A New FKT

FKT is an acronym for "Fastest Known Time."

The FKT for climbing all 56 Colorado 14ers is 9 days, 5 hours. It took me 20 years, give or take a month. 

The current FKT for the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim 43 mile run is 7 hours, 25 minutes. For comparison, my time in 2012 was 14 hours and change. 

In the world of amateur competition, owning the current FKT for a particular route or trail has become somewhat of a craze. It is an opportunity to be recognized as the best even if the route is obscure and the title short lived.

For the better known routes, FKT attempts are a monthly occurrence. On the other hand, an FKT for kayaking upstream on the Wapsipinicon River from Walnut Ave to the Minnesota State Line is not established.

Thanks to an unprecedented stretch of uninterrupted days suitable for field work, Pinicon Farm has a new FKT for spring planting.

From Sunday, April 18th through Saturday May 2, we planted 100% of corn acres and 90% of beans.

After the last few years of excessive rain, constant delays, short work intervals, and late planting, we are a bit stunned, but thrilled by this reversal.

This would not have been possible without cooperative weather, however optimal coordination of assets, human and mechanical, was equally important.  

Five hundred fifty horse track tractors, high speed ninety foot planters and pattern tile on forty foot spacing alongside daily attention to readiness and consistent execution on the individual level by all Team members made this outcome possible. 

Fuel deliveries on time twice daily, support vehicles fully stocked and ready for dispatch, field map apps on smart phones plotting shortest route to next field, night shift operators arriving on schedule, Tillage Supervisor answering his phone at 3:30 AM when Nathan's 9570 display's an alarming message code, glimpses of what it looks like at the granular level.     

When an athlete endeavors to set the record for a certain trail, they study the route, train to elevate their fitness, eat well, stay rested and come prepared the day of the event.

To the same extent, we have been anticipating the 2020 planting season since last fall. It has been our focus.

Every person on the Team recognized the importance of their contribution and the responsibility they have to each other.

Seeing this level of conscientiousness throughout the organization was rewarding.

2020 was the first year in my career we had conditions this exceptional for planting, I would not be surprised if I never see this again in my life.

Yet we will continue to refine and improve our management. Better methods are waiting to be discovered. 

History says our current FKT's years are numbered.

Jim