Huge Find

While I was cutting the field I noticed a huge pile of equipment. I got off the tractor and went over to see what was in there. Some of the stuff was beyond bringing back but a good share was in very good condition considering it was left under a few oak tree for several years.

There was a three pt snow blower that turned over fine when I hand turned the PTO. A 3 bottom plow, 2 bottom plow, horse drawn rake, disks, rakes, tedder, hay rake, corn chopper under a tarp, hay wagon (frame was excellent, wood was gone), John Deere Drill and several other implements that looked to be usable. Even the horse drawn rake still had it's seat and looked as if it would still work.

I asked the man that owned the property if he would be interested in selling any of the implements. He told me take it all and I could have it all.

Well it didn't stop there. He asked me if I burned wood. I told him I did, so he took me to a lot of about 30 acres woods that the last wind storm that passed through dropped several trees. More than I can burn this year. He asked me if I wouldn't mind cleaning them up for the wood. All hard wood.

My 13 yr old son was with me and I think we both thought we were dreaming. My wife on the other hand could only say "just where do you think you are going to put all this stuff?"

Some of the fields are on the hill side and I think there's two or three near the river. My only real concern with the riverside fields is sinking my tractor. I have nothing that will pull a 14000 pound tractor out. I have a relative with a dozer, but I'm sure even he would charge me a small fortune to pull it out of there.

You're absolutely right about the hills here. A few fields I cut are in a straight up and down pattern. There is no way I would even consider going side to side. I would love to have flat level fields and no woodchucks.

I take it you are located rather close to this area.

He's been trying to get someone to hay his fields for the past couple of years. Other area farmers blew him off, or would say they would take the hay and never show up. My guess would be that it's because the fields are not exactly easy to get to. I had to take it real slow and easy trying to get a 12' New Idea 512 down there. My Massey 1135 didn't have all the overhead clearance in the world either. Once you got down the snake path it's about 90 acres of open fields. I must say that the steep bank on the one side of the path going down is was a little nerve racking.

The hay is good, he's had it brush hogged every year. Even planted timothy in the lower two fields with the intentions of attracting someone to cut it for free.

The man is from the city and just wants his property looking clean. From what he said, he bought alot of this equipment with the intentions of using it one day, but that one day never came along.

I have to admit, it does feel a little strange just going in and hauling it out of there.

I would hate to lose a wagon over that bank.