Operator Spotlight: Why Amos Grell Trusts the Hillco SC1500 Specialty Crop Header
At Meadow Ridge Farms in Oregon, harvesting 5,000 acres of fescue and perennial ryegrass each year is no small task. But for Amos Grell, Lead Combine and Swather Operator, the job has become smoother, faster, and more rewarding—thanks to his experience with the Hillco SC1500 Specialty Crop Header.
This marks Grell’s first time running Hillco equipment, and the results have exceeded expectations.
“It’s the Best Product on the Market.”
When Meadow Ridge Farms chose the SC1500, it wasn’t by accident.
“In all honesty, it’s the best product on the market,” Amos said. “There is no real competition currently that plays on the same playing field.”
The SC1500 stands out for its durability, clean design, and superior performance, making it a game-changer for farms focused on specialty grass seed crops.
Designed for Serviceability
The SC1500 was built with serviceability in mind.
“Other products are way more complex to take apart, and there’s a lot less support in the valley for them,” Amos explained.
With Hillco, the support has been a huge plus:
“I think it’s a solid machine. I’ve had very few issues with it, and the ones I had were resolved quickly and haven’t come up again.”
Amos currently runs a 2021 model with upgrades to match the 2023 version.
Speed & Efficiency in the Field
One of the biggest advantages Amos has seen is how much faster harvest operations run with the Hillco Header.
“It’s sped up harvest for us a lot,” Amos shared. “You’re able to run the combines faster because you don’t have bunch feeding or anything like that. It feeds consistently into the combine, so you can keep your speed up—and that saves a lot of time. It’s sped up all the processes in between, too.”
Cleaner, Easier Crop Transitions
Crop transitions are known be time-consuming, but investing in the SC1500 has resulted in noticeable improvements for Meadow Ridge Farms.
“Cleaning between crops has been a lot faster with the Hillco Header,” Amos said. “The sealed head design makes a big difference compared to the old Legacy Air Headers that had shields where crop collected. We don’t have problems with that anymore, and it’s made a big difference.”
Making Beautiful Windrows—Consistently
“I think it makes one of the best windrows, personally,” Amos said.
“You have a lot of variability—you can adjust as needed. Between the drum controls and variability of the header speed, you can make a pretty beautiful windrow with it. It makes you feel good when you look at a field you just completed with a nice windrow, consistent all the way across the field. It lays down flat and feeds into the combine really nice.”
The Hillco Difference: People, Support & Innovation
Beyond the machine itself, Amos highlighted how much he values the people behind the product.
“This is my first experience with Hillco, and everyone I’ve encountered has been really great to work with,” he said. “I’ve had a really enjoyable time working with them.”
Amos also praised Hillco’s commitment to innovation:
“Every year they come out with something new and better, and you don’t realize you needed it until it’s already there. Some changes are a struggle to keep up with—but it’s a new product, and that’s expected. Especially when you only have two weeks a year to test, it’s not a simple process to build something this niche.”
His Recommendation to Other Operators? “Do it.”
“If you’re thinking about getting into this machine—do it,” Amos said. “Between the support of the Hillco team and Pape Machinery as a whole, I think they’re fully willing to take care of everybody and do it in a timely manner. The parts supply is wonderful, and the Hillco team that comes out every summer is here to help.”
And for Amos, the connection goes beyond business.
“I’ve made pretty good friends with all the guys that come out to the field for us. It’s fun to get to see them every year and hang out.”
Why the SC1500 is the Future of Specialty Crop Harvesting
The Hillco SC1500 Specialty Crop Header isn’t just a piece of equipment, it’s a serious performance tool backed by great people and support. From efficiency and windrow quality to cleaning ease, reliability, and so much more the SC1500 delivers results that matter to operators.
