Not your Grandpa's Rock Picker!

[@kkennedy9623]

You're right. Grand pa's rock picker was us grand kids.

[@masescranton9630]

Right on Keith. That was the 1rst thing that came to my mind. I live in Connecticut where rocks per square foot constitute more material than soil

[@Gardendreamsforme]

Yes. And now my grandkids are mine😂

[@teenagefarmer]

Lol.

[@JudyJudyJudy44]

Ditto.

[@conniepitts8392]

Yep

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

My grandpa had a very good rock picker: me. And 30 other 11 year old kids. We would walk a line about 10 feet apart and start at one end. Each of us had a bucket that when full we dumped it into the front end loader tractor that followed behind. We each got $1.25/hour. May not seem like much, but when you're 11 in 1975, that was big money. My mom made me open a savings account and put half of it away. At the time it sucked, but now I am grateful my parents were sticklers on saving. I stress it to my boys all the time.

[@fullers1966]

You got paid I had to do it for nothing cuz I was told to do it

[@freedomrings1420]

Your rocks must have been pretty small if you used a bucket that you carried.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

@@freedomrings1420 The rule was no smaller than your fist. The bigger ones we just put directly into the tractor bucket. The tractor had to dig a lot of them out because they were too heavy for us. The farmer's name was Ol' Man Puckett. That's what everyone called him. If he found rock that you should have seen, he made us walk the whole field again. He knew that peer pressure would force us all to pay attention. No one wanted to be "that kid" who made us go over it again. lol smart man. He hired all the kids from town and some of them were as young as 10 up to 15. The older kids drove tractors and other stuff we could not.

[@freedomrings1420]

@@valuedhumanoid6574 I grew up on a dairy farm in Amsterdam NY and in Richfield Springs NY. And rock picking was no fun . I got paid on the first farm ,then my stepfather bought a Green Acres dairy farm and I didn't get paid . Life wasn't too fun. LOL 😂

[@diggerdave.6587]

@@valuedhumanoid6574 we had rock pickers just like that, they could be changed into wild oat pickers with a few small adjustments

[@erniezsigo3926]

Walking behind a wagon all 4 of my brothers from 8 yrs old to 18 .oh what memories .

[@misfitty-vd6kv]

AND THIS KID WANTS AUTO STEER

[@bobbergmann1656]

MY father and Grandpa, invented a stonepicker in the late 40's. They sold them to farmers in the Thumb area of Michigan. During the 50's and 60's he did Custom Stone Picking for farmers thruout Michigan. In the 70's we traveled the East Coast and picked stones on Golf courses. One of his first machines in the 50's looked like this but the chain ran faster with a direct PTO. It led to a conveyor that directed the stones into a truck running next to the picker . Worked great! My dad's nickname was Stoney Bergman

[@robbiebowie6505]

The rock picker seems very functional. It certainly leaves the ground without ridges. Beats the heck out of picking by hand or fixing equipment. Blessings. Stay warm.

[@Dan-qy1rg]

Those mischievous calves are just wanting that one piece of handful of feed or grass, whatever it is on the other side. Looks like the rock picker does a real nice job! Nice job Cole, thanks for sharing, I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

[@coreyvandyke528]

Back in my day we had the steer uphill both ways in the snow yeah Young whippersnappers LOL

[@harleymark2856]

Same here. I had to be the rock picker. Tractor was in lowest gear driving across the field with no one on it while we picked up rocks. Yes once in a while we would have to adjust the steering wheel. I mostly was paid by going to the record store and picking out a few 45s of our favorite music. First one was Foreigner, Hotel California. Good times I will never forget! I was 10 yrs old.

[@paulwalker9921]

Gents, that GFI outlet in the pump house is just a fire looking for a time to start. Don’t insert or removed the plug with the heater switched ON. The plug and outlet will get the arc then.

[@andrewl7467]

Poor Cole has to drive to work now. Good to see some moisture this fall winter. Hope that load of claves are doing well.

[@mmurphy2317]

Cole could get a horse...to ride in from home! He'd be a REAL kettlepoke then🤣🙂🤣🤣🙂🙃😁

[@sissy8563]

Sandi & Mark over at Sheepishly Me needs that ol picker lol Poor Sandi & Jess is always out there picking rocks.. Pretty cool machine

[@haileybo8257]

My Saturday cartoon! Every Saturday can't wait

[@bobjoncas2814]

...lookin' good that machine sure gets 'er done, keep safe. and warm...

