New guy.
Got drafted off the farm back in 1971 and never went back. Been working as a mechanical designer in Minneapolis for over 30 years.
Recently, a friend who lives in California asked if I would manage a riding stable his father owned west of Minneapolis. Another couple has been managing it since his father died 4 or 5 years ago. Since they were very much behind on lease payments, my friend (no names to protect the guilty?) stopped by on his way across country to talk to them. The condition of the farm, fences, building and equipment was appalling and they were evicted.
The farm has been split into 3 building lots and is for sale. Zoning regulations will not let it be sold as agricultural.
Now, I am trying to get the place looking lived in and take care of the nine neglected borders that still remain.
So far, I have purchased a Ford 8N tractor and repaired the banged up Woods mower so we could knock down the 6' high thistle and other assorted weeds.
The abandoned manure spreader has been pulled out of the weeds and delivered to someone else who can fix it.
The only other useable piece of equipment on the place is a Bobcat Model 863. (Their new John Deere and two crew cab pickups were repossed.) The Bobcat was signed over to cover some of the lease money that is owed.
Anyway, these peope were friends of ours and it really angers me that they took advantage of so many people and left the place such a mess. Guess I'm unloading here.
I will be looking for advice and have posted a question about the 863 Bobcat. To me, it seems too big to hang onto and I want to downsize.
I'll shut up now.
Mark
Got drafted off the farm back in 1971 and never went back. Been working as a mechanical designer in Minneapolis for over 30 years.
Recently, a friend who lives in California asked if I would manage a riding stable his father owned west of Minneapolis. Another couple has been managing it since his father died 4 or 5 years ago. Since they were very much behind on lease payments, my friend (no names to protect the guilty?) stopped by on his way across country to talk to them. The condition of the farm, fences, building and equipment was appalling and they were evicted.
The farm has been split into 3 building lots and is for sale. Zoning regulations will not let it be sold as agricultural.
Now, I am trying to get the place looking lived in and take care of the nine neglected borders that still remain.
So far, I have purchased a Ford 8N tractor and repaired the banged up Woods mower so we could knock down the 6' high thistle and other assorted weeds.
The abandoned manure spreader has been pulled out of the weeds and delivered to someone else who can fix it.
The only other useable piece of equipment on the place is a Bobcat Model 863. (Their new John Deere and two crew cab pickups were repossed.) The Bobcat was signed over to cover some of the lease money that is owed.
Anyway, these peope were friends of ours and it really angers me that they took advantage of so many people and left the place such a mess. Guess I'm unloading here.
I will be looking for advice and have posted a question about the 863 Bobcat. To me, it seems too big to hang onto and I want to downsize.
I'll shut up now.
Mark
