Sunflower harvest near Endicott

Endicott farmer Mark Richter planted sunflowers as part of his rotating crop this summer. Wednesday, Oct. 21, the sunflowers were ready to harvest. At left, a combine combs through the sunflower field on Endicott Road. At right, the sunflower seeds are emptied into a waiting grain truck. Richter grew the sunflowers for Shepherd’s Grain, a group of farmers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho who aim to produce sustainable crops. Some of the sunflowers will be sold to make edible sunflower seeds while others will be crushed to make sunflower oil. Photos courtesy Misty Zornacki....