[@susans9617]

Kinda reminds me of my grandfather's potato harvester, lol. Back in the day, WE were the rock pickers. Lots of bending over, tossing (or lugging big rocks) into back of pickup. Every spring we had a new crop of rocks! This machine sure makes the job easier! Good video. Thanks for posting

[@freedomrings1420]

LOL, I grew up on a dairy farm in Upstate NY and I believe that the rocks grew better than the crops. LOL 😂 Picked so many rocks that I would pick rocks in my dreams ... talk about being tortured.

[@DHESS007]

Just a FYI. We are now in Standard Time, where the evening gets dark well before 5pm. I think it was the US House that passed a bill to keep the time on ONE time and not switch back and forth. They wanted to keep it on DayLight Time where you have a longer evening in the winter. I am not sure why it was not passed through both chambers, the Senate probably is still sitting on it. I really would like to see them just leave the time as is and I do like the DayLight time better. Anyway, just some information or not..... Great to see you guys keeping up with things. It is never ending. Be safe and y'all have a great Thanksgiving, especially with the new member of the family!!!!

[@lancesmith1925]

I do really enjoy these equipment demos - getting to see the why's and how's is just darn fascinating. Thanks for this one!

[@peteparker7396]

When I first saw that thing I thought that looks like a peanut digger. Looks like it worked good. We run hay buster rock pickers. Love em. Rocks in a cotton stripper equals great balls of fire.

[@harrybutler1828]

Also for winter Cole, don't forget to turn the batteries around. A lot of people forget to do that. That works in conjunction with the winter air in the tires. Hope this helps you out a bit. Love your video's.

[@MOMKAT1WV]

Love the winter air in tires.

[@MOMKAT1WV]

I'm old rough to remember single viscosity oil. We hid do those changes . Put tire chains and shovels and windshield ice scrapers in truck and car. Some things were real.

[@GremlinsVillage]

Don't forget about putting some antifreeze in with the blinker fluid.

[@DakotaTrucker]

I had to come see who else caught that

[@MOMKAT1WV]

Ha ha ha

[@roberthoffman5145]

Thank you Sonne farms!!

[@timothybailey7118]

Uncle Jeff could use all that “refusal” feed pushed out of the bunk for his hogs. They’re the ultimate food processor.

[@dennispalmer6007]

It’s not enough that you have a machine that picks up the rocks then unloads them without leaving the tractor seat. Now your complaining that you have to steer the tractor yourself. The struggles you young’ ins have to endure. Signed A Great Grandfather.

[@mmurphy2317]

Mmmm ...bacon wrapped, medium rare, filet mignon🥓🥩♨️👀

[@jdschini]

Great demo of the rock digger-picker. I was amazed at how good of job it is doing sorting out even the little stones. It is definitely a back saver! Ellie probably ordered a heated dog bowl & a heating pad for her bed this winter. She is so smart!

[@JudyJudyJudy44]

I love the way you talk to the animals Cole. Shows your compassion. Also, great explanation of the equipment!

[@williamoloughlin8298]

He's raising them for slaughter Judy, as far as the cows are concerned, Cole's a serial killer. Seriously man, grt vid on a nice bit of gear. Would be interested to know what the price is abouts as I can't find a listed price on the 5ft anywhere. Spose its neg? greetings from New Zealand.

[@JudyJudyJudy44]

@@williamoloughlin8298 yes, I'm aware. I was raised on a farm. I just think he and his dad are really morally good men. I remember my dad and brothers talking to the livestock ... but not always in a kind way, depending on how things were going...🤣

[@accomack100]

Just a suggestion ,Put your round hay bales around your pump house , it will keep the wind & cold from blasting it!!

[@dcricket1]

Ellie is such a little sweetheart! I’m sure she is confused about your not being at your parents house now. I wouldn’t be surprised if she popped up on your and Tiff’s porch one day. I know your Mom and Dad love and spoil her too. I saw her in dated pictures on one of the sites all the time and I didn’t realize she is older than I thought. How old is she by the way? Here in Texas we have finally started into winter. In West Texas we have summer, summer, summer and then WINTER !! We completely skip fall. We have light jackets but no real winter gear. It’s weird for newcomers!!

[@SeMoArtifactAdventures]

No telling how many sweet artifacts would be in there. Arrowheads would probably fall through but it would pick up some axe heads or stone tools.

[@edrouse9578]

Thanks to the guys from Lenco for the demo. Good.machine and the rocks keep coming up.

[@wallyyuriy8912]

Just a heat lamp in My little pump shack for watering cattle. Thermometer in there too. We check it twice a day.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Or two heat lamps, both switched through their own thermostatic switch, one thermostat set point slightly higher than the other... so if one goes out the other takes over? Nothing like redundancy......

