Duo Lift began in 1943 when farmer Arthur Hellbusch designed a wagon lift in the back of his milk barn which consisted of a frame placed between the wagon box and the running gear operated by pulleys and cables to lift the box. This eliminated having to scoop grain out of the wagon and allowed it to simply run out of the box. He may have been the first to do this, but that is unknown. Arthur sold his lift to neighbors and friends by word of mouth. Eventually, the state of Nebraska required him to have a name and a sales tax number calling him a manufacturer and not a farmer. He later built irrigation trailers to haul gated irrigation pipe to and from the field. His focus was still farming and as a hobby he built things to make farming easier.

In 1969, his son, Jim Hellbusch, returned from college and joined the family farming operation with the desire to see if he could make his father’s hobby into a business. Since then the company has grown and expanded from a 30’ x 80’ building to over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space which includes robots and laser tables. The product lines have changed too. The company now builds fertilizer trailers, head hauler trailers swather hauler trailers fuel haulers, brine makers, and semi trailers to name a few. The product lines span agricultural, commercial, and custom trailers. The company sells in the continental United States and Canada through Distributors and Reps. The company holds contracts with States for state highway departments and sells on occasion to the federal government.

Duo Lift has been recognized for its innovation by The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) for its LowBoy fertilizer wagon and in 2023 for its All Steer Head Hauler trailers.

Duo Lift joined the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ (FEMA) in the early 1980’s and credits that relationship with helping the business grow. Jim Hellbush served as the FEMA President in 1999.

Sons Ben and David have joined Duo Lift and are leading the company into the next phase of company growth. Ben is currently serving as FEMA President. The company’s goal is to produce safe, high-quality equipment that is manufactured and sold with pride.

| Member since 1983

This year has been a year of realignment as inventory increases and product lines recover. As always, the consumer market has its challenges, but the supply chain is finally catching up as dealer lots are filling up with more products. Throughout this period of change, our Association members have remained focused on strategic planning to ensure their businesses thrive in the face of uncertainty. We are proud to see them adapting and navigating through these changes with determination and resilience.

I’m happy to report that people are attending farm shows again and the mood is upbeat and optimistic. Attendance is growing, and in fact, the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville saw its best attendance in five years. While talking to many of our peers at these shows, I realized that everyone has the same questions: Where do we find workers with the needed skills? How long will demand for our products remain at the current level?

I wish I could answer your questions, but only time will tell. I do know one thing: You can help yourself, and your company, by getting involved in the Association.

Get Involved! Regardless of how long we’ve known you, the key to your continued success in the Association is to get involved. We are the innovators that help determine the future of how our customers work. We have the strength and voice to shape our industry, which ultimately influences the business of farming. Our Association is strong and robust, but if we don’t take the time to volunteer our talents and insights, then interest will wane.

How to Get Involved: Reach out to the Association staff or any member of the Board of Directors with questions or ideas. We are listed in the left column on page 2 in every issue of Shortliner. You can also find us at FarmEquip.org. The Association has several committees and councils, which work continuously to make our Association and industry better. This is an excellent pathway into influencing the direction of the industry.

Our Board is comprised of sixteen talented and diverse individuals who have devoted their time and talents to representing you, our members. We have a Nominating Committee chaired by Ric Kirby. If you have interest in being a board member or want to recommend someone, please reach out to Ric (RMK@KirbyMfg.com) or me at BenH@DuoLift.com.

Benefits of Getting Involved: As with anything in life, you get out of it what you put in. Our industry is made up of the most genuine and helpful people. If you have not attended a meeting before, I strongly urge you to do so. At these meetings, we have forged relationships that go back decades. I cannot begin to explain how many times I have reached out to our members with questions about supply, production, distribution, etc. Almost always, I get valuable advice and leave with a fresh perspective and new ways to problem solve.

You are the Association’s greatest resource. Together — we will make a difference and evolve with whatever changes are coming.

See you in Kansas City!

Ben Hellbusch, Association President