Millennial Farmer

15 Holiday Gift Ideas for Farmers from May Wes Manufacturing

As the holiday season approaches, finding the perfect Christmas gift for the farmers in your life can be a rewarding challenge. This year, consider innovative and durable solutions from May Wes Manufacturing, an American pioneer in aftermarket poly wear products for agricultural equipment. With a commitment to enhancing the performance and longevity of farming machinery, May Wes offers a diverse range of high quality products that make thoughtful and practical gifts. From air filter blasters to poly cutting edges, this article will explore 15 Christmas gift ideas for the farmer in your life, all available from May Wes Manufacturing.

 

  1. Air Filter Blaster Complete Kit with 6” Rotor Included:

This is one of the only tools you’ll ever buy that will pay for itself the first day you have it. The leading cause of fuel consumption, engine damage and turbo damage is air filters. May Wes provides an efficient solution with the Air Filter Blaster Complete Kit. This innovative tool cleans air filters with an even distribution of air, ensuring optimal engine performance and longevity. We also offer additional rotor sizes from 3” up to 9” to accommodate just about any filter on the market.

Kit price: $299
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Air Filter Blaster

 

  1. Skid Loader Hitch Receiver:

For farmers with skid loaders, a Skid Hitch is a versatile and practical gift. Move trailers around the farmyard quickly and easily with this handy skid loader attachment. The Skid Hitch is a universal attachment that will fit on every model and make of skid loader. Lightweight and easy to install and remove, it fits right in your truck toolbox! 2” standard receiver and ball hitch not included.

Price: $185
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skid hitch trailer hitch for skidloader

 

  1. Snoot Boots for Corn Heads:

The highly visible Snoot Boots from May Wes make it easier for you to find row centers in adverse weather conditions. The slick surface also aids in preventing trash build-up. These Snoot Boots easily slide on and snap over your existing points. Available for Case IH, New Holland and John Deere corn heads.

Price: $13.25 – $17.55 each
Shop Snoot Boots

Millennial Farmer Zach Johnson installing May Wes Snoot Boot on John Deere C Series Corn Head

 

  1. Snout Savers for Corn Heads:

Extend the life of corn head snouts with May Wes’ Snout Savers. The curved design lifts the point of the snout just off the ground, preventing the operator from driving that tip into the dirt and crumpling the snout. Hardware is included.

Price: $26 each
Shop Snout Savers

Snout saver on Drago GT

 

  1. Hay Knife for Removing Bale Wraps:

Make the task of removing bale wraps easier with May Wes’ Hay Knife. This durable tool cuts twine, mesh, plastic wrap, feed bags and more. The Hay Knife’s 30” length and hooked end makes grabbing material quick and easy.

Price: $30 each
Shop Hay Knife

hay knife for cutting bale wrap

 

  1. Poly Pickup Bands for Hay Forage:

Upgrade your hay baler with May Wes’ Poly Pickup Bands. These durable poly bands maintain their shape and will not bend or break when struck by objects in the field. Plus, they eliminate that metal-on-metal clatter, making the cab ride much quieter and more comfortable. You can replace just the broken metal pickup bands or outfit your entire baler with Poly Pickup Bands.

Price: $22.50 – $29.95 each (varies by model)
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Poly Pickup Bands

 

  1. Draw Bar Savers for Tractors:

Pulling implements can wear out your tractor’s drawbar. Protect your draw bars and hitches from metal-on-metal friction with May Wes’ Draw Bar Savers. Made from slick UHMW poly known for its durability and wear resistance, extend the life of your tractor’s drawbar for as little as $6.30.

Price: $6.30 – $20.00 each
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Draw Bar Savers

 

  1. UHMW Poly Cutting Edges for Buckets and Plows:

Protect concrete and asphalt from plow damage with a Poly Cutting Edge from May Wes. Our Poly Cutting Edges are custom cut to fit any model of snowplow blade, skid loader bucket, truck or ATV plow and more. Made from slick and durable UHMW, Poly Cutting Edges ensure effective snow removal without damaging smooth paved surfaces, making it an ideal gift for winter.

