Varner Iron Talk presented by Varner Equipment

Devin Varner
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Around here, we don't just talk about iron, we work on it, depend on it, and fix it when it breaks. This podcast is about tractors, equipment, repairs, and the kind of real-world problems you only learn by being in the field or under the hood. We'll talk new machines, old machines, and everything in between, from farmers and operators to mechanics, dealers, and anyone keeping this industry growing. Here at Varner Equipment, we're built on steel and backed by experience.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago ·  Video

    From Coal Mines to Food Truck: The Bo-B-Q Story

    Podcast Show Notes: Guest: Bo Morgan, Owner of Bo-B-Q BBQ Food Truck [49:55] Topics Covered: Agricultural Market Update: Western Colorado moisture levels, cattle optimism, equipment sales trends, and high fuel/fertilizer costs impacting farmers [0:00][0:12] [0:46] [1:04] Shop Operations: Current projects including Cat 416 backhoe hydraulic repairs, Mahindra tractor service, and multiple Deutz tractor electrical/DOC issues handled by service tech Devin in Eastern Colorado [1:38] [1:54][2:09] [2:43] Bo Morgan's Career Journey: Grew up in Western Colorado, family operated sale barn and feedlot with 1,500-2,000 head annually [6:45] [7:46] [7:38] College at UNLV followed by coal mining at West Elk and Bowie mines as roof bolter; described pillar mining cave-ins and the psychological toll of underground work [12:32] [14:43] [19:17] [19:37] Union Pacific railroad conductor work; seniority-based scheduling and remote locomotive training in Denver [23:42] [23:55][24:45] United Companies concrete batch plant management across Junction, Delta, Montrose, Telluride, Crested Butte, and Gunnison; area manager responsibilities included testing, specifications, and employee evaluations [31:37] [35:57] [45:27] Left corporate world in 2022 to purchase food truck from Iowa (usedvending.com) and launch Bo-B-Q [47:00] [47:43] [48:07] Food Truck Business Insights: Heavy trailer setup (36 feet extended, ~15,000 lbs) with custom deck and tracks for 1,500-lb rotisserie smoker [1:12:18] [1:12:26][1:04:27] Apple Fest prep: 10 briskets and 16 pork butts; capacity challenges with limited smoker space [54:36] [54:49] Top menu items: Mac Daddy (brisket mac & cheese), pork nachos, pork and link sandwich [58:37] [58:51] [59:50] Event booking strategy: Schedule fills January-May; doubles events with family crew when needed [1:08:13] [1:08:40] Operational challenges: Generator mounting (330 lbs), fire suppression requirements, fuel costs limiting travel radius [1:03:33] [56:24][57:22] Contact: Find him on Facebook Bo-B-Q or direct phone calls for catering and events [1:13:20][1:13:51]   Visit Us: Varner Equipment 1375 Hwy 50 Delta, CO. 81416 Phone: (970)874-0612 Email: devin@varnerequipment.com Website: VarnerEquipment.com Looking for parts? Visit our online parts store at varnerparts.com for agricultural, hay, forage, and farm equipment parts. We're constantly adding inventory and helping farmers keep their equipment running when it matters most. Like, Comment & Subscribe for more farm equipment arrivals, walkarounds, and equipment deliveries.

