Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Old dog, new trick...




This old dog has learned a new trick!  For years I have cleaned out the chicken coop with a scoop shovel and pitchfork, and I still do it this way, but I always brought a tractor to the door of the coop to scoop the poop into.  This day I did not have a tractor, but the skid steer was available.  However,  I didn't know how to run it.  We have had our skid steer for just a few months and I never learned how to use it so I asked Hubby if he'd show me how, and he was glad to oblige me.  The thing is, he couldn't get into the cab with me to teach me like he had in years past with the tractors because the skid steer is a one-seater and is so very small inside.  No room for two.  So I buckled myself in and let him talk me through it from the outside of the skid steer.  He provided sign language along with the oral instruction to to teach me, and he did an excellent job because in minutes, I was driving it and using the loader/bucket to do what I needed to do.  

I am so excited to have a new trick in my pocket!  The thing is, the more I learn about the equipment, the more valuable I can be to the ranch and to all who live here.  Not that I'm ever going to be as good at operating machinery as the men are, but I can do simple things.  Hubby has always told me how important it was for me to know how to run the tractors because if there would be an accident I could lift a bucket, turn off the power-take-off, turn it off or on, or move it when no one else might be around.  Learning to operate the skid steer is a confidence builder for me for sure!  I told my son-in-law who manages a feed store that if he ever needed an extra skid steer operator, he could call me!  He just laughed.  

11 comments:

  1. Good for you! I'm sure this new skill will be very useful in the future.

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  2. Well done! I'm very impressed.

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  3. That is a great feeling to accomplish something like that! If you have a picture, please share!

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  4. Good girl! YOU are a farming wonder, Jody. Your hubs is blessed indeed! Way to go!

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  5. You're hubby is so right! It's a real confidence booster to know you could help in an emergency, and fun to know you can manage these things solo if you need to. I never really learned to do this when we lived on our farm. Should have!

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  6. I am so impressed. I am going to tell Ron to teach me just for those reasons your husband said. It is important I know how do do all of that. So cool you know how do run all of that.
    I have cleaned my coop like that for years, and when the tractor isn't here and I have to go back to the wheel barrow again, it sure is slower. Your hens are so pretty.

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  7. Good for you! It is so good to do things in new ways and not just out of habit and so great to acquire a new skill (and an impressive one at that). I'm quite proud of you.
    Amalia
    xo

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  8. Way to go! I'm sure learning to drive farm equipment is somewhere in Proverbs 31 :-)

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  9. I'm proud of you, Jody! You will stay young and sharp for a long time.

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  10. I hated our skid steer. There are too many steep places and that little bugger always seemed too tippy to me. I have no problems with tractors, but I cheered when the skid steer was traded off. I think you are extremely brave.

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