HAPPENINGS
Load Lifter Manufacturing’s Founder Turns 90 Founder and President of Load Lifter Manufacturing, Hedley Tomas, celebrated his 90th
birthday on March 9. 2022 also
marks his 60th year of being in business. After moving to Canada in the late 50s from England, Hedley worked as a mechanic with various firms until he decided to start his own business in 1962. Hedley began the business, Stanmore Equipment, primarily serving the local lawn and garden market selling lawn mowers and small tractors. Hedley and his wife Mercedes worked together building the business and operated it as a true family operation. Stanmore would eventually become an Allis Chalmers dealer and that lead Hedley into the forklift business and his dealings with the local turf industry in Ontario. One of his early customers was Fred Zander, the father of Past TPI President Claus Zander. Zander Sod was one of many local farms where Hedley grew his knowledge of equipment being used in the turfgrass industry and laid the foundation for the future with the Load Lifter brand.
In the mid-70s, Hedley decided to build his own forklifts and the Load Lifter brand was born. Load Lifter began selling machines for the turfgrass industry across North America and also developed special fork carriage designs for growers to handle big rolls. Near the end of the 90s, Load Lifter developed the Twin Pak Dual Pallet System which enabled the growers to carry two pallets of sod at the same time.
Although Load Lifter manufactures many other Rough Terrain forklifts for other industries, the Turf Industry remains one of Hedley’s favorite business activities. Attending TPI field days, visiting farms across the USA and Canada, and meeting the people involved in the business remains one of his most loved things to do. Te family tradition continues within Load Lifter with Hedley’s three sons, Paul, David, and Donald, and Load Lifter’s dedication to the turfgrass industry.
Standing left to right - Donald Tomas, Operations Manager, Dave Tughan, Paul Tomas; Seated left to right - David Tomas, Hedley Tomas
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Te Brouwer Female Leader Award honors a woman who shows a commitment and passion not only to the turfgrass industry, but also to the education of others and the proliferation of the industry as a whole. Tis individual represents the core—and often familial—values held by the community and provides overwhelming value and richness to the turfgrass farming collective. Te 2022 recipient is Sarah Nolte, the business manager of Blue Grass Enterprises, Inc., located in Alburnett, Iowa, near Cedar Rapids. She is a third-generation sod farmer who now runs and manages her family’s 400-acre farm. Te in-person presentation took place in May at the Blue Grass Enterprises farm. Te award was delivered by Bubba Simons of Brouwer Kesmac, pictured with Sarah Nolte in the photo. Te article announcing the award appeared in the May/June issue of Turf News.
TPI Turf News July/August 2022
STEC Founder Celebrates 20 Years in America A recent article in the STEC Newsletter tells the story of David Taylor and how his start in Shropshire, England, led to him eventually relocating in America. Taylor, founder, president, and CEO of STEC Equipment, located in Sandy Springs, SC, is celebrating 20 years in America. His interest in horticulture led to his interest in machinery. Tat led to his attending a technical college focusing on Ag Engineering. Tat led to a job with a local New Holland dealership. Taylor came to America in 2002 for a business venture with BLEC, USA. Taylor worked with BLEC to design, engineer, and build several of their well- known machines that are still used and sold by BLEC today. After several years, he met and married his wife, Robyn. Tey now have two children; Allie and Will. Taylor’s roots in the U.S. grew even deeper. When BLEC sold their American operations in 2008, Taylor decided to start his own company and STEC Equipment was born. Te name says it all, SPECIALIZED TURF EQUIPMENT COMPANY.
Taylor, his employees, and his family have been involved in several community projects, including helping with cleanup after a EF-3 tornado in a neighboring town and renovation of a local recreation department’s baseball fields. Taylor and STEC have also donated equipment to high school Ag Mechanics programs, and provided scholarships for winners of agricultural competitions.
Sarah Nolte Presented With 2022 Brouwer Female Leader Award
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