History repeats itself today!!!

My Grand daughters have been looking at things they can do to earn money in the winter. They mow yards and those type of things in the warmer months. There are few things a girl can do to earn money in the colder months. They started researching different things they could sell to make money. They considered selling beef but soon found out it had lots of rules and regulations for them to try to direct sell our farm raised beef on any type of a regular basis. It also would take more capitol than they had to work with.

Well they finally came up with the idea to sell shelled corn in fifty lbs. bags. There is a demand in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque from people that feed wild life and such. They take orders and will deliver on weekends, alternating Dubuque one week and Cedar Rapids the next. They have advertised on their face book page and some horse web sites. They are staying away from Craigslist.

Well tomorrow is their first delivery to Cedar Rapids. So they had to bag corn today after school. They where just going to hand fill the bags and tie them shut. I had a better idea and that is where history repeats itself.

I have told how I started working in a feed mill at the age of 13 to help my Mother out raising a family basically single handed. What I did at that mill was bag ground feed. The owner would not hire me as a laborer because of my age. So I bagged feed for so much a ton. I guess I would be called a subcontractor today. LOL I got $1 a ton to bag and stack the bags on pallets. The first afternoon I only did 4 ton in five hours and I thought I would die the next day. LOL By the time I was eighteen I could do 13-15 ton in 5-6 hours and I got $2 a ton.

Fast forward to 1990. The feed mill I worked at close in the mid 1980s. The owner decided to sell the mill and equipment at auction. He had been trying to sell the entire business and could not get it sold. I heard of him selling. I went to him prior to the sale an bought the bagging scale and sewing machine I had used all those years ago. Both where in terrible shape as they had not been used since the late 1970s. I rebuilt the bagging scale and had the sewing machine rebuild by a company in Des Moines that services them. I never used them nor planned to but I did want them as a reminder of days gone by.

So when the girls came up with their idea I knew the machines would get used again. I got the bagging scale mounted under one of the over head bins in the old granary. We then got 250-300 bushels of corn from one of the bins, in a wagon. We used the bucket elevator in the granary to fill the overhead bin. I borrowed a digital scale that is certified legal for resale. We spent yesterday getting the bagging scale and sewing machine setup and working.

So right after school today they learned how to bag fifty pound bags of feed/corn. They did 80 bags or two tons. That will fill their orders for tomorrow and will fit in the pickup.

The middle girl filled the bags and dropped them on the slide. The youngest ran the bags through the sewing machine and the oldest stacked the bags. The first 10 to 15 where slow going as they had to figure everything out. They got a rhythm going after that and did not want to stop at the 80 bags.

As I sat there and watched I closed my eyes, letting my ears take me back to my youth. The BANG of the bagging scale tripping shut when the bag is at the correct weight. Then the BRRRRROOOM of the sewing machine closing the bag. The SLAP of the bag hitting the pallet. For awhile I was a teenager again.

So history repeated itself. Another generation using these SAME machines to make money. The Grand daughters' situation is different but it still is good honest,physical work making some money. That job helped me in life in several ways. The physical work helped develop my body for the hard work I did later in life. Actually turning labor into income was a valuable lesson. The showing up for work five days a week helped me work better all of my life. The most valuable lesson was one of showing me what I did NOT want to do the rest of my life. Just pure hard physical work that was mind numbingly boring. I had many an hour to think about how to make a better living for myself and my family.

So a little trip back in time today.

PS: You know I had to bag some after they left. Well I am not at my best by far. LOL At 18 I could bag a ton in under fifteen minutes for hours on end. It took me thirty minutes and I am SORE tonight. LOL

Great story and yes History does repeat itself,

JD, you have very entrepreneurial and hard working granddaughters. I wish them success with their new business.

JimB

Absolutely priceless. Jim

JD, it sounds like they were raised right. Maybe they have inherited a little of grandpa's spirit and ambition too? They will never forget your willingness to help them. Later in life maybe they will help their children and grandchildren because you helped them out.

Jim's got it right, priceless. And due in no small part to your taking the opportunity to preserve history.

