SUGARBEET MAFIA - The Story of America's Largest Beet Harvest

Production of this film was funded directly by Gudajtes Family Farm. Subscribe to their Channel: / @gudajtesfamilyfarm
With 11,000 planted acres of sugar beets, harvest on Gudajtes Family Farm of Minto, North Dakota is no small task. It takes long hours, good help, and nearly 100 vehicles to complete a task at this scale. SUGARBEET MAFIA follows the owners and crew throughout a week of harvest and will reveal what it takes to make an operation of this scale work.
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[@AgriStudios]

Gudajtes Family Farm just launched a new KZbin channel. Be sure to subscribe to them for future content about their farm: kzbin.info/door/tk-zyfoC7iwlIvn8pA7Ycg Thanks for watching!

[@stanpolchinski8956]

wow, a military planning job .mechanics who are drivers & drivers who are mechanics. omg no messing around.wow

[@deereguy730]

Riley I wish you could produce a video just like for every major crop grown in the US. This was a fantastic way to learn about sugar beet production.

[@diggerdave.6587]

I admire those 2 guys, harvest stress levels must be astronomic, the way they show appreciation for their labour force is second to none

[@francomtz7115]

I don't know about these 2 guys but other operations only appreciate them while being recorded, then they'll have formen yelling and screaming at everyone.

[@alexandergudajtes2468]

@@francomtz7115 Well from what I have seen since I have been a part of the farm my whole life is that what they showed in this video is 100% how our family treats the people. Its the people first then the farm second. Not ranting or anything but just to let you know a little bit of how they are.

[@TimHollis3006]

@@alexandergudajtes2468awe go back to sleep, of course you say that with your last name

[@alexandergudajtes2468]

@@TimHollis3006 Well you can choose to believe me or not but there isn't very many people with my last name and Jay is my dad and he has only one kid. I was working on the farm last year during the making of this video and was in the video a little bit and could tell you every person in this video.

[@timgrant6510]

@@francomtz7115you can tell how they talk about the crew that what you said isn’t the case

[@monarue1987]

I work at one of the pilers on the Drayton yard. We love the Gudajtes drivers we've encountered, the themed trucks are fun, and this production is amazing!!! Many of us have no idea what's going on in those fields. We just see the end product. Now, I understand why I was waking up at 4:30am to the smell of sugar beets!! Truly an amazing operation. Thank you for all you do❤❤❤.

[@scottsmith1569]

One of the best documentaries I've ever seen in my life! What an awesome farm, and small community. Agristudios what an awesome video production ! I realize it is 2 years old, and I truly enjoyed every second.

[@7018cowboy]

Dang. These guys could run half of our government with CB radios. Impressive and well portrayed. My family and I manage a 1000 acre farm with 500 dairy cows I’d like to get some tips and tricks from them. Maybe do a webinar about farm management. Thanks for the video.

[@davedefea5530]

That was very cool. Just did a silage run in South Dakota for 30 days. Just amazing how you keep it all running. If half America had these guys work ethic, we'd be in a lot better shape. Really inspirational!

[@1984shadow]

Jaw-dropping family beet operation. Award-winning video production style by highly skilled professionals.

[@santiou]

The way the emotions come out of his voice, says a lot about them. The boss that recognizes the work and effort of their guys make this enterprise very respectable. Im speaking from spain, retired from the family farming bussiness, when my dad retired and sold the farm.

[@peterpeterson7784]

Crazy that I know so little about sugar beet harvest when I grew up 60 miles straight west of that farm. My nephew farms just across the Red River from Grand Forks and plants sugar beets, but 60 miles west is small grain country. We grew lots of durum wheat and back when I was growing up sunflowers. Your video professionalism is amazing. I've been a still photographer for 40 years so I kind of understand the amount of work that went into this video. Thanks

[@AgriStudios]

Thanks! Yep, about 7 days of filming and 80 hours of fast-paced editing were needed to get this put together.

[@chadsimmons6347]

well done documentary, i didnt know beet farmers had to buy sugar stock to equal production limit, is that normal ?

[@alexandergudajtes2468]

@@chadsimmons6347 American Crystal Sugar is a company that is mostly only around the northern states such as North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota in which they have to but stock to be allowed to plant so many acres like they said. Yes this is a normal thing and every farmer that has sugar beets has owned stock within American Crystal

[@user-pq9vn8om2z]

Great film and a well organized group of farmers. I've always been impressed how resourceful farmers and their workers are when having to fix and solve problems in the field. Back in the late 1970's I worked on a friend's family farm during the summer where they grew grain, beets and potatoes. I would work during the summer and part-time after school during harvest. I use to love the energy in the field of the the potato and beet harvest in early fall.

