Hoosiers in cowboy country

[Faron]

These two Hoosiers are in Bartlesville, OK this evening.  We made a little trip to Sudan, KS to pick up a new Kansas Klipper tree shear this morning.  Lots of interesting comparisions along the way.  Southern Indiana has had a record rainfall this year, something like 22" above normal.  The lack of rainfall here is quite obvious.  Even though there has been some rain here lately, the grass and even the cedars show the effects.  In talking to Mr. Beeson, he confirmed the reports we had been hearing of large scale liquidation of cattle herds throughout the area.  Still looks like lots of cattle here to me, though. 
It is interesting to see those cedars that Cedarman has told us about that are taking over pastures.  I can see it is a big problem, and a big reason there is a big demand for those tree shears.
The shear is going on our Ford 276 Bi-directional tractor. We are going to use it to clear off some creekbanks and fencerows as well as trim overhanging limbs along woolots bordering farm fields.  Mr Beeson says we will value it highly for cutting firewood.  I am anxious to get it home and try it out. We figure to get back home tomorrow. 

[Burlkraft]

Don't forget ta show us some pics of that baby in action...... ;D ;D ;D

[Faron]

Back home  8)  1150 miles round trip.  Yep, we'll get some pics if we can keep the DanG camera working!  I really enjoyed seeing that part of OK, KS, and MO.  I had been to Springfield and Branson before, and also to Arky's neighborhood at Bull Shoals Lake, but not ahead into Kansas and Oklahoma.

[Furby]

It's nice out there eh? ;)

[Faron]

Furby, Cattle, horses, wild turkeys, deer,lots of open spaces, all a guy could want.  Except the trees  I saw looked pretty scrubby.  Cedar and what I think is called Jack Oak.  The oak looked like firewood at best. I think a Woodmizer might get pretty hungry there. Let's not forget the 30's Dust Bowl.  I think the worst of it was west of the area I was in, but it had been really dry where we were.   While we are about to drown in southwest Indiana, this summer's drought has hammered cattlemen from Texas to the Dakotas
Doggone, I have to wait til tomorrow to try out my new machine.  Have to measure out hydraulic hose length and get some made up to fit.  Maybe I can find some temperary ones. ;)

[Cedarman]

Faron, does your shear have a grapple on it?  Can you control the way the tree falls?
I wouldn't mind seeing it work.  I am just a hop and a skip east of you.

[Furby]

Faron,
I hear ya on the differences between there and home.
BIG differences!
See any Antelope ???

[Faron]

Cedarman, No, no grapple.  It has a single blade cutter against an anvil, for want of a better term.  The blade acts somewhat like a wedge, cutting from the left,  and wood holds on the right side of the tree, making the tree fall to the right.  Naturally, there are limits to that. It is designed to cut a 10" tree in one pass, so it may be a little smaller outfit than you are using.  I can also rotate the head, so I can take limbs off up pretty high.  So I can take limbs off the left side of a tree, reducing weight and leverage on that side.  Cut a few this evening, and so far it worked like it is supposed to.  Any doubt, and we get out the chainsaw. ;)  I need to get some hydaulic parts, and make a couple changes to my loader.  I'll let you know when we get it going, and maybe you can come over and we'll play with it some.
Furby, I am pretty sure what I saw were deer.  I kind of liked it there.  Course it is late December, and I wasn't there very long.  Might change my tune in August. ;)

[Furby]

Yeah, I was suprised at how harsh the suns rays were in November.
Not real sure I wanna try July and August.

[saddletramp]

Furby Kansas aint got no speed goats. Thems r out in  wyoming! The problem with visitin this wonderful state is a lot of people end up stayin. Thank goodness we dont have winters like you do. You should see the mature stands of mature bluestem out here. Makes a woodmizer's heart go pitter patter, but not much of a challenge for a swingblade. Now all I got to do is finish my self propeled cedar/silage chopper. Restore the beautiful flinthills to thier natural beauty in no time.

[Furby]

You talking about Antelopes Saddletramp?
Saw them with my own eyes and have seen them many times before, so I do know what they are.
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Link

[Handy Andy]

  Hey you Hoosiers what county are you from?  My g granddad was born in Washington co IN, near a town called Fredericksburg. Is that close to you?  My family have been farmers as far back as I know, can't figure why they came to Kansas?

[Faron]

Hey there Handy Andy/Jim!  I am in Pike co. about 50 miles west of Fredricksburg. Fredricksburg is right in Cedarman's back yard.  Your great grandad probably left that part of Indiana because there just wasn't much to farm.  The terrain over that way is pretty rough and the soil thin.  That is cave and limestone country.  Over my way we have a little better land, and west of us is real good farmland.  The flat, big farms are in northern Indiana.
I always thought Kansas is where the big money is to be made in farming. ??? :P
Some of those old guys just had to see what lay ahead.  One of my great uncles traveled to Nebraska and back twice in a covered wagon.  Looks like he would have figured out he didn't like it the first time. :D

[Handy Andy]

  I think GG Grandpa just waited about 20 years too long, as the flint hills were all settled before gramps came this way.  Guess he didn't do so bad though, I'm still here.  Jim