The Big Hat

We came across ‘The Big Hat’ in Faulkton, South Dakota. He’s a member of the Dobbins harvest crew. Four of their five-man crew are Australians. They run two combines. The Big Hat runs the grain cart, which is what he does back home in South-Central NSW.

The Big Hat would go missing every now and then on what he called ‘stealth missions’, chasing various women around town. You’d see him wandering down Main Street in his blue singlet, stubbies and Blundstones almost completely engulfed by the shadow of his Akubra.

Apparently he didn’t drink much before coming to the States. You wouldn’t guess seeing him in action at the bar. He ran out of money fairly soon after arriving in town, so he started up a tab. Every now and then you’d see him walk behind the bar and help himself to the fridge. On his way out, he’d hold up his drink to the bartender who’d write it down in a book.

The Big Hat would get particularly rowdy when drinking Johnnie Red. This photo was taken after he’d swapped his blue singlet with the white one belonging to a guy on an American crew. He ripped the singlet soon after acquiring it so he went looking for another, approaching another harvester at the bar. This exchange nearly ended in a fight. The Big Hat retreated, jumping up onto the bar. Jim the bartender is a really quiet guy who always wears a straight face. He didn't look twice when The Big Hat stepped up onto his bar. He simply moved a couple of coasters and kept serving drinks.

He was back the next evening looking fairly sheepish. I asked if I could buy him a Johnnie Red and Coke, to which he replied, “Nah, mate. I’m not allowed to see John tonight”.