Canute Community Surprises Farmer Battling Cancer with Cotton Harvest Help:
In Western Oklahoma, the cotton harvest is usually a race against the clock and the weather. But this week at Green Acres Farm in Canute, the harvest became a race to help a friend.
Farm Director KC Sheperd was on site as the local agricultural community gathered to surprise producer Robert Luttmer, who has been battling cancer, by harvesting the remainder of his cotton crop.
According to longtime friend and U.S. Custom Harvester David Misener, Luttmer has been doing well with his treatments but has struggled to maintain the grueling schedule required to finish the harvest.
“He’s struggling trying to get his crop harvested,” Misener explained. “He’s got appointments every once in a while. Some days he ain’t getting done until after 11:00, and sometimes even 1:00. The community talked about it and thought, ‘Let’s help him out.’”
A Surprise “Cotton Stripping” Party
The event was organized as a surprise. While most producers in the area had already completed their own harvests, they brought their equipment back out into the field for Luttmer.
The turnout was substantial. Misener estimated that seven cotton strippers and six tractors were on site, along with numerous support vehicles and a community-provided meal for the workers.
Western Equipment teamed up with “Family Traditions’ cafe in Canute to provide dinner for more than 80 folks on hand, willing to help.
Lonestar Gin provided the baling wrap and fuel for all the equipment, while Harrison Brothers farms, Jimmy and Spencer Smith, Green Acres Farms, Jeff Hall, Keith, Curtis and Chris Schneberger, Simon Farms, and Damron Farms were all on hand with their cotton strippers and tractors ready to provide whatever services were needed.
“We’ve got plenty of individuals that are coming from more than 30 miles to try and help this situation out,” Misener said.
As of Friday morning, Luttmer had approximately 650 acres of cotton left to harvest. While he had managed to clear some of that over the weekend, the arrival of the “harvest army” promised to save him weeks of labor.
“However many machines we end up having here… he’s going to have seven less days that he has to try and worry about harvest,” Misener noted.
The Season of Giving
For Misener, who is originally not from Canute but describes himself as “adopted in,” the event highlighted the unique bond among Western Oklahoma farmers. He emphasized that, as Christmas approached, the gathering reflected faith and community values.
Upon Luttmer’s arrival, he joked, “I thought I wasn’t invited to the party,” as he rolled up to see the line of Cotton Strippers and tractors waiting to help. He and his family were on hand to take in the surprise and were happy to see so many friends and family in attendance.
As the tractors lined up and the strippers prepared to roll, the sentiment was clear: in Canute, you don’t just live next to someone; you take care of them.
“Jesus is the reason for the season, and He taught us to give,” Misener told Sheperd. “That is one of the best blessings that we can give Robert right now, just coming here together as a community. Knowing that he is cared for.”
“One of the best parts of being [here] is being a neighbor,” Misener said. “And how do you become a neighbor? By being the neighbor.”