Starting at $2.00/running inch
Shop Poly Cutting Edges

 

  1. 5-Finger Quick Tines:

When dealing with short crops and drought years, the 5-Finger Quick Tines from May Wes will feed more bushels of crop into your combine. Our quick-attach design slips over the existing finger quickly and securely, no tools or hardware needed for installation. Designed for use in soybeans, wheat, chickpeas, lupins and flax.

10-pack kit: $64.20 – $76.40 (varies by model)
Shop 5-Finger Quick Tines

paddle tines on grain head

 

  1. Retractable Poly Fingers for Grain Heads:

Enhance the efficiency of grain harvesting with May Wes’ Retractable Poly Fingers. These durable and flexible fingers improve crop flow and reduce repair costs. Broken metal fingers can do costly damage to the drum and thresher system. The advantage poly fingers have over metal is when they eventually break, the poly will disintegrate as it passes through the combine and will not damage the internal working parts like rotors and cylinders.

12-pack kit: $191 – $215 (varies by model)
Shop Poly Retractable Fingers

 

  1. SeedRight Seed Plates for Planting:

Transform your planter to plant cover crops and small grains with SeedRight’s patented seed plates available from May Wes. Expand your planter’s capability and get more use out of that expensive piece of equipment. SeedRight seed plates are available for John Deere, Kinze and Precision Planting planters.

Price: $35 – $54 each
Shop SeedRight Seed Plates

 

  1. Kernel Keeper for Corn Heads:

May Wes offers the Kernel Keeper to help farmers save more kernels during corn harvest. The Kernel Keeper rails reduce shelling by cushioning ears on impact, and the included brushes guide loose kernels into the auger bed. Priced at $195 per row, save over $500 per row vs the competing products on the market. This gift is a thoughtful investment in a farmer’s long-term success.

Kit Price: $195 per row
Shop Kernel Keeper

kernel keeper

 

  1. DU-HA Storage Devices:

Practical storage solutions are always appreciated on the farm. DU-HA Storage Devices provide secure storage options for tools and equipment in a single easy-access, out-of-sight place under the seat of your truck. DU-HAs are made for the make and model of your truck so the fit is perfect.

Price: $200 – $400 (varies by model)
Shop DU-HA Storage Devices

 

  1. Molded Cutterbar Skid Shoes for Case IH, New Holland and MacDon Drapers:

May Wes’ Cutterbar Skid Shoes are manufactured from slick and durable 3/8” thick UHMW poly. These durable skid shoes reduce friction and prevent premature wear, ensuring a longer lifespan for your cutterbar. Measuring 6” x 6.5”, May Wes’ Cutterbar Skid Shoes are a cost effective replacement for the OEM part. Compatible with Case IH, New Holland and MacDon Drapers.

10-pack price: $105
Shop Cutterbar Skid Shoes

macdon cutterbar skid shoes

 

  1. Rapid Drain Filter Tile Inlet for Planting:

May Wes’ Rapid Drain Filter Tile Inlet is a game-changer for field drainage. Its patented no-clog design allows for maximum tile flow at minimum depths, ensuring optimal soil conditions for crops. The design allows for a more uniform free flow of water into the tile and is self-cleaning. High visibility yellow can be easily seen as a marker for underground location.

Price: $43 – $50 each
Shop Rapid Drain Filter

MN Millennial Farmer Rapid Drain

 

This Christmas, give the gift of innovation and durability to the farmers in your life with May Wes Manufacturing’s aftermarket poly wear products. From tools that increase efficiency to accessories that prolong the lifespan of equipment, May Wes has you covered. Choose a gift from this list, and you’ll not only make the holiday season special but also contribute to the success and longevity of the farming operation. Happy holidays!

Prices listed in this article are subject to change. Prices are listed in USD and do not include freight charges.

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2023-12-04T15:15:38-06:00December 4th, 2023|News, Top Featured|

May Wes – Celebrating 50 Years of Service

 “Thank You for Your Business. We Will Continue to Earn It.”

My father Tom Daggett wrote those words back in 2003 in his first letter to May Wes customers. The summer before, he had acquired May Wes as a division of our family’s new business, Pride Solutions, LLC.

Dad grew up in manufacturing and ran a successful second-generation metal fabrication business just down the road from May Wes. He recognized the company’s tremendous potential and was excited to begin the next chapter in May Wes’s storied history.

