Al Friesen started custom harvesting in 1946. As he was new into the business, he didn't yet have a sleeping trailer. The crew ate and slept in the back of the truck bed. In 1951, he purchased a trailer house to use as a kitchen and a bunk house for all the guys. He had a crew of nine men and two cooks.
Each year between May 15 and 20 the crew started out for Seymour or Vernon, Texas to harvest wheat. A few years later, the work began in Chattanooga, OK and followed a northerly path to Enid, OK; Meade, KS; Imperial, NE; Big Sandy, MT; Joplin, MT; finishing at Sunburst, MT in early October. Fall crops would be ready for harvest back home in Meade.
Equipment has improved over the years. For example, when Al started out, combines had to dump directly onto the trucks which held 180 to 200 bushels. These trucks didn't have hoist to make for easy dumping. Today, our semi holds up to 1000 bushes and is equipped with hydraulics.
A pull-type Massey Ferguson combine with a 14-foot header was the harvesting implement. It cut fields sized from 60 to 160 acres. Crops harvested were wheat, milo, barley, flax, mustard, corn, rape (canola), oats, bird seed, durum and spring wheat.
Loading a no cab 27 Massey with Al at the Wheel onto 1949 Chevy Truck.
Two 27 Massey Combines with 14 ft. headers on 1949 Chevy Trucks at Enid, OK
Two 27 Massey Combines with 14ft. Headers. Al's Custom Harvesting sign on the truck with the first air compressor and 2 welders. First New Trailer house turn out not good and was sold next year.
No Cab 27 Massey with 14 ft. header at Alliance, NE. Al is operating the combine with three of the farmers sons riding along.
No Cab Super 92 Massey combine, 1956 Chevy Truck and Service pickup in Joplin, MT.
760 Massey Combine with 24 ft. header.
Two 27 Massey combines with 24 ft. headers, 1976 tractor with Grain cart & 1964 Chevrolet Truck loaded and ready to go at the yard of the old farm house.
Custom made Truck by Al Friesen in 1984. He took the 6 wheel chassis up to Smeal Manufacturing in Snyder, NE where they added the bed and hydrostatic controls. "BIG RED" is still working today.
© 2009 Friesen Harvesting L. L. C. All Rights Reserved. Page last updated: September 25, 2009
Two 27 Massey combines with 14 ft. headers in Montana.
27 Massey with the umbrella up, unloading into a 1953 Chevy Truck with 180 bushel capacity at Alliance, NE.
No Cab 510 Massey Combine with 18 ft. header, 1959 Chevy Truck in Meade,KS
760 Massey Combine with 6 row corn head in Meade, KS
