Otto Wiest had a stroke eight years ago and the resulting weakness in his left arm and leg eliminated his ability to get into his tractor.
It was frustrating for the 78-year-old farmer from Evansburg, Alta., who has worked the fields all his life.
His neighbour, Scott Osborne, saw that frustration, and earlier this year built a hydraulic lift that has Wiest back in his tractor again.
“I enjoy that. I’m a farmer at heart,” Wiest said about getting back in the proverbial saddle.
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“It works good. He’s got to do a little more work on it yet, but it certainly works.”
Osborne and his wife, Dallas Boyko, farm next door to Wiest, and Boyko said neighbourly exchanges of favours are common.
She recalls the day her husband decided on the project.
“He said, ‘it breaks my heart to watch Otto like that. I’m going to make him a lift.’ ”
Osborne told Wiest of his plan, but Wiest said it wasn’t necessary.
“I think that made my husband more determined,” said Boyko.
Osborne, a farmer and mechanic, designed the hydraulic lift, received some assistance from a local machinist and then built and installed it.
No money changed hands. That’s the way of good neighbours, said Boyko.
“My husband is kind of old-fashioned that way. And it was nice that my husband was able to do something for him (Wiest) and show him he doesn’t have to give up farming. I think it’s just given him some hope and some independence. I was really proud of my husband for doing that.”
Since the installation, Wiest has been able to do farm work and oversee the activities of his hired help from the tractor seat rather than an all-terrain vehicle.
There is talk of building another lift for the combine, but Wiest isn’t sure about that yet.
“I don’t know how deep I should get into it. I should really quit farming and be done with it, but I wouldn’t enjoy that. But there comes a time.”