[@Jandyg]

I’ve watch this video 3 times, to formulate a proper response. The production aspect is top notch, on par if not better than The Discover Channel. Second the Gudajtes family are Masters of organization. What a wonderful, well run operation. The amount of time, money and pure risk they take on is insane. Purely mind boggling. Well done Sir. Great video. Keep up the great work.

[@phillipingram4909]

I worked in the Grocery Distribution industry for over 41 years and was blessed to see many sides of the food chain. One of my favorites was the many different harvests. This video was absolutely captivating and a genuine representation of what makes America great, and farmers great all around the world. To see the brothers get emotional when talking about their employees near the end of the video is just the cherry on top. Well done and much respect men. ❤️

[@jordanfraser1055]

Inspirational honestly, I would be proud to work for a company like that. Amazing job.

[@geertslandwaterscapes7930]

Congrats Riley!! Outstanding produced and edited video of a group of dedicated loyal hard working people! As a teenager growing up on a farm in Flanders, Belgium, I watched my dad work hard at growing Sugar beets with high yields and profits! This sure brings great memories albeit on a much smaller scale back in Flanders in the late seventies. This H.Q. video is worthy of going viral and gaining Awards! Much respect for all the sacrifices farmer families and related workers make to keep our countries fed!

[@AgriStudios]

Thanks! Definitely a top notch farm and a unique opportunity to work for them and cover it.

[@feelinghealingfrequences7179]

curious if anyone eats sugar beets like a red beet? boiled

[@riverae53]

As a 9yr old bringing the chains to my Dad and grampa, the truck latch system is awesome!!

[@Mthwsshootr]

Absolutely hands down the best farming video I’ve ever watched !

[@LDan77]

...what a great video! I´m from Germany, and it´s really interesting to see the differences how the sugar beet harvest works in USA. The Gudajtes family seems to be awesome. Manage such a big operation and still taking care of all employees - very impressive. I enjoyed every minute watching this. You did an awesome job with this film. I´m still blown away. Would like to see more reports of this type (also of this length). Greetings from Germany, Dan.

[@c4lv1n26]

its the little things like that, that make a big difference to the employees. during silage season, one of the contractors i work for rang me at around 5pm asking if i wanted to go home at around 7pm and he get some1 to fill in for the rest of the evening. never have i seen someone do that for us and was unexpected as well as plenty of contractors here in ireland complain about the lack of drivers

[@Sy-Con]

What an amazing produced video guys! We are trying to get to this level on our channel! Thank you for taking the time to show the world, what farmers are and do!

[@bruced9053]

My family farms in Grafton. My father farmed in 40’s and 50’s on homesteaded property that my Great Grandfather owned. The stories he told were awesome. Sugar beets and potatoes. Thank you for a walk wonderful video of your harvest! My grandpa was in your co-op.

[@joelawrence56]

I'm a Kiwi and worked around Grafton for Altendorf harvesting and trucking only carting potatoes tho...in 2000 and 02

[@cliffordlee1898]

The sheer scale of it, wow, really impressive organisation and execution. A great team, well led, a real eye opening film, everyone works real hard, 👌👌👌👌

[@timcarberry7372]

Nice job putting that video together. Very good the hear the bosses complimenting their workers and showing the employees how much they care

[@stevenweir9437]

I grew up in Big Horn Basin area Wyoming and we raised beets. I miss those years. The high point was when the crop was all hauled in, save the last small truck. That load was dumped in the yard and the process of making beet syrup began. The whole clan pitched in and each family took home gallons n gallons of beet syrup. I haven't had beet syrup in years and I miss those days.

[@GaryCSchade]

GOD BLESS THE AMERICAN FARMERS 🙏

[@thegreat7861]

Only American farmers?

[@ihor4347]

But not bless Randy Stedman from Glenfield ND he is son of the bitch

[@mathiasbrau6548]

You want to say all the farmer I m sure

[@BigMacProDaddy]

@@thegreat7861 All Caps and mentions god

[@that1hippiedude641]

God bless all farmers

[@Williamsinoz]

Amazing video of your operation blew my mind. The scale of your harvest and the organisation/ machinery involved is incredible. The logistical planning involved must be immense to get all the moving parts together.

[@andrewvaughan8541]

Excellent film. Would love to see the spring operation (tillage,planting, etc.) in the future. Thanks for getting this film out there.

[@jaygudajtes1219]

We are working on it.

