Our Story

The inspiration came while driving to a monthly Knights of Columbus meeting.

Christopher Miller sensed the Holy Spirit was tapping him on the shoulder.

He had been trying to come up with ideas to save Sacred Heart School in Lincoln, where his son, Matthew, was a kindergarten student. An impressive fundraising effort by the parish in late 2018 had bought some time, but now, just a couple of months into 2019, the school found itself back on the brink. That’s when he had the idea that custom harvesting could raise money for the school.

Although fundraising with a combine might seem unusual for a mechanical engineer, Christopher has spent his life close to the ag industry.

His father is a fertilizer dealer in Kansas City, his wife was raised on a family farm near Albion, and Christopher designs combines for Claas, a German farm implement manufacturer with a corporate location in Omaha.

Over subsequent weeks, Christopher signed loan papers drawn up by a local bank that offers a special program for nonprofits. But before he could share his plan with others, the decision was made to close the school after the 2019 school year.

Christopher went home and asked his wife what they were going to do with a combine they had just borrowed $250,000 to buy.

“We’re just going to have to save our next school,” she told her husband without hesitation. And with that vote of confidence, Holy Harvesters began.

The combine, a lease return, didn’t have many operating hours, but it did need maintenance.

Christopher recruited Paul Bauer and Tim Menke, fellow Knights of Columbus, who had lots of experience running and working on farm machinery as they both grew up on family farms.

He also filled out the application for nonprofit tax status and recruited a board of directors. It seemed every person he brought in had skills, knowledge, or contacts that could help.

During their first season, the Holy Harvesters put nearly 1,200 acres of soybeans in the bin. They had a lot of help along the way, from the farmers who provided space to store the combine to a truck operator who donated transportation of the machine.

Now, Michelle and Christopher are working to get their nonprofit status approved, line up more volunteers to help with the harvesting, and spread the word about the organization.

All while raising four children. Their oldest is now a first-grader at St. Teresa’s School.

Normally, Michelle said she likes to feel in total control of everything she does, but that’s not how it’s worked with Holy Harvesters. Still, she doesn’t feel anxious about it.

Christopher has had a few anxious moments when he sizes everything up with an engineer’s head. When he approaches it with a Christian’s heart, the anxiety lifts.

“I just keep telling myself to put my trust in the Lord. He’s guiding this effort. I’m just doing his will.” he said.

The Will Behind the Holy Harvesters

The inspiration came while driving to a monthly Knights of Columbus meeting.

Although fundraising with a combine might seem unusual for a mechanical engineer, Christopher has spent his life close to the ag industry.

The combine, a lease return, didn’t have many operating hours, but it did need maintenance.

Now, Michelle and Christopher are working to get their nonprofit status approved, line up more volunteers to help with the harvesting, and spread the word about the organization.

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