  2. Oct 15 ·  Video

    Ep 6: Livestock Auctions, Ditch Riding and FFA

    Join us for an in-depth conversation with Roy Nelson, owner of Delta Sales Yard and lifelong Western Colorado agriculturalist. We cover current market conditions including unexpected rainfall impacts on crops and cattle, plus a detailed look at our shop's major repair projects across Eastern Colorado. Roy shares his remarkable journey from FFA state officer to food distribution driver to ice plant operator—and finally fulfilling his childhood dream of owning a sale barn. We dive deep into Colorado water rights management, innovative satellite cattle collars for virtual fencing, and the harsh realities facing ranchers in today's pasture-scarce environment. Essential viewing for anyone interested in: Western Colorado agriculture, cattle management technology, irrigation infrastructure, sale barn operations, and multi-generational family businesses. Delta Sales Yard: https://deltasalesyard.com | Facebook & CattleUSA.com for live bidding Bubba Dutt's Cafe: https://bubbadutts.com Phone: 970-874-4642 Podcast Notes Segment 1: Market &Shop Update (00:00-06:00) Western Colorado seeing unusual rainfall after dry summer—40+ days of precipitation [0:21] Onion crops stranded in wet fields despite good prices [1:39] Cattle producers bringing cows down early; hay shortage creating sell-or-feed dilemma [2:36] Major repair: Deutz 9340 catastrophic front axle failure from no oil [3:20] [3:35] Technician Devin on 10-day Eastern Colorado swing [4:46] Segment 2: Roy Nelson Interview—Background & Farming (06:00-15:00) Farm purchased 1952, 136 acres total, 70 farmed [7:10] [7:26] Cattle operation grew from 25-40 head to 155 mother cows [7:38] 1,200-head US Forest Service grazing permit—"second best in Colorado" [7:57] [8:13] Turnout June 15, normally home October 10-15; minimal change this year [8:24] [8:34] Segment 3: Cattle Technology—Halter Collars (15:00-22:00) 180 satellite collars purchased for entire herd [11:52] Virtual fencing, health monitoring via movement patterns, remote gathering capability [10:04] [12:14] Solar-powered nylon design, progressive electric stimulation [10:31] [11:27] Black Mesa pool (Nate Adams) already fully deployed with "great success" [13:01] [13:16] Segment 4: Roy's Career Path—FFA & Early Jobs (22:00-32:00) Colorado State FFA officer, American FFA degree, Star District Farmer [14:31] [14:47] Northeastern Junior College ag business management, 1991-93 [15:37] Diverse SAE: alfalfa, oats, cattle, pigs, horses, sheep, milking [15:52] [16:06] Delta Potato Growers Co-op restructuring; 18 years Red Hat Foods [18:56] [19:16] Drove routes: Telluride, Grand Mesa, Aspen/Snowmass, Glenwood, Meeker, Gunnison, Durango [28:33] Segment 5: Red Hat Foods Operations (32:00-42:00) Full restaurant supply: "anything that made a restaurant operate" [20:46] Four refrigerated/partially frozen buildings [24:07] [24:15] Initial bulk tomato buying with 40% loss; shifted to pre-sorted [21:29] [21:48] California semi loads Sundays/Thursdays; Denver fill-in orders [22:16] [22:29] Hauling eggs Hickman's Farms to Denver [20:16] Fleet transitioned 2000-2001 from owned Mack/Kenworth/International to Ryder-leased [27:12] [27:29] Segment 6: Banking & Sale Barn Beginnings (42:00-52:00) Part-time agricultural lending: Bank One/Community First Bank [30:59] [31:17] Sale barn work began August 1997—sorting, hauling, feeding, clerking, auctioneering [32:48] [33:07] Red Hat closed 2011; Rocky Mountain Ice until sale barn purchase [34:09] [34:13] Ice plant: 37 tons/day from 20-ton + two 10-ton machines, hand-bagged [34:25] [34:42] Block ice for hunters September-cold weather; compacted from "fines" screening [43:44] [44:01] Segment 7: Irrigation & Water Management (52:00-1:15:00) North Delta Canal president/ditch rider since ~1998; family involvement since 1977-78 [46:52] [46:12] 21-mile system, 1,100-foot tunnel (built ~1910), multiple flumes/tunnels/siphons [47:56] [48:16] 2011 tunnel collapse—35 feet, required boring machine, 54-inch fused pipe [48:41] [52:55] [53:03] 2015 grant for piping; 2018 flood damage; ongoing canyon piping project [55:05] [57:30] 50 CFS water right; currently delivering ~42 feet [56:11] [56:23] Habitat loss credits required for piping projects—Ash Mesa site "best in bureau" [1:03:24] [1:04:52] Laterals: 95% of "water wars," desire to pipe for control [1:06:08] [1:08:20] Segment 8: Sale Barn Operations & Challenges (1:15:00-1:36:00) Purchased April 2019 (approaching 4 years) [1:15:11] [1:15:13] Strong cattle prices but forced sales due to pasture unavailability [1:15:38] [1:16:06] Sold cattle to Texas, Iowa, South Dakota, Idaho—only ~10% stayed local [1:21:00] Pasture competition from out-of-state recreational buyers [1:16:25] [1:16:48] Horse sales: difficult clientele, brand inspection complications [1:26:05] [1:26:34] Family operation: 3 full-time children, extended family support, wife city clerk [1:32:41] [1:34:15] Bubba Dutt's Cafe—thriving after brutal first year [1:34:48] [1:35:18] D-shaped facility constraints: highway, railroad, river, road [1:36:57] [1:37:45] ~105-110 pens, pre-ring scale system, computerized with manual backup [1:38:46] [1:43:54] Segment 9: Final Thoughts (1:36:00-1:54:00) Tag-and-stick device: simple USDA-provided tool for cattle tagging [1:49:07] [1:49:32] Online presence: deltasalesyard.com, Facebook Live market reports, CattleUSA.com remote bidding [1:51:09] [1:51:13] [1:52:10]

