I have played with the idea for several years of having a small local tractor show, a spring plow day and fall plow day/ Harvest day. It really would not take much ground. Lets say thirty acres. So even at high rental rates that would only be $15,000. So if you had three events a year that would be $5000 per event. So if you had 100 people show up then if everyone chipped in $50 you would have the ground covered.
Truthfully the ground cost would be much less than that as you really don't need or want top farm ground. The high yields of today makes the old harvesters not work well and 200 BPA corn stalks don't work well in old plows. So the actual cost could easily be half of the figures above.
The only issue I can't resolve is the liability. I have even thought about donating some ground for the use but I would need to cover myself from liability. I am not going to lose everything I have because some one runs some body over.
I have gotten quotes on a single weekend event insurance. The cost were staggering. A low of $10 to a high of $25K. So that kind of stops the idea dead in the water.
I even talked to my attorney about setting up a Corporation to own just one field to limit liability. He told me if I am directly involved in the ownership then I would still be in the hot seat.
So how would you have a event without the risk or cost????
I have been thinking harder about it the last year or so. I am less involved on the farm and even working in town some still leaves me at lose ends too much. I would not mind straw bossing an event.
I know my Grand Daughter's horse outings where a hit with their group and kind of fun to help with.
It seems like lawyers and government have taken much of the fun out of life anymore. It is sad to think your first thoughts, when you think of something like this, are of protecting yourself from major financial lose.
We used to have neighbor hood sled parties. I bet there would be 100 kids of all ages show up. A big bond fire and a steep hill to sled down. It would start mid afternoon and last to well after midnight. I would be terrified to try that these days. One hurt little Johnny and your in court sued up to your eye balls.
Isn't it great how things are these days!!! NOTTTTTTT LOL
Truthfully the ground cost would be much less than that as you really don't need or want top farm ground. The high yields of today makes the old harvesters not work well and 200 BPA corn stalks don't work well in old plows. So the actual cost could easily be half of the figures above.
The only issue I can't resolve is the liability. I have even thought about donating some ground for the use but I would need to cover myself from liability. I am not going to lose everything I have because some one runs some body over.
I have gotten quotes on a single weekend event insurance. The cost were staggering. A low of $10 to a high of $25K. So that kind of stops the idea dead in the water.
I even talked to my attorney about setting up a Corporation to own just one field to limit liability. He told me if I am directly involved in the ownership then I would still be in the hot seat.
So how would you have a event without the risk or cost????
I have been thinking harder about it the last year or so. I am less involved on the farm and even working in town some still leaves me at lose ends too much. I would not mind straw bossing an event.
I know my Grand Daughter's horse outings where a hit with their group and kind of fun to help with.
It seems like lawyers and government have taken much of the fun out of life anymore. It is sad to think your first thoughts, when you think of something like this, are of protecting yourself from major financial lose.
We used to have neighbor hood sled parties. I bet there would be 100 kids of all ages show up. A big bond fire and a steep hill to sled down. It would start mid afternoon and last to well after midnight. I would be terrified to try that these days. One hurt little Johnny and your in court sued up to your eye balls.
Isn't it great how things are these days!!! NOTTTTTTT LOL