The U.S. Custom Harvesters Hall of Fame

INDUCTEES OF USCHI HALL OF FAME

Dave Lauer - (2017)

David M. Lauer was born July 27, 1934 to Genevieve and Andy Lauer of Manhattan, KS. David was the second youngest with four brothers and one sister. Growing up on the farm in the dirty 30's during the Depression and World War II, he learned early on even if you could afford to buy a new piece of equipment, it usually wasn't available. He learned at a young age how to build and repair equipment from his Dad, brothers and self-taught.

When he graduated from high school he started farming on a small scale. Dave married Eileen Chessmore in June 1956. He farmed until 1960 when three of four farms he rented were put into Federal Land Bank. Reluctantly he moved his wife and family to Kansas City, MO. David started working at a John Deere Construction Equipment dealer. Eventually he started working as a Detroit Diesel engine mechanic, fabricator and repower specialist at K.C. Diesel.

By the middle 70's he had the desire to get back into the agriculture field. Farming was cost prohibitive so in 1976 he decided to go on wheat harvest with his wife and four children. The first four years he cut wheat with his brothers C.J., James Lauer and nephew Larry Lauer.

In 1980 he went into partnership with his oldest son, Doug Lauer, and bought a second combine. Over the years both his daughters Linda and Tammera plus youngest son Greg helped. They drove trucks and helped run the combines.

Dave always built his own combine trailers, header trailer and even built his own camper just for harvest. He later built combine trailers for other custom harvesters.

Eventually he started building truck beds, sides and pup trailers. Later he repowered pickups and trucks with diesel engines when he couldn't buy what he wanted.

In the early 90's "Lauer Custom Services" started running three combines from Texas to Montana. In the late 90's, Dave designed a fingerless auger. Again from childhood, if you want something to work to improve your workload, build it! Dave sold his patent to AGCO and it is still used today in all AAGCO draper heads.

In 1992, Dave also built a self-propelled grain cart that is still used today.

In 2001 because of problems with getting help and STS combines having more capacity and 35 ft. heads that he built, he went back to two machines.

In 2006, Dave had both knees replaced. This slowed him down. Due to help availability, fuel prices and profit margins, Dave started running one STS combine for wheat and fall harvest in 2007. Dave and Doug got more into the trucking end of agriculture. 2009 was the last year of wheat harvest Dave went away from home for.

Dave's wife Eileen, started having major health issues and Dave needed to be closer to home. Eileen passed away in 2015.

Dave is 82 and still ago getter. He still runs the combine for fall harvest and still likes to dabble in the shop building grain interrupters for STS cages for farmers and harvesters. He has also converted an 8 row 30 inch ridged corn planter to a foldable 12 row 20 inch soybean planter.

Dave Lauer