Bruntz finishes harvest after COVID recovery

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A farmer, a planter and his crops. That's David Bruntz's life broken down to common denominators.

When the pandemic crept into Nebraska he wasn't concerned. A farmer's job involves social distancing. In most cases, it's required.

He existed independent from the novel coronavirus, his farm outside of Friend not oblivious to the virus but not concerned. Then the Nebraska Corn Board president started running a high fever accompanied by a dry cough in late June.

Bruntz told KETV in September that he doesn't know how he contracted the virus, he just knew he tested positive. Causing even more confusion, his close contacts all tested negative.

“It's very strange,” he said. “We don't have all the answers. We know we have to be very careful.”

Bruntz isolated and rested for two weeks while his brother, nephew and a hired farmhand kept the 3,000 acre operation moving. He said he's thankful to have contracted the virus early, as opposed to during harvest.

As president of the Corn Board he sent a memo to organization members. That memo called upon farmers and rural residents to prevent accidents and ensure safety. Bruntz was quoted in that memo, giving members a trusted, familiar face they could associate with the pandemic.

“As someone who contracted COVID-19 earlier this summer, I can adamantly say this is a virus you want to avoid, and it's definitely not something you want to get during harvest,” he said. “Oftentimes, as farmers, we think our occupations are prime for social distancing. While that may be true, this virus spreads easily, so we need to take precautions, such as keeping our distance from others, wearing masks in public places and washing our hands and using hand sanitizers often.”

That memo instructed farmers to have a plan in place to reduce stress in the event of an accident or illness.

Harvest is nearly completed across Nebraska as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout rural communities at a higher rate than urban states. Public Health Solutions, which oversees Saline County in its health district, confirmed 1,421 cases in the county as of Nov. 27 – at least four times as much as neighboring Fillmore, Thayer and Jefferson counties.