MANSFIELD— This year has been a whirlwind ride for wheat farmers on the Waterville Plateau. In September last year, some farmers were on their third seeding into the driest soil they’d seen in years. Hopes weren’t too high.

The outlook changed in the spring as heavy rains soaked the region. “You get 6 or 7 inches of rain on it and it turned a crop that looked like it was going to be way below average to an average or better-than-average crop,” noted Kevin Whitehall, manager of Central Washington Grain Growers in Waterville. “Rain makes grain, as the old saying goes.”

Prices have been higher than expected for this time of year, said Whitehall. In addition to good prices, the wet weather has helped add moisture to fallow fields where seeding has been taking place.

“I’ve heard farmers say more than once that this is the best moisture they’ve ever seeded to,” said Whitehall.

He added that most seeding has already taken place and 98 percent of fields have been harvested.

Last year at this time the prices were about $2 per bushel less than the $5.83 they were on Thursday.

The last three months, though, have packed another punch for wheat growers. July brought torrential rains and spotty hail to some fields, damaging stands and fallow land. Usually, harvesting begins in July and lasts through August. Some wheat growers were still harvesting as of Wednesday.

“We’ve never harvested in September,” said Heidi Black of Mansfield. “And we’ve been harvesting wheat for 30 years.”

For the Black family, this year not only brought unusual weather, but also equipment failure. In addition to being hit by flash flooding and August rains that delayed harvest, the family lost an engine on their combine. On the same day their semitrailer broke down. Then their pickup broke down. However, all was not lost for the family.

After Heidi and Monty Black’s neighbors were finished with their wheat harvest, they went to the Blacks’ ranch and kept on going. “We’ve got guys that have been harvesting for a month and now are finishing our fields,” said Heidi. “It’s neighbors helping neighbors using their combines, their semis, to help us get our wheat harvest in.”

Kerry Glessner brought over his 9660 John Deere, a “huge, fancy, nice combine,” as Denver Black, the couple’s son, calls it. Leroy Thomsen came over with his combine and Peterbilt semi and Wade and Jens Foged brought over another combine and semi. Denver’s friend James Mead pitched in to drive one of the semis. With the big crew of family and friends, 800 acres were cut over three days. “We average a little over 100 acres a day with one machine,” noted Denver. “... We got over 300 acres yesterday,” he added on Thursday.

Dewy, damp mornings make efficient harvesting more difficult. “We can’t start until late because the wheat doesn’t want to thrash out because it’s moist,” explained Denver on Thursday. “We finally pulled in last night at 9:30, running in the dark for the last hour.”

He didn’t make it to the Foreigner concert at Town Toyota Center on Wednesday night because he was still out in the fields, he said. The tickets were a birthday present from his sister, Sheianne. He didn’t seem too disappointed. “It’s a good birthday present to have neighbors come out and help you when you need it.”

“I hear stories from my dad and grandpa how they used to get together and do things like this,” said Denver. “But with big equipment we’re all pretty separate now. I guess sometimes you gotta ask for help, or take their offer when it’s given. The family plans to give back and maybe help with reseeding to show their neighbors the same care they were given, he said.

Denver added later that his family wasn’t the only one helped by neighbors in Mansfield. Jake Avenell helped out Rick Matthiesen and Cory Moore during this year’s harvest.

“There are people up here who care in hard times,” said Heidi. “My heart’s just overwhelmed.”