Foggy's Deertopia Proving Grounds - Happenings

[Foggy47]

Wish I could talk you into running down to my place and dumping some fertilizer. One little corner that my trail can get says the rye oats brassicas are green. I threw everything at a 1/3 acre.

Guess I should be happy it’s green…

This Herd is not a bad way to fling a small amount of fertilizer. Easier than getting the PTO given unit out for me. Mounting it on the front of my UTV allows me to monitor seeding or fertilizing far better. I've used it for fertilizer several times over the years and never saw any resulting corrosion. It's now 15 years old. The only bad thing is I've never been able to direct the seeds or the fertilizer very well. It always slings to the left and throws seeds or fertilizer all over my UTV.....which is pretty annoying. Still, it gets the job done and I get a decent result in spite of having to do a major clean up. Normally I mount a plastic shield to prevent part of the mess....but didn't have the time to dick around yesterday.

You would think that Herd would have resolved some of these issues with product design over the years. From what I can see they have never changed anything. Somebody should make a good one of these. Here are more "faults" with the design:

1. It has a flat floor that does not allow gravity to feed the last pound of seed very well. All material in the hopper should feed to the gate.
2. You cannot set the machine on the floor in an upright position without or you will damage the motor. Herd should add some means to do so. I added a little steel tubing which protects the motor and allows me to set it down on a rolling cart.
3. The mounting means is wonky...and the consumer generally needs to make some modifications to make it work.
4. THERE IS NOT A POSITIVE STOP IN THE GATE. Until you fashion a decent stop you may push the agitator nipple off it's mount and spill the contents of the hopper. VERY Annoying.
5. The means to adjust the direction of material spread is difficult and does not work.

There is more.....but I do not feel like ranting on this anymore. Herd has been making these seeders for over 30 years...they certainly could find some time to address these glaring issues (without allot of extra cost). It is what it is.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I owned Stoney Point Products. I developed what is now called the Hornady Lock and Load OAL Gauge / modified cases / bullet comparator / headspace gauges / rimfire thickness gauges and the various brand of cleaning rod bore guides on the market today. Also made steady stix (rifle rest) and Pole Cat telescoping monopods, bipods, and tripods....for gun rests....as well as a shooting rest called Steady Stix. Also made some laser bore sighters, laser scope sighters, some maintenance cradles for gun cleaning and gun work, target knobs for scopes, and a host of other accessories. Tried to come up with something new each year....while improving on what we had going at the time. We quality tested all the component parts we had made by others....assembled 100% of our products and packaged them all to assure quality products going out the door. I employed 25 people to do these things.

When I sold the company....we were really firing on all 8 cylinders......and my product line was pretty hot with avid shooters. It was getting hard to keep my focus on so many product lines....and run the sales / marketing / product development and improvements.....without some key players to advance this line of goods. In short....I was burning out....and could not work any harder than I did. I really tired to hire some help in sales and marketing.....but never succeeded in the "right" people to advance my company at a fair cost. Some I interviewed (that were capable wanted 1.5 million and more guarantee.....YIKES....no way). I got somewhere in the area of 25 or more patents on this stuff.

Then offers to buy me came flooding in......and I took a good deal after some deal haggling with a good buyer (or so I thought....Long story...). I got paid...and rode off into the sunset. I got paid 100 cents on the dollar....and have lived a good life.

Sooooo ......... a slacker, then??? !!! Great job, Foggy!!! Man - - that's a line-up.

Are you working on designing any "100% guaranteed-into-the-hole" golf clubs now that you're living on a course??

 

[Foggy47]

Sooooo ......... a slacker, then??? !!! Great job, Foggy!!! Man - - that's a line-up.

Are you working on designing any "100% guaranteed-into-the-hole" golf clubs now that you're living on a course??

I have toyed around with some golf gadgets....but there are so many guys chasing this stuff....that I have not done anything meaningful. I do need to set an appointment with my patent attorney soon. I got a really fantastic product idea that I want to pursue. May be my best idea ever.....and I have the key marketing plan in place too. Excited to get this underway. Fun.

 

[Foggy47]

Sooooo ......... a slacker, then??? !!! Great job, Foggy!!! Man - - that's a line-up.

Are you working on designing any "100% guaranteed-into-the-hole" golf clubs now that you're living on a course??

