Eden Shale Farm
  • Blog
  • About
  • Pictures & Virtual Tour
  • Producer Resources
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • BLOG SIGN UP
  • FAQ
  • Calendar of Events

The Farm Truck

2/16/2018

 
Farm trucks come in many different types and sizes. They range from one ton duelly's to  4 cylinder Toyotas. Also carrying the "farm truck" badge you will find many different types of SUV's including the indestructible Jeep. But regardless of what you use as a "farm truck" the purpose of the vehicle remains the same.

Most vehicles don't fall into the "farm truck" category until they are at least 10 years old. There are exceptions, but one would question their authenticity. Part of being a farm truck is acquiring years of character and continually proving to be useful in every situation. The title "Farm Truck" is earned over many years of service. Many times a farm truck will even earn a name as well as a reputation around the farm. The farm truck is where every kid learned to drive as soon as they could reach the pedals. The farm truck is as endearing as it is necessary and we all have one that we love.

At Eden Shale we have a "farm truck" that we love. Her name is Brownie. She is a 1996 Ford F-150. She is equipped with the 300 straight six engine paired to a 5 speed manual transmission. Brownie has limited slip differentials in front and back, so when locked in 4-wheel drive all four wheels are pulling to get you through what ever obstacle lies in front of you. In the five years at Eden Shale she has never gotten stuck.
Picture
Greg bought Brownie brand new back in 1996. It served as his primary vehicle for several years pulling a horse trailer and taking care of the general farm chores. Over the course of her life she has acquired 223,000+ hard earned miles. Like most farm trucks, she runs like a top, but don't mistaken that to mean she is fast. Brownie never leaves the farm unless she has to make the 5 mile trip to Southern States to fill up both of her fuel tanks. Comfortable cruising speed is about 45 miles per hour. Anything over that starts to get a little nerve racking as things begin to shimmy and shake. And even if you were brave enough to put her in 5th gear, there would be so much dust and dirt swirling around you probably couldn't see to keep her on the road!
Picture
The interior of Brownie is the same color as the outside, dirt brown. It is the perfect color scheme for a farm truck. Dust and dirt blend right in, scratches hardly even show up, and the rust just blends right in. Greg always says there is one rule when riding in Brownie, don't get it dirty...

There are several common items that you will find inside every farm truck. The first thing is a random assortment of tools. There aren't many common chores that a farm truck is always prepared for. Need to rehang a gate-got it. Need to fix some fence-no problem. Clutch go out on the tractor and it needs to be split open and fixed right in the field- yep it can do that too!


Picture
A good farm truck also serves as a mobile office. This is a place where many of the farms decisions are made and it will always have at least 6 months of receipts on hand at any given time; pending you didn't use 5th gear as mentioned above...
Picture
With so many tools and farm records on board it is important to have a security system to protect it all. Seeing that if you remove the key from the ignition it may never start again so locking the doors is not an option. That is why farm trucks are protected by large intimidating dogs. You have a lot to keep safe, so do not trust it to a yappy lap dog. Brownie uses an 90 lb Great Pyrenees named Allice. We've never lost anything...
Picture
Picture
Picture
The rest of the interior of Brownie is basic farm truck décor. The steering wheel is wrapped in black tape, the headlight knob fell off so the lights are turned on by pulling a zip tie, and the dash has enough dust on it you can barely see the gauges.  
Picture
Picture
Brownie also has some character markings both on the dash and on the head liner. Story goes that when Greg's boys were little they were "helping" him around the farm one day. Greg got out of the truck to shut a gate and when he returned they both had a pair of fencing pliers and were using the hook end to knock holes in the dash and head liner with lasting results.
Picture
Picture
Brownie's exterior boast of her years of service. The passenger side has two distinguishing dents in the side of the bed which includes the appropriate amount of rust for a 22 year old pickup. The right tail light is now being held in place with duct tape.
Picture
Picture
The front has its distinguishing marks as well. The bumper hangs low on the drivers side and the passenger headlight is held in place by fencing wire. The grill is busted from a steel post that nearly made its way through the radiator in which the flattened radiator fins are still noticeable.
Picture
Picture
In the rear you will notice that that tailgate has long since been removed/lost and a rough cut piece of 2x6 is now serving in its absence. Brownie carries all the essential farm truck items: Random pieces of garden hose, cow paddle, pitch fork, empty mineral sacks, a spare tire, and enough baling twine to rehang every gate on the farm. You will also notice that Brownie has a custom made rear bumper. Because nothing says "farm truck" like a 12 inch solid steel bumper.
Picture
Picture
Brownie is 100% pure farm truck and she spends her days doing farm truck things. Over the past five years we have used her to do numerous things around the farm. She hauls feed to the calves everyday and makes the rounds checking all of the stock.
Picture
Below, notice Allice in the back seat and Bob the cow dog in the front.
Picture
Picture
Brownie has even moved entire herds by herself when we need to get the cows to the barn.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Like all farm trucks Brownie does her share of fencing, and clearing fields after each storm.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Brownie serves as a ladder when putting up the shade structures in the spring and taking them down in the fall.
Picture
The first three years we operated the farm we only had one tractor. That meant that Greg used Brownie to rake hay while I operated the baler. It was not the ideal situation but she got the job done.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Because of the high amounts of wind we get at Eden Shale Farm, we had to rehang our farm sign once after a big storm. Brownie was there for the job.
Picture
Picture
Brownie has also attended numerous farm meetings, tours, and field days that were held at the farm.
Picture
Picture
As hard working and dependable as they are, farm trucks do break down from time to time. However, a farm truck doesn't go to the shop the first time something breaks. Instead you start a list of things that need fixed, and once the list gets so long you finally have to load her on a trailer to get her to the shop because she simple won't go no more.
Picture
But don't be alarmed, a farm truck will always find a way to get back to the job at hand taking care of the important work on the farm no matter what you throw at them, and for that we love our "Farm Trucks".
Picture
Picture
Please share your favorite farm truck stories, make and model, or photo in the comments.

Comments are closed.
    Copyright © Kentucky Beef Network, LLC. All rights reserved. This content may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or used in any manner without written approval from Kentucky Beef Network, LLC. For Informational Purposes Only. 

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Kentucky Beef Network

    Subscribe to Eden Shale Farm blog posts!

    * indicates required

    Categories

    All
    Cattle
    Forages
    Misc
    Monthly Wrap Up
    Water

    Welcome

    Hello, my name is Dan Miller and I work for the Kentucky Beef Network. KBN took over operation of the Eden Shale Farm in April of 2013. We are using the 961 acre farm as a demonstration and learning center for beef cattle producers. This blog serves as a place to document daily farm activity and host discussions about the demonstrations being implemented. I hope you find this information useful and that you come visit us at Eden Shale Farm.

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

CONTACT US

                           EMAIL SIGN UP

Eden Shale Farm     
245 Eden Shale Rd.        Office: (859) 278-0899
Owenton, KY 40359       Fax: (859) 260-2060
© 2021 Kentucky Beef Network, LLC.. All rights reserved.
Picture
Sign Up Now
Receive our blog updates
  • Blog
  • About
  • Pictures & Virtual Tour
  • Producer Resources
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • BLOG SIGN UP
  • FAQ
  • Calendar of Events