On to the girls: I don't think they were necessarily raised right, I think it is mostly genetic. You can't teach the willingness to work hard. That is a lot of the problem in our slums. Your girls will do great. I'm impressed with 89 bags the first weekend! They will build this business and be loaded for bear next deer season, so to speak.

Back in the early 90's I used to mix fertilizer and run it through the bagger putting up 50 lb bags. I would start in the early spring wearing 42 waist size and by the time the corn was planted I was down to loose 38s. It made it a lot easier to climb up into the Patriot Sprayer. 73 years old now and can barely lift 50 lbs. now

They just narrowed their playing field when it comes to finding a husband in a few more years. They will be able to spot a guy with no ambition a mile away.

The stories will all start with: Grandpa do you remember when we.............. You have given those girls something that money can't buy. 1, memories spent with you. 2. a work ethic. 3. Entrepreneur thinking skills. 4. Work smarter not harder. Great story thank you. gobble

Good for you all!

I told my daughter that she had to service and repair her used car that she had for college. She raised her standards; would not go out with a guy who couldn't change the oil in his own car!

That 's a good story. It's great to hear about young people that are that industrious. It's a refreshing break from all the negative that we normally hear about young people.
I also worked at a feed store in HS I started out bagging corn in 100# burlap sacks and tied with binder twine. We used a set of platform scales and I could bag up a ton or so an hour. The company later bought a automatic bagger and a Feichbein(sp?) hand sewing machine. I could then bag about 3 tons an hour. After a few more years they grew and bought a complete feedmill with and automatic bagger , belt and automatic sewing machine. It took 3 men to run it and they could bag 10 tons an hour. At that time we were sending 70 tons a day out the door and another 60 tons bulk. Those were the good old days. It was hard work but I wouldn't trade the experience for a million dollars.

I worked at my uncles mill in HS doing the same. Bagging up corn,cracked corn and horse feed in the paper bags and sewing them shut. Those we stacked and sold one or two bags at a time. For large customers we would grind and mix the feed and put in the large poly bags. I got good at tying the bags shut.It was a lot of work but a lot of fun too.

Great story! I appreciate you writing all of the adventures for us and I hope you are keeping these in a journal for your family.

There is another market that they might not have thought about and that is selling to people that have corn stoves and use corn for fuel.

Give them a hug from me.

Larry

Reminds me of when I was a kid at the feedmill and the guys filling burlap bags from the mixer. They hand tied the bags like rodeo cowboys tie calf legs in a calf roping contest.

Really enjoyed that story. Good luck to the girls.

I know the sound well. Worked in a seed house while in high school.

Great Story!!!!!

You have very special grand kids, most today won't even try something like that. And good for you helping them out to earn some money!!

JDSEller,

Perhaps you should submit this tale to the YT site spotlight article.

D.

Good to see you're getting into direct sales,farmer to consumers now if that was non GMO
Organic corn they'd be getting 2X or 3X as much for the corn.If you can't beat them join them(LOL)

neat story. it made me smile.

With all these comments about bagging grain hasn't anyone sown sacks with twine and a sack needle? 2 half hitches around the ear, 3 stitches and pull 3 stitches and pull 3 stitches and pull, 2 half hitches on the last ear. A good sack sower could have a sack sown and stacked before you would get your machine ready. The hitches have to be done just right or the ears wont stand up right. I sowed a few sacks on an AC 60, and many out of a sacking hopper in the field with the combine or field cleaner. In the seed mill we closed re-usable canvas sacks bulldog style because the were going in a drill. I think hand sown burlap sacks would be an attraction in todays marketplace where people actually want family farm products. The problem is you can't get burlap sacks any more and skeins of sacking twine who knows.

Hope it works out for the girls. Some how I'm thinking a government regulation may get in their way. Like a stupid government regulation may want to know are the scales they are using certified to measure exactly 50#. Again good for your girls for having the idea of being self employed.

make sure you got all kinds liability ins!!!!!!! you are going on another business property etc. i had to have 3 million policy just to deliver small square to walmart parking lot that was 8 years ago now. if you want a market get into clean small bales straw. i did for several years to walmart, orscelens stores and hy vee store landscapers. 7 -10.00 dollars bale. loads every weekend someplace. give it up after this other business grew and something had to give so sold all small square stuff. i even sold cornstalk with ears attached. good luck but check ins FIRST!!!!!! can you be cheaper than whats already in the stores. its in my area already by those bags. good luck

Those girls will learn a lot about how life works by doing this.
I worked a feed mill one winter and bagged TONS of feed working the bag line. My job was running the 2 ton batch mixer formulating mixes for the pelleting mill. After I had ran my last mix for the day I stepped over to the bag line and helped out till we had all of that days production out. We were running over 100 ton every day.

