"If you want a riding mower, the Walker is for you.” This testimonial comes from Lynda Bulani who lives on a 700-acre farm 20 minutes north of Biggar, Saskatchewan.
Four years since purchasing her mower, she continues to mow her two acres of lawn every week, sometimes more often depending on the weather and other variables. What are some of those other variables? Bulani explains, “Two years ago, my husband, Dennis, pulled up with a float truck and applied probably what is equivalent to 500 pounds/acre of fertilizer on the lawn. I mowed twice a week all summer that year.”
In addition to the farm, the Bulanis own and operate eight agriculture stores that sell fuel, oil, fertilizer, chemicals and seed to farmers. The locations, which operate under the name Rack Petroleum, Ltd., also offer custom applications, and they have a research division. The farm acts as a test site for the research. “Maybe Dennis was working on some special fertilizer formula when he condemned me to mowing twice a week that year,” Bulani says with a laugh.
For this homeowner, though, “condemned” would surely be the wrong word to describe her days mowing lawn. “There are so many things I like about this mower,” says Bulani. “I like the design, it’s comfortable to ride, and it’s easy to adjust the mowing height. I also like the front deck for its maneuverability.
“Since I do all the routine maintenance on the mower such as greasing it, changing the oil and filter, and changing the blades, I also enjoy how easy and accessible everything is, including how accessible the tilt-up deck makes the blades.”
By her own confession, Bulani is more than a little obsessive about the mower. One of her daughters reportedly operated it just once, and mother spent most of the time walking next to the mower to her daughter’s annoyance. Her possessiveness comes across in other ways. She engages the blades very slowly and gradually increase the mower’s RPMs, something for which most contractors wouldn’t have the patience. What they would condone, however, is her meticulous attention to mowing lines and patterns.
Motorcycle Magic
So how does a homeowner in Saskatchewan end up buying a Walker Mower? Blame it on a Harley. While taking a motorcycle trip, Dennis and Lynda stopped in Jackson Hole, WY, to have the rear tire changed. The shop, Jackson Hole Cycle & Saw, was also a Walker Mower dealer.
“I had time to kill while the dealer changed the tire,” Bulani relates. “He had a mower on display and the first thing that caught my eye was the catcher box. I walked around and found a brochure, which I took home with me. In the meantime, a salesman came up and pointed out all the features of the machine. So, too, did a customer in the store who told me it was the best mower they’ve ever used.”
From there on, this homeowner was on a mission. Her Kubota diesel with a belly-mount mower was getting old and worn out and she needed a replacement. The Walker Mower was it.
Back in Biggar, Bulani asked the owner of Fick’s Small Engines, Brian Fick, to do some research on the mower. She explains, “He told me it was an excellent mower, but maybe a bit pricey for what I needed. Admittedly it was. Sure, I could have purchased something that was less expensive, but I wanted the Walker Mower.
“Brian helped me get the mower I wanted, a 26-hp model with a 48-inch GHS deck. Just this year, I purchased a dethatcher from Walker Mower dealer Mini Tune in Saskatoon.”
Not Your Average Homeowner
Bulani had little trouble getting used to operating her new mower. As she says, “I operate a Bobcat skid-steer, so getting the hang of the Walker Mower was easy.”
In fact, she’s been around equipment her entire married life, first helping Dennis operate the family farm after they were married in 1981. Three years later, to supplement farm income, they became an agent for a bulk fuel supplier. In 2001 they started their own independent retail operation, growing it from one store and two employees to eight locations and 120 employees.
“I don’t really have a job title,” says Bulani. “Over the years, I’ve acted as office administrator doing HR duties, payroll and so forth. More than anything now I consider myself to be Dennis’ assistant.” She’s also mother to three daughters, Chelsea, 33, Cassandra, 31, and Coralee, 29, two of whom work in the business out of the Saskatoon store.
Helping Dennis run the business makes life pretty hectic for Bulani, especially during the busy season, which also happens to be lawn mowing season. “Having the Walker Mower makes the job really enjoyable,” she adds. “It’s not a chore at all.”
When asked how long it takes to mow, she shrugs her shoulders. “It depends. Sometimes I mow it all and other times I may not have time to do everything.” They also rent a few acres to their son-in-law for pasturing cattle. Bulani mows part of this, too. After the cattle have spent a few days chewing the grass, she smooths out the area with a harrow, waits a couple of days, and then mows it with the Walker Mower—but not before raising the deck.
Just as if this homeowner doesn’t have enough lawn to mow already. “I want another one,” she says, referring to her mower. “I won’t need a catcher or a GHS deck on this one, but would look instead for a model with a wide-area, side-discharge deck.”
It sounds like a Model B with a 62- or 72-inch deck is in order. This time, though, she won’t have to ride to Wyoming to get a brochure and see the machine in person.
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