This year marks May Wes’s 50th Anniversary, an incredible achievement made possible thanks to our loyal customers, distributors and dealers, as well as our hardworking employees who have never lost sight of our founders Wesley and Mavis Bruns’ innovative spirit and commitment to listening to our customers.

Please read on to learn more about May Wes’s fascinating history and how a farming couple from the small town of Gibbon, Minnesota revolutionized agriculture.

Thank you again for your business. We will continue to earn it!

Jack Daggett, President
May Wes Manufacturing
Pride Solutions, LLC

May Wes – What’s In A Name?

In 1972, husband and wife Wesley and Mavis Bruns launched a small manufacturing business at their farm in Gibbon, Minnesota. Their new enterprise needed a name, so they combined their first names and, in a clever play on words, May Wes Manufacturing was born.

The Bruns foresaw an opportunity to help other farmers improve their operations with aftermarket products that increased efficiency and yields. Some of their first products included galvanized steel “Grain De-Viders” to guide grain into headers and “Gravity Flow Hoppers” that folded out for unloading.

From the beginning, Wesley Bruns was always on the lookout for the next great product that would transform modern agriculture.

Becoming ‘The Original Poly People’

After a few years in business, Wesley and Mavis incorporated plastics into their products and May Wes became known as “The Original Poly People.” They discovered that by attaching slick and durable UHMW poly to field equipment in areas of high stress where dirt and debris build up and where friction is the greatest, equipment lasted much longer and passed through fields with amazing ease.

Longtime employees recall stories of Wesley driving to the Twin Cities to fill his pickup truck with sheets of UHMW poly, and how, on one occasion, that slippery material suddenly went airborne on a busy interstate causing all sorts of mayhem. Today we bring it in by the semi-truckload.

Back in the day, May Wes employees hand cut the plastic material on a shear and bent it to make skid shoes for grain headers. In the mid-1980s the company installed a YAM CNC Mill to meet the growing demand for plastic skid shoes. In its first year of operation, with longtime employee Bill Templin at its helm, the YAM met the demand for 1,800 sets of skid shoes for the John Deere 200 Series grain head.

To this day, May Wes Premium Poly Skid Shoes remain the backbone of our company. The good old YAM worked hard for us for over 40 years. We augmented it with a Komo CNC router in 2003 and then replaced the YAM last year with a second Komo CNC router. We were fortunate to have Bill Templin on our team until 2014 when he retired at the age of 75. Sadly, Bill passed away in 2021 at the age of 82, and is greatly missed by us all.

 ‘The Original Stalk Stomper’

In 1983, May Wes again revolutionized the aftermarket ag industry with the introduction of the “Original Stalk Stomper.” This ingenious invention protected expensive combine tires from genetically modified cornstalks that had become as tough as nails.

Through the years, May Wes has continuously improved our No-Till Award-winning Stalk Stomper lineup with feedback and assistance from loyal customers. In 2018 we introduced our revolutionary G4 Stalk Stompers, which were recognized with the Best Game-Changing B2C Product at the Made in Minnesota Manufacturing Awards. We listened to corn growers and developed a lighter, easier to install and reposition Stalk Stomper featuring a durable compression molded shoe. Our G4 Stalk Stompers have been so well received that we now offer them for corn heads, planters and tractors. G4 Stalk Stompers are now our top-selling product.

May Wes Moves to Hutchinson, Minnesota

After Wesley Bruns passed away in 1995 at the age of 66, his sons Mark and Steve Bruns took over the family business. By 1997, May Wes had outgrown is space on the farm, and the company was relocated to our present facility in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Compression molding presses were added to grow the company’s capabilities. In the early 1990s, May Wes began molding C&A Pro snowmobile skis for snowmobile racing legend Dale Cormican. Today most professional snowmobilers run C&A Pro skis, including Levi LaVallee and four-time Snocross champion Elias Ishoel.

2002 – The Daggett Family Acquires May Wes

In 2002, Tom Daggett acquired May Wes and established Pride Solutions, LLC, under which we operate four divisions including May Wes, C&A Pro, Pride Engineered Plastics and Pride Assembly. Tom transformed May Wes’s business operation, utilizing the experience he gained as the second generation to run his family’s nearby metal fabrication business, Hutchinson Manufacturing. He introduced a number of organizational and strategic changes, improved inventory management processes, and made major investments in new manufacturing equipment. Under his leadership, May Wes secured its enviable marketing presence and became one of the first in our industry to embrace e-commerce.

