Emperor Franz Beckenbauer II

The football Beckenbauer is known in Germany as the Emperor. Well here's another one! Franz's (the one in the photo) real surname is actually different but as is typical in country areas, people are known by their "House Name" , the very old way, prior to house numbers, to identify people. Beckenbauer was originally Baeckerbauer or Baker Farmer as their house had a bread oven & the local inhabitants used this to bake their bread.

Franz has been a godsend for us over the last 10 years, always willing to help when we need machines to cut down trees, make hay, staple straw etc. He & his family are the friendliest you could imagine. I also take "my hat off" to them for taking the trouble to let their young cows spend the summer outside. Today out riding, I spotted him checking the fences and went over. This spot was my 3rd Blip on a very cold February morning.

Franz was one of the first in the area to exchange his Fendt tractor for a New Holland & now has 2 such monsters in his sheds. He always reminds me that they are made in the UK & how happy he is with them. Fendt's are built very close to here & considered to be the Rolls Royce of tractors but the price/performance relationship has become unaffordable. If you ever get to meet Franz, make sure you have lots of time on your hands - he knows everybody, everything in the area & all the latest news.