Hey . . . what about that hay!
Farm equipment changes from generation to generation. "Tub Grinding" has been a part of the farming scene for quite a few years now, but is often viewed as a new piece of equipment by many not familiar with today's farming equipment. Above, Bill Hofstetter's Tub Grinder gets set to grind up some of the big round bales so common on most farms today. Just like any farm equipment today, a new piece of equipment runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"Grinding Hay" for close to thirty years is a thing of the past now. Bill Hofstetter is shown with what he called a "Red Snapper". The background is certainly not a hay field in Nebraska, but rather the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of southern Texas. He seems to have taken this 'retirement' business seriously.
Changes often come about at the end of years and to many farmers and ranchers in the Lawrence – Nelson area, the end of 2020 brought about another change that will affect many of the area farmers. An area business, H & H Hay, was sold and Mr. Bill Hofstetter ended a close to 30 year business service to farmers, ranchers and feed lots in the area. The H & H names indicated the "Hofstetter and Hofstetter" family owned corporation of Bill and Lynette Hofstetter.
Mr. Hofstetter noted he reached retirement age a year or so ago and the time was just right for him to retire from the daily grind of his business. Bill said in the early 1990s (maybe as late as 1994) he and Mike Menke started the hay servicing business that came to be called H & H Hay. Menke stayed with the business for several years before leaving. Bill kept the business going on his own.
Mr. Hofstetter said he started with a hay grinding business and expanded to cutting, baling and transportation. However, over the years he had been primarily doing the grinding of hay.
Many people have seen the "tub grinders" on the road. Bill has had two grinders and rented, or leased another grinder when needed. Most of his business came from area farmers within a 50 to 60 mile circle from the Lawrence area. He also did the hay grinding for the feed lot near Red Cloud.
The new owner of the business is Mr. Jeff Kort of Blue Hill. Mr. Kort said he had worked for Bill for maybe a total of 10 to 12 years and was well qualified to take over the business. Jeff renamed the business to "Kort Hay Grinding." He lives in Blue Hill. He and his wife, Kelsey, have three children. He purchased the business and two tub grinders and has one employee. Mr. Kort said he will primarily grind hay, wet corn, alfalfa, grass, or basically any type of hay. He hopes to continue the same great service Mr. Hofstetter gave to all who used his services.
Bill and his wife, Lynette, hope to enjoy a little more relaxed life with his retirement. Lynette had worked the past years at several Hastings businesses, most recently at an animal health business. She retired earlier in 2020. The couple are presently enjoying a change in scenery and style of living as they left last week for a trip to southern Texas.
Hay . . . (and the grinding thereof) is an essential element in any farming operation involving cattle. While, this service business is no longer operated and controlled out of Lawrence, Mr. Kort expects to continue the same great service Bill Hofstetter supplied for so many years.
We join the community in wishing the Hofstetters the best in years to come. We also wish the best to the Korts in their new business.
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