has only once slightly busted one wrap. I guess texting and tractor driving doesn’t mesh well either.

One of the advantages of working with round bales is the reduction in waste. By utilizing this method, there is a decrease in the need to constantly gather cotton from the ground, contributing to a more efficient operational flow.