  3. Oct 8 ·  Video

    Ep 5: 20 Years of Wrenching: A Mechanic's Journey from Honda Swaps to 300HP Tractors

    Your host, Devin Varner, welcomes guest Devin Adam, a seasoned mechanic with over 20 years of experience who currently runs the mobile service truck and works in the shop at Varner Equipment. The episode covers Devin Adam's journey from childhood tinkerer to professional technician, including his current role working on equipment ranging from Deutz tractors to Mahindra machines. Key Discussion Points: Early Career & Background Started working in automotive at age 15, opening a shop in Hotchkiss during his sophomore year of high school  Moved to Fort Collins for four years, working in landscaping and running a plasma CNC machine for side work Returned to Western Colorado and ran his own service truck business before joining Varner Equipment full-time The "Dusted" Deutz 6175 A customer tractor with catastrophic engine damage after running a full year without air filters due to a deteriorated rubber boot on the air filter housing Previous misdiagnosis led to unnecessary cylinder head and turbo replacement instead of addressing the root cause Now requires complete engine replacement – an expensive proposition for a 6.1 liter single-turbo Deutz Shop Projects Update Multiple 6075 Mahindras in for service, including joystick valve repairs and a coming video on a 2145/2155 Mahindra with front-end driveline issues Heavy disc repair season with blades and bearings  Ongoing 1950 International L120 pickup restoration for Devin Varner's son Lincoln – engine out, full documentation on YouTube Service Truck Realities Devin Adam's previous 2000 International 4700 service truck struggled with power on hills, often requiring second gear at 20-25 mph in mountainous terrain  Current Freightliner Century class 8 truck with CAT C12, 10-speed, and hydraulic/electric crane – considerably more capable Single biggest challenge running independent service: being a "one man show" handling all parts ordering, research, and invoicing Technology & The Future Biggest learning curve returning to dealership work: emissions systems and proprietary software on modern tractors  Wish for manufacturers: remote diagnostic capabilities over WiFi for rural customers Personal project: developing WiFi-based HVAC monitoring system using AI-generated code for temperature/pressure sensors and push notifications Advice for Aspiring Technicians Devin Adam's recommendation: work in a shop several years before going independent – "hands-on shop experience, especially with if there's other people in the shop that know what they're doing" Service truck work is "at least twice as hard" as shop work due to environment, tooling limitations, and working alone

  4. Jul 30 ·  Video

    Ep 4: The History of Deutz-Fahr

    In this episode of Varner Iron Talk, Devin is joined by his sons, Lincoln and Emmett, for a fascinating look at the history of Deutz-Fahr—one of the world's oldest and most influential agricultural equipment manufacturers. They trace the company's origins back to 1864 in Cologne, Germany, where the first engine factory in the world was founded, and explore how Deutz's innovations helped shape not only the tractor industry but also companies like Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce aircraft engines, Lamborghini Tractors, and more. If you've ever wondered who Deutz-Fahr is or why the brand has such a loyal following around the world, this episode provides the answers. The conversation also covers Deutz-Fahr's major milestones, including its acquisition of Fahr, its brief ownership of Allis-Chalmers, its connection to Steiger, and its modern partnership under SDF (SAME Deutz-Fahr). Along the way, the Varners share interesting stories about the brand's legendary air-cooled engines, its role during both World Wars, and the engineering legacy that continues to influence today's tractors. The episode begins with a shop update featuring an unusual four-wheel-drive warranty repair on a Deutz-Fahr 8280 tractor and finishes with current market insights, making this an informative discussion for farmers, equipment enthusiasts, mechanics, and anyone interested in agricultural history. PLEASE NOTE: About 45 minutes in our audio did quit working, so the quality was pulled from our video and is lessened. Thank you for your patience, we're farmers not sound engineers! Leave a comment below and let us know where you're watching from.  Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don't miss the follow-up videos on this machine. Visit Us: Varner Equipment 1375 Hwy 50 Delta, CO. 81416 Phone: (970)874-0612 📧 Email: devin@varnerequipment.com Website: VarnerEquipment.com  Looking for parts? Visit our online parts store at VarnerParts.com for agricultural, hay, forage, and farm equipment parts. We're constantly adding inventory and helping farmers keep their equipment running when it matters most. Like, Comment & Subscribe for more farm equipment arrivals, walkarounds, and equipment deliveries.