[@phillipmetcalf9404]

Your almost right. My grandpa did not have a rock picker in southern Idaho. It looks like his neighbor potato lifter which we would us to pick rock.

[@phillipmetcalf9404]

That was over fifty years ago. It was ground drive and had heavier chain.

[@ventureoutdoorswithkirk]

Can't tell you the amount of times we picked up rocks in the fields growing up, DANG this would've been nice back then. My Great Uncle would put the tractor in gear hauling a wood trailer behind and say just keep up!! Crack me up... they use to say, "If you don't pick them up this year they will be bigger next year"🤣🤣

[@flyndutchmn]

They'd was get bigger! ;P

[@colorado1088]

Cole is right about that winter air. My low tire pressure indicator goes off every year at this time and I have to refill my tires with winter air.

[@barbtaylor1619]

Sure wish we would have had a rock picker when I was a kid. Spent way to many hours doing it by hand!! God Bless the people who invented it!!

[@bethrowlette8933]

HEY COLE!! When u showed the lil pump house and the hole in the wall,..it made me think of all that spray insulation you showed in your hunting stand and also in the shop! What about your dad spraying all in there?? Thanks for all your videos and sharing of your life!!😊

[@shawnmason5290]

With the electrical malfunctions if you just had spray in insulation, will make a very visible smoky fire.

[@DocktorHoop]

Back in my day, Cole, we had a rock picker, too. His name was Junior. The mule, Bertha, pulled the cart to help Junior. 😂

[@johnreimers2762]

Much better than the rock picker we had back in the 60’s,two men walking on each side of a truck, it worked but was hard work.

[@judyengland2615]

My dad's rock pickers were us 12 kids!

[@travistharp4215]

Gonna head down to the farm and take a dump lol I was like wait a minute haha

[@paullohrentz1170]

I lived in Freeman SD grades 8-12 and worked for several farmers. Rock picking was one of jobs I did. Farmers would pull a hay wagon and several of us would pick up the rocks. Sometimes they were so big more than 1 person had to lift thr rock.

[@markhicks9545]

Old tec come good it reminds me of an old time potato digger that rock picker

[@chasl2216]

Ellie sure appreciates the cooler weather

[@Adamsadventures83]

Dump the heater and get heat tape for those pipes along with a 75 watt incandescent bulb.

[@Sayswho666]

Haha works just like a older model potatoe digger 👍

[@evil-linn1371]

Yeah, that’s what I thought because The Veggie Boys Channel has a potato picker that reminds me of a larger version of this rock picker. It did both, sorted potatoes and rocks.

[@blakegibson2654]

You can get a old used Lockwood Potato Wind-rower make a few slight modifications and build a wide rock picker like that. The Chains is the most expensive part.

[@Skyrider12]

I like the way you talk to the cows like they understand what you say!

[@steveneal2706]

great video Cole. thank you. miss seeing your dad. Miss. Ellie needs a bath.. She had a busy and fun day

[@henryshaner6483]

I have same issue with pump house I insulated it and just plug in a shop light I put In it works good even at zero stays thawed

[@byamrcn]

Always love watching rock picking, and this sure is an interesting machine, thanks for showing it to us.

[@williammerry4746]

WOW a great machine. When I was a lad we picked a lot of big stones off of fields that seemed to be more rocks than soil. Good report. Remember to report on your new home. Ready to move in yet?

[@jerryandrews9276]

Great camera angles and placement for interesting demonstration. It would seem that it would be something you would want to “rent” rather than have in stock as owned equipment to maintain.

[@garywoody5594]

Daylight saving time starts in the spring (march). Standard time is in the fall (November) which we are in now. We are not in daylight savings time now as you stated. 👍

[@dale436]

Me and 5 siblings got so good at picking rocks, they volunteered us up to pick the neighbors fields too. Besides all of the character building, being good Catholic's, and all that, I'm sure my parents also appreciated the quiet time from all us brats.

[@darrellcollins4268]

Cool machine. Thanks for another great video.

[@quest2outdoors]

All right Mat I finally got to watch rock picker in action awesome machine 👍

[@kopenhagenkid]

Great video Cole and Brian

[@SbrGrendel65]

That sure is great Little Rock picker, but for a operation like what you guys have. I think one a little bit wider would be better. Thanks for sharing Cole! Brian no song of the day 😢

[@timharmon458]

Thanks for the video.

[@dougpeterson5257]

My cousins and I were grandpa's rock pickers,50 cents per hour. It was a long time ago.

