My Mennonite Neighbors

[Bigfoot62]

Cause horses are a lot more expensive than $5/gal diesel It is though, impressive what a team of Percheron's(sp?) can do.

I watched the horse pulls at the county fair last year. I can't imagine how much those draft horses eat, especially when they are being worked . . .

Here's a link to the Priefert website, featuring their "hitch" of Percheron horses.
http://www.priefertpercherons.com/index.php
Notice the Gallery with the horses' stats, and note the size and weight of these horses. A couple years back, I read a lengthy article about the Priefert Hitch. IIRC, those big horses average eating one square bale of hay and 50# of feed per day, per horse. I think I'd rather just "feed" my tractors.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I have both Old Order Amish and Mennonites as neighbors, and I can't say enough good things about them. Their children are clean and respectful, they are great neighbors. They watch my place when I'm away, and if they see I have a problem, or need help, they are there without me even asking. When I had my heart attack 6 years ago, I came home to find my hay crop harvested, my barns full, and even my pastures overseeded. I can't say enough good things about them.

Stuff like this give me that lump in my throat. Awesome. Just how does 1 repay that favor???

 

[tcreeley]

Here's another hitch- saw them at the Springfield Expo in Massachusetts some years ago - the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Midwest Horse Fair 2007 - Budweiser Clydesdales - YouTube

 

[Cat_Driver]

Don't worry we'll all be using horses again soon if the EPA gets it's way and the government keeps jerking farmers around.

They want no fuel burning equipment on the planet

 

[Bigfoot62]

Don't worry we'll all be using horses again soon if the EPA gets it's way and the government keeps jerking farmers around.

They want no fuel burning equipment on the planet

What about the methane? Do you think that the EPA will start trying to regulate horse farts? :laughing:

 

[sjerden]

Don't worry we'll all be using horses again soon if the EPA gets it's way and the government keeps jerking farmers around.

They want no fuel burning equipment on the planet

I hear now they want to start requiring a CDL license to drive tractors and farm equipment on the roads. What is going on?

 

[5030]

What about the methane? Do you think that the EPA will start trying to regulate horse farts? :laughing:

That's funny and something I hear quite often.

Probably a catalytic converter **** insert.

 

[5030]

I hear now they want to start requiring a CDL license to drive tractors and farm equipment on the roads. What is going on?

I know the DOT is changing the endorsement section as far as obtaining a CDL with an automatic transmission, the license will be restricted to automatic transmission usage only but I've not heard anything about operating powered farm equipment and I'm a state and federally licensed examiner.

Maybe just California???

 

[aczlan]

I know the DOT is changing the endorsement section as far as obtaining a CDL with an automatic transmission, the license will be restricted to automatic transmission usage only but I've not heard anything about operating powered farm equipment and I'm a state and federally licensed examiner.
Maybe just California???

See: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/212792-us-dot-considering-requiring-cdl.html
And: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/216371-feds-require-cdl-farm-tractors.html

Aaron Z

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . Probably a catalytic converter **** insert.

Who's gonna install them, and what kind of license will they need?

 

[Duffster]

I know the DOT is changing the endorsement section as far as obtaining a CDL with an automatic transmission,

When?

 

[seymojo536]

Stuff like this give me that lump in my throat. Awesome. Just how does 1 repay that favor???

You don't. You just can't. Only thing anyone can do is pitch in the next time someone needs help. Bet each one of those guys could tell a story of how in the past they were helped when they needed it.

About 20 years ago, my wife and I were going thru some tough times, money almost nonexistent. Got a call from one of the church elders asking if I would help cut some firewood on Saturday. Showed up at the agreed time and there was about 15 other guys there. Cut about 10-12 chords of green wood from the owner's woods, stacked it in the barn, then they proceeded to load 8 chords of wood from the other end that had been drying for a couple of years and took it to the place we were living at the time. Got us thru a cold winter without having to use the electric baseboard heat.

Everyone of them had a story to tell how they had something similar occur in their past. It's just the way Mennonites take care of those in need. To this day I remember that, and I never refuse to help out when the call goes out for a "work" day. Most of the time it isn't even for a member of the church. Just another soul that could use a hand, not a handout.