  5. Jun 30 ·  Video

    Ep 3: Krone Hay & Forage Deep Dive

    Welcome back to Varner Iron Talk! Host Devin Varner welcomes guests David Crowell (territory manager for Colorado, Wyoming, western Nebraska, and northern New Mexico) and product demonstrator Brian Farini from Krone North America during a "Heydays" demo event in Delta, Colorado, where they ran multiple Krone hay tools alongside other brands.  They open with a shop segment on a John Deere 4520 compact tractor with leaking front steering knuckles, using it to explain how undersized compact tractors with loaders overstress tight front-end designs originally intended for loader-less markets, and advising buyers to size tractors so they aren't lifting at rated max every day.  Market insight: Western Colorado and much of the western U.S. face severe water shortages and drought, weak commodity prices (with stronger cattle), high equipment/input/fuel/interest costs, and cautious farmers who are repairing balers and disc mowers instead of buying new unless rebates and low interest make upgrades compelling.  Krone positions itself as a dedicated hay and forage company that "does nothing else," building heavy-duty, commercial-grade equipment and leaning on targeted in-field demos rather than brochure sales, especially for high-investment machines.  They highlight Krone's strengthened parts and logistics network: multiple warehouses (Olive Branch, MS; Reno, NV; Texas; Pennsylvania; Canada) plus a highly automated 24/7 German parts center, and new U.S. assembly lines in Olive Branch that pre-assemble rotary rakes and tedders ~80% to slash dealer setup time. Core equipment focus: they dive into Big X forage harvesters (up to 1,156 hp Big X 1180 with 12–14 row heads and 12" Optimax kernel processors), Krone's EasyCollect/XCollect corn heads with front collector chains for smoother feeding, the Big M 36' self-propelled mower with EM roll conditioners and integrated mergers, and the EasyCut TC 400 hydro-swing mower with unique narrow transport and wide 116" conditioner roll.  They showcase Krone's big square balers: Gen 3/4 and Gen 5 3×3/3×4 machines with VFS (Variable Fill System) continuous rotor feeding, heavy gearbox-driven drivelines with no shear bolts, longer HDP chambers for higher density, new PowerClean fan systems, fold-down twine boxes, and the new low-pressure V-knotter that handles heavier twine with fewer issues. [Core hay tools: they emphasize Krone's SafeCut one-piece cutterbars with sacrificial roll pins, quick-change knives, configurable disc rotation patterns, heavy-duty tedders with OctaLink drives and long throw patterns, and PTO-driven rotary rakes with sealed cam-track gearboxes and curved tines that reduce ash content and produce tall, airy windrows for cleaner, higher-quality hay. Culture and support: David Crowell and Brian stress Krone's people-first culture, close internal relationships from Germany to North America, and field-based teams (sales, product, service, regional managers) who support dealers and customers directly; they emphasize that customers shouldn't feel like numbers and that agriculture is a community focused on feeding America. "Cool products" and fun facts: David Crowell highlights massive class 9–10 combines and the explosion of digital tools and online training, while Brian spotlights Krone's new CombiPack HDP 4×6 round baler-wrapper (about 80 wrapped bales/hour); they also note Krone's origins in North America with three-point sickle bar mowers, its status as Europe's largest semi-truck trailer manufacturer, and the Krone family being the largest John Deere dealer in Germany.  Thanks for tuning in and we hope to see you next time!

  6. Jun 17 ·  Video

    Ep 2: Manufacturers in the Industry, Featuring Beaver Valley Supply

    Today we're speaking with Mitch Chvatal and Mark Miller with Beaver Valley Supply. We'll talk all about the Manufacturers in the Industry and how their relationship with local dealers impacts the customer. Thanks for joining us!

  7. Jun 1 ·  Video

    Varner Iron Talk Pilot Episode - Our History and Mission

    Welcome to the very first episode of Varner Iron Talk. Before we dive into tractors, equipment, repairs, and farming topics, we wanted to start by telling our own story. In this episode, Devin and his two oldest sons share how Varner Equipment began, how it has grown over the years, and why we're launching this podcast. We're also sharing what you can expect in future episodes. Thanks for joining us as we kick off this new adventure!

  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
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About

Around here, we don't just talk about iron, we work on it, depend on it, and fix it when it breaks. This podcast is about tractors, equipment, repairs, and the kind of real-world problems you only learn by being in the field or under the hood. We'll talk new machines, old machines, and everything in between, from farmers and operators to mechanics, dealers, and anyone keeping this industry growing. Here at Varner Equipment, we're built on steel and backed by experience.

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