Dubuque has a good farmers winter market going down town they could probably use more vendors and your customers are there already.

Nice story and good luck to the girls! Ron Mn

I remember Dad sewing bean sacks at the stationary lima bean thresher, just like you described. I was just a little guy, but remember it well. Stan

Nice current event story that takes you back. I vaguely remember the feed mill that was next to the Boston & Maine rail yard that was once here, the farmer I used to help. In his youth he did the same as many mentioned here. One of his first equipment investments was a JD tow behind combine with a bagger, that he pulled with a JD 420 tractor. I always marveled at the photo of him as a young man combining oats with it in a nearby field. He worked multiple jobs, feed mill, school bus, did stalls at large stable as well as being a dairyman. He said his dad was doubtful of his endeavors with that purchase, he sure proved him wrong, from what he said. He did his own and custom work. He stated that it seemed like that's all he did most of the summer, was run that combine. One day I was making a hay delivery for him in an area that's still mostly farms, on the way, in a field along the road, someone was out in a small patch with a JD combine just like his, combining and bagging oats ! I had to mention it to him, as it was always a lot of fun to talk about things past at the end of the day.

Sounds like you have a lot of fun with the younger siblings, that is priceless, that and you retaining those items to use in the granary, you have a good eye for that, sure paid off with the grandkids !

Thanks for the replies!!!

They are covered insurance wise under the farm's umbrella policy. We direct sold sweet corn and pumpkins in the past so we already have the policy in effect.

They are running this 100%. They decided on their business model. That is direct to the consumer sales. NO middle man. They are selling for a HIGHER than store price. Between $7-10 per fifty LBS. They have a sliding scale based on volume and delivery distance. They are promoting direct delivery and quality product. They are already heading back home and have more orders for two weeks delivery from just the word of mouth advertising. The second place they delivered to had eight people there to look at what they where selling and to talk to the girls. The people seemed to like the fact that this corn was raised by the family that they are buying it from. Also the fact the girls where doing this as their own business.

The scales are certified. A family friend is the lady that works for the state agency that does weights and measures. I had her take them and check them out.
This has been two months in the planning.

They have to pay the farm for the corn as soon as it is delivered. They have a dollar a bag in the bag and bagging cost. Until they can use a larger amount of bags they are costing over $.80 each. I forgot to mention the corn is ran through a seed cleaner in the granary and a mist of soy oil is applied to reduce any dust. It also makes the corn shine and look "fresh". LOL So there are almost zero fines in the bag. The corn they are using is at 13.5% moisture and has a test weight of over 60 lbs. It would be #1 corn. Much of the corn sold in stores is loaded with fines and dirt. This is clean.

Will they be able to make any money doing this??? I do not know. The cost of delivery with fuel, labor,and time will soon tell.

They have a complete spread sheet set up to tract all their cost. These same girls are also keeping a complete set of books for the entire farm. Their mother does the official farm books. She has them doing a "shadow" set of records/books to learn how to do the book keeping needed. The entire family is working to get these kids the skills that they will be able to use to succeed at whatever they want to do in life. A very important part of that is managing their finances and learning to earn money.

This is why we (myself and brother) NEVER throw anything away - you just never know.....

I say keep it all and let the estate sort it out when we're gone!

BTW - great idea on the corn. FWIW - we've had some inquires on making some half sized square bales, just because they're easier to handle from a weight standpoint. The buyers are agreeable to pay a bit more for the additional handling, twine and wear/tear on the knotters. It might be there's a market for smaller bags of corn too?

Bill

Your stories are the best and you have a great family. I'm not a farmer (retired natural gas pipeline inspector). I envy being a farmer. If these customers are returning customers has there been any thought in using the bags more than once. Just a thought.