[@kehenabeach4418]

Mad respect for a culture that built AND fed EVERY successful society throughout history… the FARMERS!

[@toddbutler7918]

Having worked at ACS drayton, these guys have the most professional drivers. It was a pleasure to work with them.

[@denisegrosch6940]

God bless our farmers!! Thank you for all that you and your crew did in 2022 (and all past and future years!)!! It was more than amazing!!!!

[@egilbe2003]

My wife and I worked at a piling station in Hillsboro for the first time in 2022. We know the process at the piling station, but wondered about the process getting the beets to the piles. Very interesting video on the harvest part of making sugar. Thanks for the video.

[@casycasy5199]

this was the best video iv ever watched on you tube.this was the first time i watched the credits at the end.and then rewatched the video.all i can say is wow .to all the workers there.

[@robertlafar3822]

You guys should be so proud of what you've built alot of people depend on you and alot on your shoulders my hat comes off to you thanks for sharing your story

[@rickt44]

What a fantastic video..my hats off to you guys..the stress you must have handling such a huge operation. You seem so humbled through it all...God Bless you

[@lukemus1944]

the most intertaining video i've watched in a while---- simply amazing!

[@mikereekie4948]

Thats a well-oiled machine. Good leadership and a happy crew. Kudos to you all.

[@ardelldobson2357]

This is an unbelievable operation! The Gudajtes Family, I'm sure, are justifiably proud of what they have accomplished. Best of luck to you in the future and keep up the good work.

[@lesslivka692]

GREAT VIDEO THE GUDAJTES FAMILY SHOULD BE PROUD OF FINDING YOU TO DO THE VIDEO THE FAMILY SHOULD ALSO BE PROUD OF THERE OPERTION AND THE EMPLOYEES FROM ONE FARMER TO ANOTHER GOOD JOB AND GOOD LUCK.

[@tammygurke7482]

Absolutely loved this. I love watching the milk process. Thank you for sharing your vacation with us💙🙏🏻

[@gerrys123]

Without a doubt, the best documentary I've ever seen. Well done.

[@TheGingerGenius78]

Absolutely fantastic insight into the American Beet harvest ! Such good crew machines and Bosses ! Looks a slick operation!

[@davidgahm4703]

Another high quality video from agri studios . Well done ! I learned a lot about the sugar beet industry . Thank you !

[@radovanpaunkovic3147]

I am a farmer from southest europa, and farmers in europa have a sugarbeet combine. Like Holmer T3-T4. One man does it all.

[@westerhousefarms166]

More documents like this is a must!

[@simonhuddlestone5766]

Really enjoyed watching this great film. My first memories of sugar beet harvesting go back to around 1980, on the farm in UK where I grew up. My Dad had a 2 row beet harvester! Equipment sized up a bit before he retired 30 years later, but these type of films just show a whole world of different scale in USA, Canada etc.

[@jaameen]

Really well made film!! Impressive operation!

[@chrisfrench8511]

American farmers are just 100% Bad Ass. These guys and gals make me Proud.

[@austinkeatings1947]

Glad I came across this video, as a young person in the farming industry with experience in dairy production and custom farming in Ontario Canada. Not much knowledge with root crops so this is very interesting to me

[@davidwpinkston4226]

first class operation on both sides of the camera

[@bertbinsbergen7549]

Just saw your amazing video. I am from the Netherlands, it is a little bit smaller by us. What an operation. And the lady that cooks all those meals. Oh boy, respect to you all.

[@MartinP1214]

One of the most amazing operations I have ever seen and one hell of a video.

[@yellowstonevalleyfarmer3859]

Excellent video Riley. Can always expect the best from you. Brings back memories of raising beets in the Yellowstone valley

[@chewbaccafrombehind3839]

This family should be running this country!!!!

[@shadrickyoder8782]

That truck pulling system is awesome

[@umomiekiller]

I have nothing but respect for farmers!

[@steveeverett3151]

What a great video. Thank you farmers for feeding us all!

[@Koolarrow1987]

First off the stock of rigs your family utilizing at this moment is amazing over taking a well toned unionized partnership between a great build bridge that over come engineering defects. I love how everyone involved feel like a pair of adults on a rainy day making a tricycle motor! The next generation of children!

[@sarah_farm]

I hope you will continue to show us your traditional cooking. It’s better than watching all those world famous chefs . Also your traditional attire and lifestyle are so wholesome , healthy and peaceful. It’s very soothing watching your videos . And it's an honor to have you visit our channel, we can discuss more about our experiences in harvesting and building farms.