2016-Today – The Next Generation of May Wes

In 2016, Tom’s son Jack Daggett became president of May Wes and Pride Solutions, LLC. Jack had worked on the company’s production floor from high school through his college years, gaining hands-on knowledge of its production processes. In 2013, he became Operations Manager and helped improve the company’s planning processes with an engineered approach to specifications and purchasing – a process that has helped us thrive during the pandemic despite many supply-chain challenges.

Under Jack’s leadership, Pride Solutions and May Wes adopted the Entrepreneurial Operating System®, putting the company on a solid growth trajectory. The company has introduced numerous new products in recent years, including its ever expanding G4 Stalk Stomper and skid shoe product lines, 5 Finger Quick Tines, poly pickup bands, and much more. Jack has continued investing in the company, acquiring its first robot-assisted CNC lathe and second CNC router. This spring we broke ground on a major addition that will double the size of our production facility.

“FarmTubers” Introduce May Wes to a New Era of Farmers

May Wes’s marketing presence continues to lead the industry. In 2018, we partnered with a rising YouTube star named Zach Johnson, the Minnesota Millennial Farmer, who introduced May Wes to a new generation of farmers around the world. This led to a complete transformation of our marketing program, and we now work with numerous FarmTubers and social media influencers including Larson Farms, Welker Farms, Brian’s Farming Videos, Stanley “The Dirt Monkey” Genadek, FastAg Montana, Finstad Skidloader and Snow Removal Service, and Northern Chill. We’ve even become YouTubers and social media influencers ourselves! We welcome you to become part of our story by tagging us @maywesmanufacturing.

As Always, We Remain – “Field Tested, Farmer Approved.”

May Wes has come a long way in the past 50 years, but one thing will never change. We remain devoted to Wesley and Mavis Bruns’ spirit of innovation and commitment to listening to our customers. We can’t say it enough: Thank you for your business. We will continue to earn it!

May Wes at Bruns Farm Gibbon MN

Original location at Bruns Farm in Gibbon, Minnesota.

Mavis and Wesley Bruns

Wesley and Mavis Bruns

Wesley Bruns

Wesley Bruns founded May Wes with his wife Mavis.

original stalk stompers

“The Original Stalk Stomper.”

May Wes Staff Pic

May Wes manufacturing facility in Hutchinson, Minnesota.

Baling Hay with the MN Millennial Farmer

The Minnesota Millennial Farmer and Eric Bates shoot “Baling Hay” video in 2020.

A Salute to Our Long-Term Employees

Jeff Hennen

Jeff Hennen, May Wes Shipping and Receiving

Jason

Jason Templin, Fabrication

Connie Lingbeek, Purchasing & Planning

Angie Macik, Accounting & HR

You know you’re doing something right as a business when your employees don’t want to leave. We currently have 38 employees and 25% of them have been with the company for more 10 years!

Jason Templin – 32 years
Jeff Hennen – 24 years
Connie Lingbeek – 20 years
Angie Macik – 17 years
Kent Welte -14 years
Chuck Boettcher -12 years
Anthony Whaylen – 11 years
Dave Elness = 11 Years
Ben Wick = 10 years

Jason Templin – 32 Years

Jason Templin, a distant cousin of Bill’s, is our current longest-term employee. He started with the company in 1990, working part time after school to earn money to buy an Arctic Cat EXT 580 snowmobile. He’s worked here ever since and has bought many more snowmobiles over the years. Jason now leads the May Wes fabrication department. He doesn’t miss the old YAM, but he said it got the job done.

“I’m content,” said Jason. “I like the people I work with and I like what I do.” 

Jeff Hennen – 24 Years

Jeff has been with May Wes since 1998. He runs our very busy shipping department, which last year processed 12,614 shipments.

“I’ve stayed here because I like the people that I work with,” Jeff said. “The management is very accommodating and listens to what you have to say and always has an open door policy.” 

Connie Lingbeek – 20 Years

Connie has been with May Wes and Pride Solutions since 2002. She is our Purchaser/Planner, and makes sure we have the parts and materials to get product out the door, a task that’s no small challenge these days.

