$100 Ideas

Read about ideas farmers have designed to make their jobs easier

Patrick Claeys
Ekalaka, Mont.

$200 Double Your Money Winner: Flatbed Truck With Steps

To make my flatbed more accessible, I built a steel box out of 2"x2" angle iron, flat stock and diamond plate steel. The 18"-deep steps were built from corrugated steel and hinge into the face of the 2’x2' box. I left the underside of the box open so when the steps are closed, dirt and mud fall out the bottom.


Stable Mineral Feeder

I needed a mineral feeder that could stand up against bulls, so I used scrap iron from a cultivator frame to make a sturdy T-frame. I took two 50-gal. barrels, cut a hole in each barrel and used the cutouts as wind veins on top of the barrels. I attached the barrels to the frame with chains. Now the wind and rain won’t blow into the barrels, and the bulls can’t tip them over.

Justin Gengler
Beloit, Kan.

Door Microswitch

I have a 14'-tall overhead garage door that opens halfway to help stop the wind. To make it automatically stop, I put a microswitch with a wand 7' high and wired the NC microswitch in series with the stop button. As the trigger rod at the bottom of the door passes by the wand and microswitch, it stops the door. To make it go higher, I press the open button again.

Robert Reznik
Dumas, Texas

Share your unpublished ideas to join our $100 Ideas Club. The Double Your Money winner receives $200. Other farmers featured receive $100 each. All winners receive a hat.

To submit your unpublished idea, which must include a description, photo or sketch, address and phone number, write to $100 Ideas, Farm Journal, P.O. Box 1188, Johnston, IA 50131-9421, email $100-Ideas@farmjournal.com or fill out the entry form at www.farmjournal.com/enter_100_ideas.. All published material becomes Farm Journal Media property.

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