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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!!

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IH 1466

08-14-2005 17:02:18




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A couple of weeks ago I started to mow my hay field late in the evening and something strange happened. Before I complete the first round and was making a corner, I nearly jumped out of the tractor seat when a very large Hot Air Balloon was making a landing! He managed to place it on lane between the pond and the alfalfa. I was to much into my work and didn't see him coming! Turns out he was giving a newly wed couple a ride on their honeymoon. His chase vehicle showed up and I helped load it up. My wife showed up with the camera and the ballon owner broke out the champagne and there we were drinking champagne and taking pictures with complete strangers. The ballonist had non-alchol and regular champagne. I guess it is a tradition that when a ballonist lands on your land he is to offer champagne to the land owner. I guess the first ballon that was launched by the French landed in a farmers field and was attacked by the local farmers with pitch forks since they believed it to be a monster or something. The solution was to offer champagne. Needless to say I finished the field the next day. It was pretty neat.
Thanks,
John

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Jason, NW Ontario

08-20-2005 02:46:10




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
Years ago my friend and his dad went on a balloon ride outside of town. They missed their designated landing and ended up in a different farmers' field. The old gentleman met them out in the field with his tractor and a shotgun. Apparently he didn't have a phone and his gate on the drive was locked, so he didn't get any prior notice. Kept them in that field for over two hours until the police were called in by the support crew to sort things out. Great excitement for a young boy.

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farmeralidaho

08-17-2005 20:22:08




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
This year in 1 crop hay I swathed 2 skunks, 2nd crop 1 skunk, & 1 porky pine. I live along the Snake River and about 15 years ago there was a float plane parked along the river bank at my place, the pilot said where he was going was fogged in and the piece of river along my place was the only place strait and long enough to take off for over 10 miles.



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RayP(MI)

08-15-2005 19:34:29




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
Was deer hunting from a tree a few years back, and a balloon floated diagonally across the field next me. A doe came running out of opposite side of field and ran across field, kept looking back at baloon. Apparently, pilot's use of short bursts of the burner, had her pretty spooked. Oh, and we live between the Battle Creek ANG base, and the practice area over Mecosta county. Common to have A-10s flying over at sometimes very low altitudes. Animals don't seem to be worried.

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John S-B

08-15-2005 15:27:43




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
My wife was home one day and a guy rang the doorbell. He asked if it would be okay if a balloon landed in the meadow behind the house. She asked when and he said RIGHT NOW! They were very appreciative and the kids thought it was the coolest thing ever.



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RickL

08-15-2005 06:37:37




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
had same thing happen few years back was baling small squares of rye straw and made turn at end and ther it was he didn't quite make the stubble field I was in and landed on bean field side,hard landing and shook them all up but it was getting dark and the next few feet he would have been in the river so actually they were lucky. Soybeans recoverd so it was no big deal for me and did break up the normal routine anyway. This season has been bad as far as hitting baby dear and the rabbits with the mowco. got three little fawns so far and will be cutting again tomorrow,probably last time for season.

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Indydirtfarmer

08-15-2005 03:18:37




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
Now there's a bit of history that I wasn't aware of.... The French ATTACKED something! (What'd they do, throw thousands of white flags at the balloon????)

Back in the spring, I was mowing weeds when several dozen hot air balloons went over low and slow. It was the Kentucky Derby Festival Hot Air Balloon Race. I was about half asleep, just cruising along when the first one went over less than 100 feet over my head. Startled me right outta my nap...

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harley

08-15-2005 12:15:28




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-15-2005 03:18:37  
Well ya gotta understand Indy, the French, back in the old days, used to do a lot of attacking. It was the winning part they had trouble with. The Crusades
Napoleon at Waterloo
World War I
World War II Their Viet Nam
Two Fuller Brush Salesmen at a convention in Versailles
Since then, they have figured out it is better for them to support the rest of the world with white flags. Can"t say as I blame them. Harley

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2x4

08-15-2005 00:40:31




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
anybody hear about the AZ ostrich farmer? Ballonists caused a stampede, 800 died another 700 had to be killed, etc. Put the guy out of business. He had foreign contracts to ship the meat; couldnt fill his orders & had to go under. It was on NPR other nite.



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Dick2

08-15-2005 16:01:14




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to 2x4, 08-15-2005 00:40:31  
That fella has more hot air in him than those balloons. He's about 30 miles south of me - and he was broke before those balloons ever went overhead. His claim was absolutely ridiculous and he lost his case.



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tim[in]

08-14-2005 20:14:31




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
i guess it used to be a "game " for the ballonists to land in a farmers field and try to get away without paying for the damaged crop.once i found that out, never had any respect for them since.oh and for the record i heard it ffrom a balloonists..my sheep would go right thru the fence .



