When Grundy Center, Iowa, public works director Jim Copeman heard about a better way to pick up leaves in the fall, he jumped on it. He saved labor and the city saved money. And it was all thanks to a neighboring city employee.

"Larry Schmidt at Manchester, Iowa, came up with the idea of using Hesston Hay Stackers to pick up leaves," says Copeman. "Bob Greany in our shop made the modifications."

Hesston discontinued making Hay Stackers in 1976, but there are still a lot of them around and they may find new life if the leaf idea catches on.

Before switching to the Hay Stacker, residents would sweep leaves into the street and Copeman's 4 to 5-man crews would go out with a garbage truck equipped with a chute on back. A skid steer would pick up the leaves.

"It would take a week to cover the town, and by the second day, leaves would be blowing around," says Copeman. "Now I just send Bob Greany around with the stacker. If we have a heavy leaf fall, he can fill the stacker in an hour."

It was Greany who came up with the modifications for the stacker. The beaters intended to rake up hay before blowing it into the wagon create a natural suction to move leaves into the blower. They also help break up the dried leaves for better compaction.

Greany added wings to the pickup reel made from flat, rigid plastic. Garage door springs attached to the wings allow them to flex if the driver gets too close to the curb.

As originally designed, the hitch on the stacker would push piles of leaves down the street when larger piles were encountered. Greany went to a 3-pt. hook-up, which provides for up to 18 in. of clearance.

"This way, the mouth of the stacker is a lot bigger," says Copeman. "The leaves just slide in.

 photo credit: Waterloo Courier -- Jessica Miller