Is the custom harvesting business grew in the Inman area, so did innovative thinking. Grain harvesting with combines not only created a need to understand how to fix a piece of equipment on the road, but also encouraged ideas to generate more efficient ways to harvest grain. The competitiveness between harvest crews strengthened ideas and forged an economic boost in getting things done.

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A new idea emerged from this: not only could the Inman area harvesters offer harvesting with combines, but they could also include custom forage harvesting, which would be an excellent addition to support the cattle industry. At this point, only pull-type forage harvesters were being built by manufacturers. There was a need for an economical solution for a machine that could deliver the highest productivity. Inman harvester, Pete Froese, along with other local innovators, saw the challenge and jumped at the chance to produce the first self-propelled harvester in 1947.  From this start, came ideas and concepts in the Inman area that would one day revolutionize the industry. Patents were obtained and the ideas were sold to major equipment builders. The custom forage harvesting business had taken off and is still recognized today in the Inman area.

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Innovation has been a part of the Inman community not only in the harvesting arena but also other areas. The “can do spirit” in creating something new or making something better has always been a part of the community, and we still see new ideas and creativeness happening today.