Business here at Old School Manufacturing has been booming, and we’re not expecting it to slow for some time yet! Still, the end of the busy season is in sight, and we are looking forward to what is next to come. (Like the first family vacation we’ve taken in 10 years, or getting our new building finished!)
In anticipation of our new building, OSM has created a package deal for 8 of the last 2025 12R30 machines available. This deal includes the 12R30 cart system, 30’ boom, Front 3pt Hitch, a 30’ Scratch Pad, and prearranged shipping within the U.S.A. This deal is priced at $82,000, making it an $8,000 discount. This is a limited time offer, so it will not be available for long.
One of the exciting changes within the workplace is the addition of two members of our family to the team: Teagan and Savannah Kroeger. These lovely ladies will be helping out part time in their respective positions, and aiding us to create a better, more well-rounded team.
Teagan graduated this spring with an interest in automotive mechanicing, and will be putting those skills to use in the assembly of new machines. Additionally, she’ll be undergoing training in diagnostic and tech- some of you may have already spoken to her in the last couple of weeks.
Savannah also graduated in the spring, and will be using her abilities to help in the shipping and parts departments, as well as taking charge of our social media pages, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Too, her organizing abilities will be tested to the max as we look to update inventory for the next season, as well as making the big move to our new facilities in the fall.
We are looking forward to creating positions as more of our family looks to join the business, and getting to experience all of the things that make the family dynamic unique and fun. It has been a goal for a long time to find an area where each member can not just fit, but excel, and hopefully use their God-given talents.
Speaking of family dynamics and God-given gifts, it should be no secret by now that the guys at Old School are constantly looking to innovate, create, and invent- and to that end, you can expect to see a new Zapper being released this fall.
She’s called the Digital Zapper, and she’s been in the works for several years- a between-the-row zapper with some interesting features including digitally altered energy. Like the high-boy Terminator series, the Digital Zapper is mounted on a sprayer unit, but unlike the Terminator and Annihilator series’, the Digital Zapper does not have a copper applicator boom. Instead, finger-like projections reach between rows to zap hard to reach weeds- or weeds that have not yet emerged over the crop canopy. This means that the Digital Zapper works not just as a Zapper, but also doubles as a cultivator- and if you’ve ever been frustrated that your weeds have re-rooted after cultivation, you’ll be pleased to find that nothing re-roots after it has been hit with roughly 14,000 volts of electricity! You can see our first teaser videos about the Digital Zapper here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16uvbHdMRo/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HvLVi9axv/
My grandmother often says, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating!”, and if that is the case, you can see our “pudding” is just about as full of ingredients as it can hold! It can feel hectic when we are all running about with parts orders, tech calls, credit card payments, and the like, but in the midst of the chaos, there is the realization that the Lord enables us to do all things, and we are very blessed to be doing what we are doing. All the same, we are looking forward to the new season- but we’ll tell you all about that in the next OSM Review!
While we didn’t blow much of anything up this year for our 4th of July celebrations, nor stage anything Boston Harbor-esque, it is still safe to say that the OSM team did celebrate in the best manner: one worthy of our forefathers. Rumor has it that even George Washington himself attended for a night of pleasant company, delicious food, and electric conversation.
Dominating the party chats was the release of OSM’s latest machine: the Orchard Model. Specifically designed for use in orchards and vineyards, the Orchard Model is compact, easily maneuvered, and eco-friendly. More information and photos can be found at: https://theweedzapper.oldschoolmanufacturing.com/products/orchard-model/
Another titillating topic was the discussion of OSM’s new building. Situated on 40 acres of excellent hunting ground, the new “shop” represents so many of the things that make OSM what it is. It will be a hub of family activity, the site of new experiments and machinery, and a place to focus our goals and plans for the future- those within the company, but also those without.
OSM expects the building to be finished this autumn, although production at the new building does not aim to start until Spring 2026. The new structure promises to be convenient, well organized, and will provide much more work space- essential, particularly in the manufacturing and development of our Terminator line. As for our Patriarch, he is most looking forward to the addition of a solidly built fiberglass single accommodating corner office: also known as a Johnny-on-the-spot.
Something else causing excitement to stir in the hearts of our OSM boys is the release of The Scratch Pad, a new applicator bar that promises not just weed death, but retribution. With a slogan like, “Make your weeds BLEED”, no weed is safe. It is particularly effective against weeds growing in hot, dry environments like the Southwest U.S., where weeds can develop thick “skins” that don’t conduct electricity as well.
The Scratch Pad works precisely how its name suggests: the rows of jagged teeth rake over the surface of weeds, tearing small scratches across them, and drawing moisture to the exterior. This creates another path for electricity to follow, straight through the weed, and into the root. Some farmers have already claimed that it is a night and day difference from the original applicator bar: more than doubling its previous efficacy. See it in action here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AZc8cUPQT/
From sparks to fireworks, business has been booming here at OSM- and we plan to keep it that way! It has been a great start to our busiest season, and we are looking forward to all of the opportunities for growth that the Lord has provided for us. Happy 4th, and we’ll see you all again, in the next OSM Review!
Old School Manufacturing, maker of The Weed Zapper, is excited to begin our Blog Journey with you!
From small-town brothers and hobby farms, to “shocking” machines and CE Certification, I am pretty sure we have an answer for anything. It might not be a great answer…but I am sure these guys will come up with something!
Our small family business just keeps getting bigger and better as the family continues to grow, learn, and step into new positions. If you follow our posts, you will hear from me (I’m Jessika and I am Ben’s wife,) and probably a lot from our daughter Haylee. We are going to tell you all the things happening and in the works.
The most exciting new development is our CE Certification being nearly complete. To learn more about this certification, click here. To us, this means that we can now provide 27 new countries with safe and healthy weed control management, via our machine The Weed Zapper.
We believe everyone has the right safe and effective tools to manage their farms. Whether it is the small hobby farm or the giant farm of thousands. Taking this step to become CE Certified helps us to help more of you.
Don’t forget to check back with the family to see what’s new.
Deuteronomy 28:8,
Jessika Kroeger
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