2002

Farmer Brown's Plow Shop

While you are spending some free time surfing the web, how about taking a few minutes to check out the website: farmerbrownsplowshop.com. Jim and Linda have been doing business all over the USA not only in sales, but in answering questions regarding equipment and other problems folks are encountering. They were even able to answer questions on old equipment from the Mt. Vernon Museum in Washington, DC.

So far they have produced two videos, “Logging Your Wood Lot with Farmer Brown” and “Two Horse-Drawn Plowing with Farmer Brown.” Two more are planned, entitled “Logging in a Winter Wonderland with Farmer Brown” and “Plowing with a Sulky Plow with Farmer Brown.” One video has been donated to the Wide Awake Library in Fillmore, and another was donated to a 5th grade, one room school house in Montana, which they have passed on to their local library. In addition to the videos they have a line of T-shirts, and new designs in hats and shirts will be featured soon. Also a pocket manual on plowing is in the works. Another item that is selling well is a logging arch which Jim designed.

Last October they entered a plowing competition in Michigan, the Great Lakes International, which is the largest horse show in North America. Jim’s student got the grand champion prize this year. Clinics are planned at their homestead this spring, as well as at Horse Progress Days in Illinois. There are plans to also demonstrate at the Billings Farm Museum in Vermont. In October they will be traveling to the Northwest, including Oregon, Washing and California to conduct additional clinics. In the spring of 2003 they have been invited to Kenny Russell’s farm to conduct a logging clinic in Tennessee.

James Jr. has joined the logging business, driving a team of horses and cutting timber. Jim St. is currently logging with 2 teams of horses six days a week. If anyone has timber they would like us to take a look at, we would be glad to accommodate. Small wood lots are our specialty.

Eventually we would like to build a place where people can come and see the old horse drawn equipment and watch demonstrations. We would also like to begin manufacturing a walking plow. Who would have dreamed that those old plows which in current times have become mostly additions to people’s landscaping schemes, would be in such demand again as working pieces of equipment?

Supervisor's Report to the Town

What a surprise it was to see the ground covered with the white stuff on Saturday, May 17 and Monday, May 19. Summer will be coming upon us quickly, hopefully, and as with the rest of New York State, that brings on ROAD CONSTRUCTION SEASON. By now most of the town highway system has been honed and rolled to try to limit the effects of our winter weather. The highway department will be spreading more salt brine this summer to try to keep the dust down. The summer road project will be the Old State Road starting from English Hill Road and going approximately 1.5 miles north. This road was selected on the advice of the Highway Superintendent. Please be careful when driving in these construction areas. If you should be driving around town and notice any major defects, such as sink holes, plugged culverts, or other hazardous conditions, please be sure to contact the highway superintendent or town supervisor.

I would like to thank the folks who brought their dogs and cats to the rabies clinic on May 28, 2002. I want to thank the following folks for their efforts to make this a success: Dr. Dawn Bennett, Cindy Perry, Loreen Bentley, Michelle Bentley, Patricia Hopkins, (Town Clerk of Allen), Paul Beardsley, and Melody Beardsley. Please remember to get your dogs licensed in June, as all dog licenses are now due in June.

ACCORD Corporation submitted a Small Cities Grant Application on behalf of the Town on April 12, 2002. We are waiting to hear if this application was successful. The amount applied for was $400,400.00, which will be used to fix up eligible houses and trailers within the town. If we are successful, applications will be available later this year. If you think you are eligible, do not hesitate to apply.

We have also requested monies from Senator Pat McGee and Assemblyman Dan Burling. The money from Dan, if awarded, will be used to install a new electrical service entrance in the Highway building with the capability of properly hooking up a new remote generator. The money from Senator McGee will put a concrete floor in the addition and install a waste oil furnace in the building to further reduce our heating costs.

On May 13 the Town Board authorized the purchase of a new front-end loader for the Town Highway Department. Our current John Deere loader is approximately 12 years old and we will be putting it up for bid to help defray the cost of the new loader. We are purchasing a Model 928G Caterpillar front-end loader on state bid. The cost will be $68,700 and will be paid for using the money from the sale of the current loader and with town funds. We do not anticipate having to borrow any money.

I hope that my columns have kept you informed as to what is happening in your town government. Please contact me if you have any questions and town residents are invited to our Town Board meetings held the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Jay Stevens Named for County Legion Post

Jay Stevens of Sonnleitner Road in the Town of Granger has been named Commander of the Allegany County American Legion Posts for 2002-2003. The Allegany County American Legion has twelve posts with a total of approximately 2200 members. Jay was Commander of Fillmore’s Dee Victor Thomas Post #1155 this past year. Jay qualifies to be a Legion member on the basis of his active service during the Korean conflict. He has been a Legion member for 13 years.

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