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IH 1466

08-15-2005 19:32:23




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to tim[in], 08-14-2005 20:14:31  
This ballonist did a great job of landing and was real respectful. The newly wed couple was having a good time also. He had more than 30 years experience. The thing that bothered me the most was that obviously I am not looking up as often I should.

Thanks for eveyone's comments,
John



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BobMo

08-14-2005 19:53:59




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
Well IH, I think its pretty neat too. Who cares about a few cows for a while they'll get over it. I have a gunnery range right up the road from me and those warthogs fly over here at 3-400 feet several times a day. I haven't seen a cow look around or up in years but I still do.
I think you had a great experience. Good luck in the future.



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IH 1466

08-15-2005 19:19:38




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to BobMo, 08-14-2005 19:53:59  
The A-10 Warthogs used to be stationed at Grissom Air Base in mid-north Indiana. When I was growing up it was normal to be out in the field on the tractor and have them come over under 1000 feet. We always thought we were practice for them. Kept things interesting. The livestock got used to it and it never seemed to be an issue. If it was I am not aware of it.



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msb

08-15-2005 08:21:38




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to BobMo, 08-14-2005 19:53:59  
"Who cares about a few cows? They get over it."
Well sometimes they don't get over it Bob.The neighbor I posted about had to ship one of his best milkers when she stretches the ligaments in her udder.She was worth at least $1500 as a cow.A scare like tht will affect milk production for days for the rest of the herd.



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Jimmy King

08-14-2005 21:07:54




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to BobMo, 08-14-2005 19:53:59  
Bob, the only Warthogs I have seen in person were several years ago, at least 20. We were going to my wifes parents out North of Rolla. I think it was just before we started up that hill at the 150 exit, 4 of them flew across in front of us. They couldn't have been over 1000ft. I had never heard of them at that point, I said what in heck is that, straight winged and flat honking on.



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Jimmy King

08-14-2005 21:07:01




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to BobMo, 08-14-2005 19:53:59  
Bob, the only Warthogs I have seen in person were several years ago, at least 20. We were going to my wifes parents out North of Rolla. I think it was just before we started up that hill at the 150 exit, 4 of them flew across in front of us. They couldn't have been over 1000ft. I had never heard of them at that point, I said what in heck is that, straight winged and flat honking on.



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Dave H (MI)

08-14-2005 19:09:45




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
I'm glad you got a toot on but I am going to get in line with them that would prefer they go somewhere else. Man the livestock can freak out when those fool things go over and I end up chasing the dog all over the neighborhood. He climbs the fence ONLY when a balloon goes by and gives chase.



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John in Ct

08-14-2005 18:35:16




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
We had 3 land out at our place over the years. No problem for us( no animals) but I agree that they could cause problems. Got champaine too!!! I am sure I would of gotten a free complete ballon too if they just came maybe 2 days laterthe last time because they would have landed in the middle of our farm just after we spread chicken manure, heehee!!!!! !



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jeff in OK

08-14-2005 17:06:24




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to IH 1466, 08-14-2005 17:02:18  
and I thought mowing over a turtle in the hay meadow was strange.



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1031D

08-14-2005 22:46:17




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to jeff in OK, 08-14-2005 17:06:24  
A turtle? What in the world? I did get a deer skull and a tire stuck in the haybine during one of those dusk mowings though. Darn stupid people driving around throwing tires out the back of their trucks!



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mike brown

08-14-2005 17:22:15




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to jeff in OK, 08-14-2005 17:06:24  
I had one (balloon not turtle) drift over my pasture at about a hundred feet once. The beef cows couldn't have been more spooked if an alien space craft had come to take them away.



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msb

08-14-2005 18:21:49




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to mike brown, 08-14-2005 17:22:15  
We used to be plagued with those darned hot air ballons.Scared the hogs so bad that on at least one occasion a shoat broke a leg.Neighbor had milk cows and was caused untold misery from them hitting the gas just as they drifted over the pasture.I used to carry one of those square yardsticks in the back of my truck.I would grab it when they flew over and hold it like it was a rifle.You should have seen them hit the gas when I did that.After a while the word got around and they flew real high over the farm after that.

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msb

08-14-2005 18:21:31




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 Re: The Strangest Thing Happened Mowing Hay!!! in reply to mike brown, 08-14-2005 17:22:15  
We used to be plagued with those darned hot air ballons.Scared the hogs so bad that on at least one occasion a shoat broke a leg.Neighbor had milk cows and was caused untold misery from them hitting the gas just as they drifted over the pasture.I used to carry one of those square yardsticks in the back of my truck.I would grab it when they flew over and hold it like it was a rifle.You should have seen them hit the gas when I did that.After a while the word got around and they flew real high over the farm after that.

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