Pictured from left: ASABE President Paul Heinemann, President-Elect Keith Tinsey, Past-President Candice Engler, and Vermeer representative Lee Roose, taken at the ASABE Board of Trustees meeting, November 2021
The historic landmark dedication ceremony was held during the Iowa section meeting, October 2021.
Dedication Year: 2021
Location: Vermeer Headquarters in Pella, Iowa.
Plaque Wording: Prior to 1971, most hay was harvested in small square bales requiring extensive manual labor to harvest, store and feed. After a friend shared his intention to get out of the cattle business because of the hardships associated with putting up hay, Gary Vermeer began the design and development of the first successful large round baler in his shop in Pella, Iowa. Just six weeks later, a prototype baler was completed that successfully produced 6-ft wide x 7-ft diameter bales. Hundreds attended demonstrations of the baler in the summer of 1971. By 1972, the 706 Vermeer Large Round Baler was introduced. The baler was covered by two U.S. patents. Throughout the years, the patents and/or designs were licensed to several agricultural equipment manufacturers. The balers allowed farmers to may hay with less manual labor. In addition, the tightly packed round bales shed water, helping farmers maintain the quality of their hay for longer.