Manure Spreader Collection Steadily Grows Bigger

Manure Spreader Collection Steadily Grows Bigger MANURE HANDLING Equipment When Randy Schoenfish and his son-in-law Brian Beran saw a restored manure spreader in a parade they caught the bug Today they have 66 spreaders with a dozen fully restored and the remainder in various stages of repair     Schoenfish had a couple of restored tractors he would take to a local antique tractor show He and Beran decided to restore a spreader to go with one of them that matched the featured brand the coming year     “When we decided to restore a second spreader the following year that’s when the disease kicked in ” jokes Schoenfish “One of our goals became having a spreader from each major equipment line We’re still looking for a Co-op brand spreader and a Blackhawk ”     His list of brands are a who’s who of farm equipment from full lines like Cockshutt IHC John Deere Allis Chalmers Case Massey Harris Oliver and Minneapolis Moline Short lines like New Idea New Holland Patz Shuler Schultz and Kelly Ryan are also well represented     “There are so many short lines; I know we will never get them all ” says Schoenfish     There is some duplication 8 IHC No 100’s However most are singles including a MM LS300 that belonged to Randy’s wife’s parents and a John Deere L that belonged to Randy’s parents Some are rubber-tired while others are steel wheeled They include 2 and 4-wheel models     Some are more unusual than others like the IH 103 with a long drive belt to power it or the AC 110 and Galloway spreaders with their front unloading action     “The front unloading spreaders were pretty heavy on the front end so that probably provided traction for the tractor ” says Schoenfish “They have a hood to protect the driver Inside the hood are propellers that appear to throw the manure out to either side The mechanisms are similar to old end gate feeders I would love to hear from readers who are familiar with them ”     Prices paid vary as well based on the shape the spreader was in plus its rarity About 2/3 of his spreaders cost less than $500 with many in the $150 or less group Schoenfish has paid as little as $20 for a 4-wheel New Idea 10A in poor shape His top price was $3 000 for a Ferguson No A-JO-20 that was already fully restored     “That seems like a lot of money until you figure the cost of new tires labor and materials that go into a manure spreader restoration ” says Schoenfish “Not many people collect manure spreaders because they can get so rusty and worn out Sometimes all you get is a frame Then you find a manual and start buying lumber ”     Schoenfish notes that parts are often hard to find and they have to rely on a machine shop to make a missing piece One shop in a local Hutterite community often makes up decals for his spreaders as well     “So many brands have merged or changed You can’t get a decal so I’ll find a picture of one and draw it out figure out the colors and the print shop will make it for me ” says Schoenfish     A CPA by trade Schoenfish relies on Beran and a cousin Glen Ziegler to do much of the restorations     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Randy and Loretta Schoenfish 42472 Maxwell Rd Scotland S Dak 57059 ph 605 583-4637 or 605 660-5129; rlakksho@gwtc net

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