Silo Unloader Success Story
Hilgers depend on Patz since 1967!
Hilger Farms Inc. in Bloomer, Wisconsin, bought their first Patz silo unloader in 1967. The old Patz Model 66 has gotten new parts over the last 38 years, but it still performs right alongside six other Patz silo unloaders, some of them also purchased before 1970.
"Other silo unloaders throw only half as fast," says Fred Hilger, "even under frozen feed conditions!"
Freezing, cold temperatures are unavoidable during long, Wisconsin winters and Hilger Farms' silo unloaders have definitely withstood the harshest conditions. High moisture corn is stored in three silos and four silos contain other forages including sorghum, haylage and corn silage. Fred maintains the unloaders and the unloading rate to keep the feed rate consistent, which works well with hired help.
Although his local Patz dealer Richard Schley was just a small kid when Hilgers first silo unloaders were installed, Fred says he can count on Richie to keep them up and running anytime, day or night.
Hilger Farms was established in 1882 by Fred's great-grandparents after the Civil War. Fred and his brother Steve currently have 340 milk cows, 40 dry cows and 335 young stock. The Hilgers grow corn on approximately 1300 acres, 525 acres of soybeans, 540 acres of hay and 136 acres of sorghum. Hilger Farms hosted the 2004 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.