My Cousin Wanted to Scrap Grandpa’s Baler for $300—We Used It to Sell $18,000 Worth of Hay
“Nobody bales small squares anymore,” Brock laughed, ready to scrap Grandpa’s old New Holland baler.
So I bought it for $300.
Working at a vet clinic, I knew horse owners desperately needed small bales they could lift themselves. With a retired mechanic’s help, my two boys and I repaired the machine and got to work.
That summer, we sold 2,000 bales at $9 each—$18,000 before expenses.
But the best moment was bringing our 88-year-old grandpa to hear his baler running again. He closed his eyes, held my arm, and hummed the tune he’d sung while farming.
Brock eventually apologized and started sending customers our way.
The following spring, he returned with a question:
“Jana… could I borrow Grandpa’s baler?”
