From Lawnmower to Combine: SIU Students Learn to Harvest Crops
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Monday, October 26, 2026
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SIU’s Hannah Humphreys, a sophomore pursuing a degree in agriculture education, has transformed from lawnmower to combine operator this fall. She works at the Agronomy Center at SIU Carbondale, where she gains hands-on experience for her future career teaching.
(Photo by Brooke Keltner).
From Lawnmower to Combine: SIU Students Learn to Harvest Crops
by Brooke Keltner
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Like farmers across the state, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is in the midst of harvesting its fall crops, including soybeans and corn. This process offers valuable lessons for generations of college students.
One of those students is Hannah Humphreys, who works at the SIU’s Agronomy Center, gaining experience for her future role as a classroom teacher.
From mowing grass to operating a combine, Humphreys shares her journey:
“At first I was intimidated because I get nervous just driving in traffic. But driving something this big isn’t so bad once you get the hang of it and know what you’re looking out for.”
Humphries explains the combine’s operation:
“The rollers pull the stalks in and the gathering chains bring the ears up. Then the separator gets the kernels off the cob by rubbing them off the cob. The kernels go into a grain tank behind the driver’s cabin, and the combine shoots everything unused as ‘trash’ out the back.”
Chris Vick, director of University Farms, emphasizes the diverse lessons learned at the Agronomy Center:
“Students learn basic agronomy, farming, planting and harvesting, and research – all key aspects of the field.”