[@michaelpotts9902]

When my Grandpa was a kid, he and his brothers would follow behind the mule his father used to plow with and they would pick up the rocks and take them individually over to the edge of the field to place on the rock wall...That rock wall is still there 100 yrs later! Mount Calm, AR

[@darrylolson6292]

That rock picker is the cat's meow! I used to 12+ kids walking a field picking up rocks and throwing them at each other.

[@jeffreyc.andrew7380]

You were rocking today

[@jimpolk]

Cool machine. Would definitely want a wider implement though. And I'd probably burn down the rock pile after I was done just to keep the trash out of it.

[@Schmidt973]

We don’t have many rocks where we farm but I would like to see how that would do with root picking after pulling out trees. Picking up roots by hand takes forever!

[@ralphmingus1040]

Get root grapple for skid steer

[@freedomrings1420]

It's a rock picker... not a root rake.

[@Schmidt973]

@@freedomrings1420 I can read and realize it’s a rock picker. It’s also built just like a potato digger so it should work with picking roots also.

[@freedomrings1420]

@@Schmidt973 NOT TOO BRIGHT, ARE YOU. I grew up on a dairy farm and I also ran heavy equipment for over 40 years. I also knocked down trees and pulled roots. It's not a tree root puller its a rock picker. LOL 😂

[@Schmidt973]

@@freedomrings1420 well good for you! You want a prize or something? You’re obviously the one that’s not too bright. You have no idea what type of root picking situation Im talking about and I bet it would work great for what Im talking about. You can keep your negative comments to yourself

[@gerryspang5917]

Best rock pickers we’re us kids, we would pick them up and put them onto the farm wagon, we made it fun but it was hard work. Thanks for sharing.

[@kopenhagenkid]

Great job running the rock picker Cole

[@josephpuou96]

Awesome machine 👍great video😊Aloha from Hawaii 🤙🏽😎🌴

[@dougvinduska9593]

We used a Ferguson tractor and a rear end scoop. The fun part was throwing the rocks into a 1920s era rock crusher if the belt didnt fly off and hurt you the shattering rocks flying back was exciting. Nice machine for the rock picking now go get yourself a cold one from the "BIG" refrigerator.

[@warrenharder1593]

Don't be a stoner when your working with the rock an roll Cole. Say hello to Ellie. Enjoying watching Father & Son working together.

[@jerrycallison6125]

Looks like a good piece of equipment. It's a lot more efficient than the old style where you just go around a field and pick up stones individually. It looks well built. Simplicity is much better than complexity.

[@tommychew6544]

Wasn't quite what I thought it might be but, they did mention other options. I'd have to leave the opinion up to the person using it. Thanks for the video and I look forward to seeing how the comments go on this one.

[@tinachambers4887]

Smooth operation friends Happy Thanksgiving yall love from TEXAS

[@dstorm7752]

We loaded rocks onto a hay wagon with the sides off. Our "pay" was being allowed to eat supper.

[@SonneFarms]

Thats a good deal

[@godbluffvdgg]

Bless the farmers...Keeping society a society for centuries...I didn't know S.Dakota was so rocky! I'm in PA right near south jersey....Our soils are a good blend for planting etc...

[@charleskittler4330]

Ya man I have seen potato pickers which are yes the same principle 👍😎

[@farmerpete5936]

When we weren't picking rocks by hand, throwing them on a dump cart. We have a similar rock picker. That was in the 1970's and they were made by Thomas Equipment, Lockwood, and many other manufacturers. So yeah, it was still my grandfather's rockpicker

[@Leoforever79]

Its always great to get a built in mechanic... no extra charge. Lmfao

[@arnoldalt2571]

WOW.... What a change in procedure since we were on a farm just south of Green Bay, Wis. in the fifties. My sister, brother, and I were "Grandpa's" rock pickers each and every spring. A stone boat pulled behind a B International. Once in a while when Dad was plowing he would hit one that had to be reburied. It wouldn't come back up for a few years.

[@travistharp4215]

Don’t forget the winter blinker fluid

[@asquithmainlines699]

Today’s song of the day should have been Stompin’ Tom Conners - Bud The Spud. I thought potato picker as soon as I saw that thing.

[@andykindberg8422]

Enjoyed your video! Thank you for showing us how it dumped the rocks 👍

[@lukeknowles5700]

Clever device. Human ingenuity is marvelous.

[@jeremytrumble2341]

FINALLY a youtube farmer who demo's a ROCK PICKER! Thank you, so much. Jeremy

[@SonneFarms]

glad you appreciated it

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

Gotta love ya some Amazon! Works like a potato digger? I'd say it would probably make an excellent potato digger.

