TractorByNet started out as a place to learn about compact tractors from people who actually own them. I had very limited experience on an old Kubota that a friend used to own, but had never even heard of the brand I bought before coming here. My decision was based on the information I gathered from the members of this site based on their real world experiences. To me, this is the most valuable type of information you can get.
I grew up working on rental homes, and have been in construction for most of my life to some degree. But I lived in a very populated area and didn't have any exposure to barn building. Spencer started a thread on his pole barn that I found just amazing!!! Then shortly after that, Henro did the same thing, followed by a few others. That's when TractorByNet took on a whole new meaning for me. It's not only a website about tractors, but all things related to country life.
I built my first pole barn based on the information I learned here, then I went on to buy a few more tractors and a dump truck. All based on the advice and information I learned from the forums here on TBN.
To say joining this site and seeking advice from the members here has been invaluable is an understatement. At one time I tried to calculate some of the savings I've managed from advice I've recieved. It's in the tens of thousands of dollars, but after that, it gets a little vague. From sources of materials to advice on how to rebuild a diesel engine to digging up stumps to welding and building my own implements, it's all added up to some very significant financial savings!!!!
I've also become more knowledgeable about building techniques and methods. Living in warmer climates all my life, I've never heard or even thought about what it takes to build a home in the Northern States or Canada. Dirt work, concrete, framing and just about everything is so different. When the members here post pictures of there homes or other building projects, they share ideas on how they did something that I find that I had never considered or thought of. Having more choices allows me to make better decisions on my projects.
I've found that it's almost impossible for me to start a project without posting it on one of the forums. The comments and advice I recieve are so valuable that there is no way I'd want to take the chance of making a mistake or missing out on an oportunity that I had never considered.
We are very fortunate to have such a vast amount of talented and skilled people here, who share there knowledge freely and openly. Some of you can, and do, charge allot of money for your time profesionally, but here you give it out for free just to help out a fellow member. I value everyones advice here, as it's proven to me over and over again that those of you with more knowledge in what I'm trying to do have be so generous in helping me out. To all of you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
It's just been such an eye opener for me to be able to read other members posts and to be able to interact with them on what they are doing. And as an added bonus, there are a bunch of members here in Texas that I've met personally and had the extreme pleasure to have visited at their homes. This has been a true pleasure to me and my wife, as TBN has become a part of our life, it's more than just a website, but a community of friends that we have become attached to. Many we'll never meet face to face, but some have travled half way across to country to stop by and say hi, and one day, we'd like to do the same.
Thank you,
Eddie Walker