Just read back a few posts and again saw your comment here. Slacker alright....lol. I have a number of patents and always formed a company and sold my own products produced from these patents. When I was selling aluminum extrusions.....I solved many problems for my customers with some innovative ideas for them. Several of those really helped shape their companies....and I was proud of those accomplishments, but had little to show for it (financially speaking). I loved that job, except for the heavy travel and they did not pay me enough for what I produced for them. When I quit....I told the VP of Sales....that I sold more metal than any other three guys they got. Maybe that was a little stretch....but I did have a hugely profitable territory and it did take two guys to care for it later.....and they lost much of the good business in the territory.

I also designed some planter attachments for a farm implement manufacturer of accessory products...and I suppose there are a few I forgot. I like doing this stuff....but it can be a curse....as I sometimes spend nights dreaming on how to perfect these ideas.

Besides that said above.....I also invented the Beachcomber Lake Rake, and my daughters paid their way through college by assembling and shipping those rakes. I sold that company and we split up the proceeds when they graduated. My kids learned how to work and be creative. That rake is still made today....some 40 years later. Also, started Trader Ridge LLC which manufactured some neat fishing rod holders and an 8 Ball Cue Rack for pool. That is one company that never prospered tho....and when melt down of 2008 came along......we decided we did not want to work any more and sold the product line. Too bad actually......as there were more ideas to develop for that line....but timing was wrong for us.

I have designed some neat products from time to time since then.....but my wife does not want me to go into any more business'. And I do not care to work on a day to day basis at this point in time. I'm setting up a new company, but will not take an active roll in operating it. I have a plan and I think it's gonna be good. A couple more patents for my family if all goes as planned. Fun.

 

[T-Max]

You got a background in engineering, Foggy? Or just a gifted mind along with great business sense? Big stuff my man.


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[Foggy47]

You got a background in engineering, Foggy? Or just a gifted mind along with great business sense? Big stuff my man.


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Only attended college for a few weeks....and most of that was party time for me. Dropped out and faced Viet Nam...or join the Army Reserves...which I did. Only degree was from the school of hard knocks.....and I like to say I graduated magna-cume-lade. not sure I would wish that on anyone. I got worked over the coals in my early 20's....and really got hung out to dry a few times. But that "education" stuck.

Pretty much self taught....but had some great mentors in my youth....and I suppose from several others along the way. As I tell folks, I grew up behind the parts counter in my dads tractor, implement and truck business......and learned many things mechanical early in life. He had some terrific employees that taught me so much and got to learn from them. Also building street rods in my teens and a real passion to learn was very helpful.

But many things I had to learn the hard-way. Not sure that is "wrong" but it is not for everyone.

"Determination and perseverance are omni-potent".

 

[Wind Gypsy]

As I tell folks, I grew up behind the parts counter in my dads tractor, implement and truck business......and learned many things mechanical early in life. He had some terrific employees that taught me so much and got to learn from them. Also building street rods in my teens and a real passion to learn was very helpful.
.

I’ve interviewed a whole bunch of engineers coming out of college for construction management/engineering positions. Gimme the kid who grew up solving problems on the family farm and got Cs over the career student with a 4.0 and a masters degree every time!

 

[Foggy47]

My water tubs continue to get high use by our deer. I have three locations for these water "troughs" and all three are gathering points for the deer. I would say that they draw more deer than a good salt lick on my place (which has been illegal for a few years). Amazing how the deer need a social gathering point.....and these water tubs provide it. The other tubs I have hold 100 gallons.....and are better at staying full than these shallow tubs shown here. But all have stayed full most of the summer due to frequent rainfall. I may add some water to these two shallow tubs tommorow....if time permits. Easy way to do it.....no need to bury them....IMO.

 

[Foggy47]

I’ve interviewed a whole bunch of engineers coming out of college for construction management/engineering positions. Gimme the kid who grew up solving problems on the family farm and got Cs over the career student with a 4.0 and a masters degree every time!

Yep....I think you gotta "earn" those stripes. It can be done with education....but you still gotta have the "right stuff" and be a problem solver. IMO.

Gotta say tho....I got turned away from many decent jobs I could have done well at...but I did not posses some of the "pre-requisites" like a college degree to qualify for the job. I do understand that....as you need to be able to effectively communicate both in writing and speech....and have a degree of confidence in yourself to do these things.....and I did have to learn those things myself. Stay the course grasshopper...and you can do it. (self talk....grin)