Tennant Tractor Tour?

I recently rented my pasture to a couple of college kids that are aspiring ranchers to keep some calves on. The boys are nice, seeem like good straight kids and have been very respectfull and all, but one of them did something yesterday that disturbed me.

While cooking dinner last night I looked out the kitchen window and see a couple of people walking out in the pasture, and then a couple more, and still more coming. They were all headed to my far barn where all my old tractors are kept. Went out and there was two cars parked at the gate so I head on out to the barn too. Well it was one of the tennant cattlemen and all I can surmise is he had family visiting and he brought 'em all out for the nickel tour. One of them (his dad I assume) who is an old car buff told me all about the 1936 Oldsmobile he has.

I don't think that the rental of the pasture for his livestock includes bringing folks out to look at all my stuff. Now I have nothing hidden out there and would have been happy to show his folks my stuff, but I think he should've asked me if it was alright to bring 'em out first. I'd have been happy to have said, "yeah, c'mon" and shared my hobby with them.

I didn't say anything to the kid while all his folks were around as I saw no reason to embarass him, but I think I need to tell him that was not too cool.

I think a little conversation would be appropriate. Just a Hey in the future I would appreciate a heads up before you bring someone around. No need to get confrontational,but leave no room for doubt.

Agree 100%. He should ask first, to see if it is ok... and arrange a time when you are available.

The problem with that is then each one of them will come back with their friends.

Sounds like you are an even tempered fella. Many would have just exploded right then and there no matter who was with him. You did the right thing, and YES you need to have a nice chat with him to avoid any future confrontations. You know how it is, if they get away with something once then they will do it again.....unless they know better.

You are right and as Barney Fife would say "nip it in the bud".

Lots of things need to be addressed (up front) when renting property to others; many of 'em seem like a no-brainer to you, but you never know. Just a few: cutting firewood, cutting logs, cutting hay, camping out, hunting, sub-leasing, use of buildings, maintaining/repairing fences/corrals/buildings, changing/modifying waterways, fishing, fertlizing/clipping pastures, insurance/liability, etc, etc. btdt........

Pitch is the way it works with me, tennants become freinds, then family.. then tough to raise the rent!
They see you as freind and family too, and a cool guy. Just tell them to tell you or ask when they bring people around- and yeah, to becareful who they bring over. In a way, they are showing you off! Their cool new landlord with all this cool old stuff! So take it with a grain of salt...

I'd make it real clear and in your own way (not how anyone that don't own your stuff says you should do it) that you don't play them games.. And, this would be a good time to take plenty of pics of your stuff, record serial numbers, mark your own ID if necessary and make a CD (several copies) to keep in a safe place and share with the local law/scrapyards. Check your locks, etc, maybe invest a few bucks in a couple dummy cameras and make sure your tenant (s) see you doing it...... You can betcherass that some or all of the visitors and tenants already know what you have and how it's situated....

Good luck.

I think I'd put some signs on the barn. Keep out, Enter at your own risk Private Property are a few that seem appropriate.

The college kids may be the best kids in the world, but the problem, as I see it, is that they will tell somebody and then those people will tell somebody and so on.
One of these years, during the wee hours of the morning, a valuable part from one of these tractors will disappear. I'm talking from experience as I've got a 30-something JD "B" that is complete, except for a carburetor that somehow walked off several years ago. Funny how these parts don't have too much value ....until you have to replace them.

A young single man moved in down the road from me. He had lots of friends at his place but never anything out of line. Wasn't long before he came over asking me if I had a problem with stuff missing around my place. Nope, everything on my place was where it belonged. I knew what was happening and told him what was wrong. After a few more times of stuff missing I think he finally figured it out. He ended up selling out and moving away. After he left the next owner never had that problem.

I am a younger farmer myself, 23. ALL my ground is rented and I try to treat/respect it as my own. This being said, it is not my land and not mine to do whatever I please with. I have brought my family, mom and dad, to see the farms but really just driving around and never getting out at barns or exploring other peoples things. He may have thought nothing about it and thought it was ok. I would come at him with a level head and talk about it in person and not over the phone. Maybe this would be a good time to set some "ground rules" so to speak about who is allowed on the property and when? Obviously they are cattle so they need to be checked, hauled, and so on but I would want to know who was on my property when I wasn't there if I owned any. Just my two cents.