“We have a great team here at Pride Solutions,” Connie said. “The willingness to work together to achieve a goal is second to none.  Every day is different. There are always new tasks and challenges to conquer.”

Connie will never forget her first two days at May Wes:

“My first two days were not in the office, but at a local farm show,” she recalled. Talk about being thrown into a lion’s den. Talking with the farmers on what they like or suggestions for the future was a great and fast learning experience about our products. Being a farmer’s daughter did help. This truly set the stage for a fun and interesting adventure here at Pride.”

Angie Macik – 17 Years  

Angie serves dual roles as accounting and HR manager for all divisions of Pride Solutions, including May Wes.

“I enjoy my job and the people I work with,” Angie said. “I like the diversity of my job.  There is always something new. The employees with their hard work and dedication have really grown May Wes to what it is today.”

May Wes – A Tradition of Innovation

We’ve been introducing new products nearly every year since 1972!

1972 – Mavis and Wesley Bruns start up May Wes Manufacturing at their Farm in Gibbon, Minnesota
– Row Dividers
-Gravity Box Folding Hopper
1976 – UHMW Poly Skid Shoes
1980 – Moldboard Covers
-Tractor Fender Guards
-Wesley Walker
1983 – “Original Stalk Stomper”
1983 – YAM CNC Installed
1984 – Chaff Spreaders
1985 – Slide-N-Drive Fifth Wheel Covers (Now Minimizer Slickplates)
1988 – May Wes distributes its first catalog

-Poly Tin Replacement
-Grain Elevator Paddles
-Chute Liners

1990 –Grain Header Carts
1991 – Feeder House Silencer
1991 – Poly Shank Protectors
1992 – Poly Chain Tighteners
1993 – Poly Cutting Edge
1993 – Retractable Poly Fingers
1995 – Wesley Bruns passes away
1996 – Compression molding added
1996 – Poly Closing Wheels
1996 – Molded Skid Shoes
1997 – May Wes moves to Hutchinson, MN
2000 – Poly Capped bolts
2002 – New Owner Tom Daggett forms Pride Solutions
2002 – Ear Savers and Snout Savers
2003 – Komo CNC router installed
2005 – Auger Floor Liners, Corn Savers
2007 – Corn Shields
2009 – Drawbar Savers
2010 – Tractor Stalk Stompers
2014 – Quick Disconnect 2 Stalk Stompers
2014 – Poly Pickup Bands

2015 – Row Dividers
2016 – Jack Daggett becomes president
2016 – May Wes becomes Exclusive Distributor for GVL Poly Snouts
2017 – Robot-assisted CNC lathe installed
2018 – G4 Stalk Stompers Introduced
2018 – May Wes partners with Minnesota Millennial Farmer
2019 – G4 Planter Stalk Stompers Introduced
2020 – Crop Shields/Trash Aprons for John Deere and Case IH corn heads
2020 – 5 Finger Quick Tines
2021 – G4 Tractor Stalk Stompers Introduced
2021 – Second Komo CNC Router Installed; original YAM retired
2022 – 50th Anniversary
2022 – Added Baleskiis® Baler Liners and Black Talon Rubber Molded Rake & Baler Teeth
2022 – Construction begins on 20,000 square foot addition.

2022-09-07T13:37:10-05:00May 6th, 2022|Featured, News, Top Featured, Uncategorized|

As featured on Minnesota Millennial Farmer

Minnesota Millennial Farmer Zach Johnson has been putting May Wes products to good use on his farm. Check out his latest videos and stayed tuned for more to come!

 

Zach Johnson Uses May Wes Poly Products to Protect & Extend the Life of His Farm Equipment

Minnesota Millennial Farmer Protects His Combine Tires with May Wes G4 Stalk Stompers

Zach Races Eric to Install Row Divider Shields on his 600C Chopping Head – Saving $200 a Row vs. Replacing the OEM Part

Minnesota Millennial Farmer fixes a Drainage Problem with Rapid Drain

Zach Tries Out the Air Filter Blaster

Millennial Farmer Installs a Minimizer Slickplate on his 5th Wheel

2020-08-19T10:26:50-05:00April 1st, 2019|Featured, News, Top Featured|
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