[@livininmo65]

Growing up east of the Breckenridge/Wahpeton area then living in Wahpeton for a few years was an educational experience to fully understand the extent of what goes into a Sugar Beet harvest. Great video.

[@cpfarms9270]

this is a great video of a great operation highlighting the stresses and the joys of beet harvest. I enjoyed watching it as an Alberta sugarbeet grower.

[@tedquaker954]

Very interesting video. Thank you.... God Bless those families... God Bless America

[@jayfowler4747]

Amazing iron choreography, and good meals at feeding time....👍👍👍

[@harveycassidy6110]

What a brilliant video one of the best videos I have watched on KZbin since I started looking at them thanks for brilliant entertainment

[@CodyRswag]

I loved the footage of him carefully placing cones, and then machinery coming through and smashing cones lol

[@richardsimpson9902]

I worked two harvests in Drayton, SD for Crystal Sugars on a work camper program. They provided a campground for my fifth wheel camper that was very nice. Great program. If you get a chance to go, do so. It was a great experience with some great people.

[@richardsimpson9902]

Drayton, ND

[@calvinrhoades4406]

Loved the video. Raised s.beets till 2004 in se. Michigan and nw Ohio. We lost our factory in Fremont Ohio, so beets got shipped to Carrollton mi. Then freight cost to much. In 2004 Michigan Sugar bought our shares back. Miss them! Keep up good work. And thank you for thinking about your help!!!! Maybe when I retire I'll look you up for a sugar beet harvest job!

[@johnbrooks5485]

When I saw "mafia" I figured this video was about Michigan Sugar. Corruption at its finest.

[@mrfake4510]

I download your vids and watch them during LOADSHEDDING🇿🇦. Thank you🙏.Great stuff.

[@opinion4246]

I've never saw stuff like you-all have.thanks for feeding the nation.🇺🇲

[@JsEllie2]

Great video! Love the explanation of it all. My family owns a farm in Walsh County and I grew up in Drayton. It was great to see it all. Best wishes to you all, always. ❤

[@Ordnyguywebster]

Awesome video! Well edited and very informative! I think this may be your best video yet! Thanks and keep up the good work

[@travisstroodle2170]

At 4500 a share in order to be able to grow .83 acres... If my math is right, they have paid ~50 million USD to be able to grow sugar beats. I'm a wheat farmer, and if any such buy in existed at our Co-Op...there would be a lot less of us.

[@tiagopacheco2281]

what a great video. It takes a special kind of people to Grow food. I have a small orchard and vineyard I can relate to the stress, payments, tractor problems, bad year, etc ... but we always rise again. A special greeting to all Farmer's out there. We FEED the World.

[@jimmywhiteside6701]

Great video I learned so much and have so much love and respect for the farmers, the tractor drivers and the truckers! It’s my first year working on a piler idek what it’s called actually I give the ticket to the trucker that brings it to the piler field I make sure the pile of beets stay neat , I move the power cord when the beet pile grows wider and bigger!! I am almost 60 years old I am a mother , grandmother and I get how much they all that are involved in this beautiful, muddy , cold at times business, that miss their families! I am on the thumb area of Michigan and I never even knew of this going on here my sister has lived here for years and I wished I would of known way sooner! I have the upmost respect for all involved in this whole process I have much love for the farmers , the workers, thetruckers and the families!! I am going to continue to come and do this as long as God gives me life and will to continue! I don’t mind working, I don’t mind the cold and I love meeting people from the people who work with me to the guys who hired me to the truckers , and some of the farmers! I don’t know why I teared up watching this video maybe because God is so good and has gave us so much to grow to eat and to make a life !!! I want to even travel to the other states that where it all starts and work there then I can not only travel and see more of God’s beautiful creations I can meet new and beautiful people and work ! Thank you great video!! I just thought I’d share my little part in this process!!

[@tractors44]

Just watched this, very interesting and informative. I live in Northern Ireland and knew about the Red River Valley but hadn’t known about variety of crops grown there.

[@CloverfieldBehaviour]

Thanks for a very interesting program. It is fun to learn what goes on in the field. You all work so very hard.

[@Hellbillyhok]

Hello from Scotland,this was a great watch ,what an outfit you guys have,cheers

[@ron827]

All the planning, scheduling, equipment maintenance/repair, hiring and coordination of people was mind boggling.

[@Rhamirezz85]

11,000 acres.... man that is massive operation!! Weird they dont have beet combines like Holmer or Ropa...

[@chadtanner]

Wow what an amazing operation.

