It was mothballed 15 years ago - now a homemade maize chopper has celebrated a comeback in Reichlingsried.
It was also a memory of the late grandpa Konrad "Konni" Sepp.
Reichling / Birkland -
35 years ago Konrad Sepp built a unique two-row maize chopper on his farm in Reichlingsried: The vehicle that the four farmer friends Ludwig Pröbstl built was made from a Class Columbus combine harvester and a 110 hp Mercedes-Benz diesel engine with drive Reichling as well as the two Birkland farmers Anton Schilcher and Johann Pröbstl together with Konrad Sepp used it for many years.
It was finally taken out of service 15 years ago and disappeared into a shelter near Birkland.
The three grandchildren only found out about the vehicle by chance
Martin Sepp, the son of Konni Sepp, who died 23 years ago in an accident at work, and his wife Daniela have long since converted their parents' dairy farm to bull fattening.
He recently told the family about his father's maize chopper.
His children Adrian, Felizitas and Matthias found out for the first time that the vehicle even existed.
“The boys were really excited about chopping maize historically,” says Martin Sepp.
So the idea was born to bring the chopper, which they named after their grandfather "Konni", back to Reichlingsried.
A little customer service and the unique museum-worthy invention was ready for use.
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The whole family was present at the spectacle: Martin and Daniela Sepp with the children Adrian, Felicitas and Matthias.
© Gisela Klöck
With other Reichlinger farmers who absolutely wanted to be there, a spontaneous joint “chopping afternoon” arose on Sepps maize field in Reichlinger Westerholz.
The farming families helped with chopping, moving and ensiling.
Young and old enjoyed measuring themselves against the other maize choppers and remembering Konni and the "good old days".
For comparison: According to Martin Sepp, the two-row self-made forage harvester can do one and a half days (0.34 hectares) per hour, the modern machines five to six days.
Gisela Klöck