FarmTrac Troubles

[Tom W]

It has been 5 months since the curtain fell and still the second act has not started. Thanks to Bob, Sess, and the others for trying to get to the bottom of things. Hopefully the big T will be merciful as they try to collect their money. But where did all the money go????

[blueliner]

Originally Posted by Tom W

But where did all the money go????

The third article of three will touch on that. It promises to be an interesting one!
--b

[SESS]

Here is the second of three articles......

The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC - Farmtrac workers, customers feel cheated

THANK YOU BOB!

[SESS]

Redneckford-I got some friend chicken, fresh black eyed peas, and sweet tea to go with that! Come on down!!

[SESS]

Well heck if reading that article doesn't just make you feel worse than before! I have been feeling sorry for myself today, but can't imagine after having worked 25-30 years at a job and then go back to minimum wage! Another article of PROOF of the good, innconent hardworking people that got scammed like all the rest of the people in America. Sad, sad, sad!

Thanks Bob for the article. Can't wait to see what the third one says!

[SESS]

Here is the third article in the series:

The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC - Foreign owner took Farmtrac money and went home

[redlevel]

Originally Posted by SESS

but can't imagine after having worked 25-30 years at a job and then go back to minimum wage!

Then you don't remember the farm economy collapse of the early 1980s do you? I was lucky. I had a MIL who financed my last year of college so I could get a teaching job instead of taking a min wage job. I could retire at Christmas with a fair pension, but I'll probably work a few more years. One of my neighbors who had been farming more than a thousand irrigated acres went to work with a larger GA school system grounds maintenance crew as a laborer. Within two years he was in charge of grounds maintenance for more than forty schools. Others went to work with various businesses and manufacturers as laborers, and several retired as managers of their various departments. One is now a real estate millionaire. When they suffer what seems to be a devastating blow, able people tend to land on their feet and at least maintain. Many prosper. I know it is harder for older workers, but many of those I'm speaking of were well into middle age.

[SESS]

No sir I am not familiar with farming in the 80's. I just in the last 10 years become associated with farming, so forth. I do know that every situation is different. My dad started working his first serious job in the the late 60's for a survey company in South Florida. Started out in the field and then worked into a position as a registered land surveyor. Worked there for 30 odd years and was laid off because he was "too expensive" and not computer trained like the kids coming straight out of college. He was in his late 50's and had to take a job paying half of what he had made previously because he did not have the computer training that jobs were requiring. I think areas that people live in also play a roll in how well someone will bounce back after working many years for the same employer and then being laid off. Now a days people tend to jump from job to job more so than people did back 20 years ago. Back then people were taught to be dedicated to a job, now times are telling people to follow the almighty dollar. Boy how times have changed.

[taxpayer]

Bob Benedetti deserves the thanks of farmtrac dealers and customers across this nation, for writing about the injustices on workers, customers and dealers alike.for those of us who know Bob, we know this was the labor of a caring,compasionate person,who came to believe in our cause and feel the wrong being done.I am sure he would have liked to say some things in a much stronger manner, but his professionalisim as a newsperson and writer dictated he be factual.his juggling of other obligations and commitments and the steadfast refusal of financial help in writing our story is evidence of the kind of man he is. Bob,my friend, I have asked much of you and you have never failed,I hope you can continue to monitor and report on the farmtrac saga as you move on to other things. may you be blessed in your endeavors. Taxpayer

[MessickFarmEqu]

Just curious if any of you have persued this though NAEDA (North America Equipment Dealers Association). I noticed in the last issue of their magazine that this Farmtrac situation was somthing they where involved with on behalf of some dealers.