4.9 MB - Bobcat

Today the fruit tree orchard contains 400trees and Shepherd maintains 12 beehives.There are 350 apple trees and the rest area mixture of peach, cherry and pear. Hedescribes them as semi-dwarfs that takeabout five years to begin bearing fruit, andeight years for commercial-quality fruit. Hechose the semi-dwarf trees because he saysthey produce more apples per unit of wood.He plants them closer together than largerproduce trees and the result is more volumeper tree. “They’re easier to prune and pick,”he explains. His apple trees feature somepopular types, including Honeycrisp, PinkLady and Kandil Sinap.The property is now a popular attraction forlocals or out-of-town visitors who want toexperience a small farm and pick their ownapples — at no charge. “Some of my friendsare schoolteachers and they love to bring thekids out,” he says.” It’s a different way toget students interested in history — they geta chance to taste the different varieties andlearn about them in person.”Much of Shepherd’s spare time is spent inhis orchard. “There is always something tobe done,” he says. “My orchard is where Ifind solace and recreation after a full day ofurban planning responsibilities. During theday I am an urban professional and in theafternoon or evening, I come home, put onmy jeans and head out to become a farmer.”A 1952, 13-horsepower McCormick Farmalltractor was his only mechanized helpuntil last fall. He knew he needed a morepowerful tractor to operate implements anda model that was heavier to pull wagons andhis sprayer when the ground was wet. Hissearch led him to the Bobcat website wherehe entered the Great Bobcat Tractor Pullcontest. “When I entered the contest I didn’texpect to win,” he says. “It seemed like agood thing to do, and it’s been very excitingto win the new tractor.”Immediate impactThe implement package from Bobcat includedan auger with a 12-inch bit, a tiller and a boxblade. Representatives from Atlas Bobcatdelivered the tractor and implements to theShepherd residence, whereupon Shepherdquickly put the tractor and tiller implementto use. He prepared the ground and appliedmulch for future plantings last fall. In areaswhere new trees were ready to plant, he usedthe auger implement to drill a hole. “I drovethe tractor down the row that I tilled, dugholes, drove forward and dug another one,” hesays. “Believe me, it was a lot better than whatI had been doing with a shovel.”Several Bobcat compact tractor featuresimmediately stood out to Shepherd, includingpower steering. “The Bobcat tractor turns ona dime and it’s easier to steer than my wife’sOldsmobile,” he says. “It’s very sophisticatedand a pleasure to use. I think if anyone hasdriven an older tractor, they would be surprisedwhat this tractor will do.”Another important characteristic ofthe Bobcat tractor is the hydrostatictransmission, especially for his wife whodoes not operate machinery on a regularbasis. “It’s so much easier not to worryabout changing gears when you’re driving,you just press the pedal and go,” Shepherdsays. “If you want to go in reverse, you pushthe lever backwards and you’re in reverse— there’s less movement and it’s moreefficient, I think.”A third benefit of the new tractor is the easeof operating rear implements such as theauger. “I don’t have to get off of the tractorto use the auger, I can stay in the driver’sstation and use the auger without any specialtools,” he says. “Even an urban planner likeme can do it.”The timing couldn’t have been better forJohn Shepherd when he was selected as theGreat Bobcat Tractor Pull contest grand prizewinner last year. Now he can get more workdone in less time and continue expanding hisorchard, even while he keeps his full-timeemployment. Shepherd expects to expand theorchard with new trees in the coming years,something that will be much easier with hisnew Bobcat tractor and implements.Go online at www.MyWorkSaver.com/contestto see a complete list of the contest winners,see their pictures and read excerpts fromtheir entries.The compact frame of theBobcat CT235 (just 55 incheswide) enables John Shepherdto easily access restrictedareas. Three-point hitchimplements, such as the auger,will help plant new trees at theShepherd orchard.otherwinnersFifteen third-place winnersreceived Bobcat jackets fortelling their stories. They are:Raina Anderson, Holt, Mo.Will Ashlin, Springfield, Mo.Brian Becker Sr., Shushan, N.Y.Daniel Bieger, Manassas, Va.Jeb Baum, Gardiner, N.Y.Donna Cobain, Camp Creek, W.Va.LuAnn Johnson,Mount Pleasant, IowaMike Mitchell, Berlin, Mass.Reg Patchell, Baltic, Conn.Kenneth Rohlfing,Drakes Branch, Va.Robert Rand Russell,Kerrville, TexasMike Sublett, Sanford, N.C.David Stephens, St. Joseph, Mo.Luis Vergara, Brooksville, Fla.Charissa Wertz, Red Lion, Pa.Early Spring 2010 WorkSaver Homeowner with Acreage 5