[@alanatolstad4824]

I can only imagine the unit the farmer was using the summer my cousin was helping & caught his leg so badly that, try as they might, it had to come off. I wonder if he'd have nightmares if he were to watch this new rig (he now lives in Bismarck, might even be retired by now...) The deep freeze is barreling down from Canada, likely passed over you by the time you made this posting.

[@johnsmith-xr6qy]

I use a "tooth" bucket to pick up/ move loose hay. It just seems to sneak upon the hay and do it's job before the hay knows it's going to move. A rock hound attachment on a skid steer would do sort-of the same thing but a lot slower. I like this new machine. I remember a fire in a hay field and this machine could eliminate rocks and fires. That's a bargin!

[@marks9897]

Storla Station 😊 and winter fuel 😮

[@donnaparrish7638]

That’s a pretty good lookin’ rock picker, all right! Grandpa would be in awe. Everybody stay warm and drink your Vitamin C! Storla Station

[@annamschnetzer4036]

I asked my father what crops Grandpa grew. His answer, “Rocks.”

[@stevenicoson6670]

Thanks for another great video. It was interesting and enjoyable. Like the rock picker you are using as a demo. Works real good from what I see. Good product for the farmer. Thanks for showing us. Time to get equipment setup for winter and cold weather. That time of year. You all take care and be safe. Looking forward to the next video. Thanks for everything. The Iowa farm boy.

[@TheMr9fingers]

That is a nice rock picker looks like it workd decent. I laughed a little when the guy said it was similar yo a spud digger cause I've seen a few guys used spud diggers on Rocks. Stay safe and warm

[@mikecox9214]

You needed a "Song Of The Day" from the Rolling Stones.

[@TAllyn-qr3io]

I was born and raised on a farm/ranch in Idaho. I drove tractor w/flatbed trailer plus did hundreds of hours picking rock. We always had a full crew of Mexican guys helping. I would always get jobs for high school buddies and they never came back a second day. Idaho has rocks that would f*ck that machine up nicely. I was using our backhoe (about a freshman in high school) on a rock…could only see about a football sized part sticking up. The backhoe blew a hydraulic line and it never came out. Planted around it. When fields are thousands of acres , going around a grandfather boulder is nothing. Good idea though! 😉👊

[@pdrphil8159]

Pickin rocks beats kickin rocks.

[@ScottMiller-rx2wc]

Great video Cole. Looks like you need to break out the welder and make those holes a little smaller so the calves can’t get their heads stuck.

[@kodythexton4034]

Winter air for your tires! Hahahaha. Good ole Government

[@ericteipen]

Looks to me like that thing would work great on bean ground. I'm in South Central Indiana and thank God we don't have rocks here..

[@mongomay1]

Change that receptacle outlet to a 20 Amp GFCI type with test/reset option in your well house. Get a hot water insulation blanket and a large contractors bag to add extra insulation. Put rat bait in well housing to keep the vermin out of the wiring as a preventative and a couple of bags of mothballs.

[@bzs187]

Man I'm glad that we only have to fight with clay and not clay with stones. :D Except the few fields that have bricks and such things from old buildings or whatnot.

[@bettyjo5024]

That rock picker did a great job. Wonder if it would pick up some very large rocks ? Great video. Bless you all

[@TheJimmybud]

Cole that works well, anything you can do setting in the seat is good!

[@Kelleena1on1]

You have a good sense of humour , Cole :-)

[@danoakes4071]

Granddad's rock picker was an 8 foot wide drag box. On the front, the yoke attached to an old sickle bar, which trailed flail chains that would bounce the rocks into the shallow box. The sides and back of the box were 2x6 on edge, and leading edge 2x4 laying flat, leaving the dirt and organics, which didn't bounce; to lay. Bigger rocks would roll on the leading edge under the chains until they were bounced into the box, pushed in by other rocks banging into them, or lifted in by hand at the edge of the field before the turn. I'm Granddad now, and I overlaid a hog slat bottom of my drag with metal lath, sharp side forward, producing a well graded gravel. Granddad would fall plow, then disk, cultipack, and drag before Spring planting. Depending on conditions, he would gang everything but the plow and drill in tandem, running the whole shebang at a trot speed. He rotated cows and horses together on pasture, another field would get manure, while the rest grew hay, corn, and soy beans. Eventually, he would run the drag, and he wouldn't pick up enough to make it worth the trouble, so there it set to rot away in the barnyard.