After receiving a grant from the Cornwall Business Enterprise Summer Company Student Grant Program, Bobby began his own business Baler Bob Custom Work. He is shown beside the inline tube wrapper that wraps giant square or round bales of hay or straw. Courtesy Photo
FINCH – Bobby Robinson, son of Doug and Jill Robinson (Payneside Farms Inc.), learned recently he has received a grant to start a business from the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre’s Summer Company Student Grant Program. His company, named Baler Bob Custom Work, will be wrapping the oversized square or round bales of hay or straw.
This program provides young entrepreneurs with the opportunity to learn about how businesses are run and developed. He mentioned the funding is only available for the summer, however the program provides encouragement and support for people who may want to continue with your business in the future.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn about how to run a business, how to start and all the work that goes in behind the scenes to your business,” he commented, after saying he would recommend this program to others who are considering it in the future.
After receiving an email from his guidance counsellor at Tagwi Secondary School, Robinson made the decision to apply and heard at the beginning of June he had been successful. He mentioned the application process was quite involved, explaining there were criteria to even apply for the grant which included age, residence as well as having to provide information on the proposed business, marketing plan and a budget. His proposal, which included an in-depth business plan, was for a “custom hay and straw wrapping business” which he explained could run through the late spring, summer, and early fall seasons.
His mother Jill explained how Bobby had taken an online course through Glengarry County 4-H which included a “pilot project from 4-H Ontario” which provided information on entrepreneurship and innovation. She continued how during the 4-H Club, they talked with companies and bankers about business proposals and developing the art of pitching an idea. Jill continued how Bobby “had really done quite a bit of the work already” because his business proposal for the course was for this business.
When asked about how the business was run, he explained the machine, an inline tube wrapper, receives the bales from a tractor or other pieces of machinery and once it senses there is a “load on the machine, it will push the bale toward the back of the machine and then engages the wrap.”
As the bale moves ahead, the tube, which will cover the bale is formed and the wrapping process begins. Once this is completed there is enough room for the next bale. He explained this is a self-contained machine, with its own motor and hydraulics and is pulled into the field by a pickup truck or tractor, with Robinson hired to load it and supervise its operation.
When asked about his experience in this field, Robinson explained his family farm has been wrapping bales for about 16 years. “I grew up from a very young age learning how to use the machine” during the summer. He mentioned he has already done some jobs and has others lined up as the haying season continues.
Looking ahead to his future goals, Robinson mentioned he would like to expand on his present work, perhaps “buying an excavator to clear land and do excavation work” or other lines of agricultural work.
When asked about what he enjoys about this type of work, he responded how you are your own boss, set your hours and mentioned how you work the long hours required and then can see what you have accomplished.
