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Pre-Built Cabin Buisiness Supplements Farm Income
Harvey Schmucker grew up farming but, like many old order Amish families, he also learned construction, cabinetry and furniture.
When farm income started declining, Schmucker looked around his Wisconsin community for something else he could do that would provide income and work for himself and a few neighbors. <
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Pre-Built Cabin Buisiness Supplements Farm Income BUILDINGS Houses 26-2-13 Harvey Schmucker grew up farming but, like many old order Amish families, he also learned construction, cabinetry and furniture.
When farm income started declining, Schmucker looked around his Wisconsin community for something else he could do that would provide income and work for himself and a few neighbors.
He was good at building houses and cabins. With help from Gary Manning, a Richland Center, Wisconsin farmer, he started Kickapoo Log Cabins and Barns. Workers build log cabins and barns in a building on Schmucker's farm. When a structure is finished, it's loaded onto Manning's semi-trailer and hauled to the new owner's site where it's set on a foundation and finishing touches added.
Because of load restrictions and the size of Manning's trailer, deliveries can be no larger than 16 by 40 ft. However, lean-tos and other additions can be built on site or at the factory and hauled separately, so Kickapoo Log Cabins can be virtually as large as the buyer wants. "I live in the largest house they've built to date," Manning says. "My house is 40 ft. by 40 ft. With the upper floor, we have about 2,900 sq. ft. of living space."
Manning, who works as sales manager for the company, says the demand for pre-built cabins has exceeded expectations. A basic 16 by 30-ft. cabin, delivered and set up, sells for about $15,500. Barns have just been added to the line up. Manning says a similarly sized barn starts at around $14,000.
Manning says the company is also exploring the possibility of selling cabins in kit form, with parts all pre-cut and numbered for easy on-site assembly. "We can safely and economically haul pre-built cabins only so far," he says. "Even though we stay within size limitations for state and federal roadways and have all the necessary permits, we're constantly being stopped by police and highway patrolmen who see the size of the load and figure something has to be wrong with it," Manning says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Manning, Kickapoo Log Cabins and Barns, 27321 Manning Lane, Richland Center, Wis. 53581 (ph 608 647-3869).
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