[@sunroofracing]

Stunning and amazing documentary. Family farming spirit and dedication shine brightly in this feature. The story is so compelling and flows so smoothly, it is easy to forget the amount of talent and skill that Riley brings to this rich art. Epic in every way. Thanks for sharing this amazing story! Well done to all involved. Well done Riley!

[@dewservices]

One of the most impressive videos I've ever seen.

[@MasterDasher]

I think this would b something I’d enjoy after trucking

[@jlclunellefarms7798]

Effectivement le banc d’essai impressionnant. Bien de voir tout cela surtout l’amont du montage 👌.

[@scottpecora371]

I was impressed with there service truck and the fuel trailer. The expanded ability to make repairs in the field must save them thousands every year in reduced down equipment.

[@kristinbrianne2181]

Sugar Beet harvest is the best part of the year. It’s all i look forward to, 16 hour shifts high stakes, building relationships with everyone involved, and seeing nice even loads on the truck. I can’t wait for sugar beet harvest 2023. Im a beet cart operator in Alliance, Ne. Y’all should make a video out there sometime, i have pretty good connections.

[@kristinbrianne2181]

Also i feel like at our farm we have things a little more streamlined, it would be interesting to show how differently its done in other parts

[@dennisoude1019]

No words for it. it is just wonderful to see how you all manage to deal with all the work. would be nice if one day i also could help out with sugarbeet harvest on that kind of big scale. greetz form the Netherlands

[@alexandergudajtes2468]

Our farm is always looking for workers during beet season and you can apply online and we will get back to you. We have taken in people from all over the US and other places such as Africa and South Africa so you would be welcomed here as well.

[@geoffhendricks3188]

I used to irrigate, grow, and harvest the seed for sugar beets in Oregon...I never knew how they were grown etc until I came to the red River valley...I would love to work on a farm in the Midwest!!!

[@bobpatrick7152]

very enlightening on how real modern roll crop farming is done ......makes myself apply for a truck driving job been through G F many times.

[@simonburnby1997]

Such a great video ! Show this to people who don’t know how much is involved in making sugar

[@Drivapete]

We used to haul sugar beets back in the day in California. We hauled from usually April to June, then from August to October in the San Joaquin valley. Union, Holly, and Spreckels were the sugar titans of the day. Its all gone now!

[@jaykroeker961]

It definitely reminded me of all the sugar beet fields, aerial applications of sulfur dust, the harvest operations and the many beet trucks around our SJV town of Shafter when I was a kid in the 70s. The Spreckles processing plant was in Kerman Califorina. I hauled a few loads of beet pulp to dairies from there when I drove truck for a few years.

[@Drivapete]

@@jaykroeker961 Jack McCaslin was the big beet digger in your country. Spreckles sugar had a mill in Mendota.

[@jaykroeker961]

Yes. Jack was well known at that time as the main beet harvesting operation. My dad helped rebuild a lot of beet digging discs at the fabrication shop he worked at.

[@Drivapete]

@@jaykroeker961 I hauled with McCaslin back in the late 80s. He dug beets for the farmer I worked for in Dos Palos who also owned a few trucks. Jack's son Mike was an exceptional digger operator and we became good friends. After I moved to Idaho in 91 I lost touch with lots of good friends. Always wonder "what they're doing now that the beets are all gone"?

[@jaykroeker961]

@@Drivapete Mike owns and operates a truck. He hauls other AG products from the fields in Kern County now. He’s definitely a great guy.

[@shadrickyoder8782]

Incredible operation

[@johnnyholland8765]

The scale of operations is unimaginable. When a grown mans voice cracks a bit talking about what he does pride is the culprit. Pride in what you do and how you do it...

[@michaelgibbons8528]

Fantastic video you all have put together, may I ask inquiring the make model number of the croppers that were used to remove the broken web bar, were still drilling the rivots this side of the pond.

[@samuelhepler1384]

Riley great job in my younger days I could have been there but glad I found your family first the last professional cart😅driver in the world😂

[@cathald8987]

God bless America. Great stuff guys. Real hard work. Happy Christmas guys.

[@christopherkane2842]

Phenomenal Operation guys…!

[@timstratichuk1433]

Family first! Very impressive operation! Excellent video

[@stryrker135]

One hell of an amazing Crew and one Hell of a tribute! Amazing Video!

[@markmortensen4341]

Thanks for taking us along! That is a well oiled farm and they care about their people👍‼️‼️

[@nickdent8783]

Just watched your film.its just brilliant.thank you for sharing.much differant to what we see in Norfolk in the uk

[@l-l-l-l-l-l-l]

Harvest soo big Dwight Shrute can't even compete