My brother Tyson shared a few words about a certain fixture of our farm recently, and it was too good not to share:
"Manufactured in 1937, it’s weathered storms, sun, and seasons. It doesn’t run as fast as it used to, but it’s never let us down. Five generations of Roberts have leaned on it—learning, working, growing beside it. The parts may be worn, the frame may creak, but it seldom stops working. It’s a symbol of tradition, resilience, and strength...
...and the Trexler potato cutting machine has been around a long time as well."
All jokes aside, Dad (Dix Roberts) and this machine are a classic pair. While the Trexler cutter is a 1950s-era model, it was built with the same grit and reliability as the man operating it. These machines were designed by a Pennsylvania potato farmer who wanted something simple and rugged—and decades later, it’s still the gold standard for us.
Over the past few weeks, we've been prepping our seed for the season. We start with whole seed potatoes and use the rotating knives of the Trexler to ensure every piece has the "eyes" it needs to sprout. It’s a bridge between generations, and it’s how we’ve prepped our crop for as long as I can remember.
The 500lb Sprint
Cutting 500lbs of seed is a major milestone in our planting season. With the whole crew moving, we make quick work of it.
Into the Dirt
Once the cutting is finished, it’s time to get them in the ground. Watching the planter move through the same fields our family has worked for generations never gets old. Here is a look at the planter hitting the soil from a few years ago.
Harvest: The Reward
All those hours spent with the Trexler and those long days in the field lead to one thing: harvest. There’s nothing quite like the feeling when the digger brings up that fresh crop in the fall. It’s a full circle, starting with that 1950s machine and ending right here in the dirt. We can’t wait to share the fruits of our labor with you this season!
1 comment
Thanks for sharing your process and many thanks for still helping us put fresh food on our tables!