Susanna Freymark
Dan supplied the tractor as a comp prize for soybean growers. Glen won the tractor and gave it to the men’s shed.
It’s a happy story and the $24,000 tractor will be resold to benefit the men’s shed by replacing some machinery in the shed and getting more battery operated tools.
So how did this all come about?
Days Machinery has been a long time supporter of the local soybean industry.
After years of challenging weather, business owner Dan Hoppe decided to lift growers’ spirits by donating a tractor to the winner of the North Coast Oil Seeds Growers Association crop competition.
The winner got to choose the charity that would receive the new tractor.
North Coast Oil Seeds Growers Association president Paul Fleming said this year they had more entries than ever in the crop comp.
”Dan has really stepped it up a notch this year with his generous donation of the little tractor,” Mr Fleming told the Casino Men’s Shed members today, Monday, June 30.
The soybean and other grain growers have had tough weather conditions since 2022, Mr Fleming said.
The Days Machinery donation added more zeal to the comp.
The winner was Glen Donnelly from Blue Dog Agriculture and he chose Casino Men’s Shed as his charity of choice.
”I hope there is an increased awareness of the work the Men’s Shed do to maintain and improve the self-worth and connection to the community of generally older men,” Mr Donnelly said.
Men’s Shed president Harvey Reddell said that when he got the phone call about the prize he thought someone was ‘gee-ing’ him up.
“There are people here at the men’s shed from all walks of life — teachers, nurses, tradies and farmers — lots of farmers,” Mr Reddell said.
”The money will be well spent.”