Ray Balsick's WindmillsRay Balsick (1930 - 2016)

Ray Balsick had a passion for windmills. Following retirement, the rancher/mechanic undertook the task of installing over 33 windmills on his property, beginning a lineage of windmillers in the Balsick family. Balsick took great care in restoring the rusted antique blades, sanding and painting the windmills to restore them to their former glory. While one of the mills held a functional purpose- pumping water for Balsick’s garden- the collector identified the rest of his assemblage as lawn ornaments. The wooden windmills were crafted by Balsick himself, placed amongst the vintage metal mills. 

Balsick’s son and grandson carry his fondness for the simple machines, participating in the International Windmiller’s Trade Fair annually. His grandson Garrett Balsick continues building upon his grandfather’s collection, acquiring and restoring antique windmills as a tribute to both the heritage of the windmill and the legacy of his grandfather. 

~Nikki Ranney, 2023

Sources:

Master of the windmills | News | gazette.com

Blowin’ in the Wind: American Windmill Museum - Farm Collector

Nikki Ranney, Rich Gabe

Metal

Cotton Tail Drive
Falcon, Colorado, 80831 us
Latitude/Longitude: 38.9373002 / -104.5853594

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