If the dump trucks are tri-axle's, then each of them could be carrying 20 cubic yards of soil, depending on the soil type. That translates into 300 cubic yards of material that could weigh 450 tons. Trying to push that much dirt any distance with an 800 pound garden tractor, regardless of brand, is going to be difficult and very time consuming. As larsol mentioned, a skid-steer loader will lift and carry all fifteen loads to where you want it in a single day. I suggest that you rent one or if you don't know how to run one, then hire an experienced operator with his own machine. Every machine made comes with its own set of limitations. It's not that a Case 400 series isn't a capable machine. It's just the wrong machine for the task. Even the skid-steer is a bit of compromise but it will do the job. A 450 Case, 450 Deere or D-4 Cat bulldozer would be more appropriate and likely faster at levelling and grading if you position the truck loads properly. A dozer is perfectly safe to use on your tile field. It will also pop stumps out of the ground and push those pesky boulders into the back acreage. And if you want the boulders buried, a good operator can do that for you too. Too bad you don't need 100 loads or so because when it's difficult to find places to dump, most contractors are happy to put a blade onto a dump site in exchange for having a place to dump close to where they are excavating. For 15 loads, it doesn't pay but talk to the guy, he may know of someone with a machine to take care of this. Where you need the Case is AFTER the dirt has been spread out. If you intend to seed or lay sod, the Case with a three-point hitch and York Rake can save you a huge amount of time and will aid you in the fine grading/levelling. Your friend wasn't telling you that the Case is no good. He was just telling you that it isn't big enough for the task at hand.

I had a John Deere tractor about the size of the Case you pictured when I was five, and I loved it, although I never liked full-sized tractors. I also had toy John Deere tractors that were true to scale. I've never seen funnelcake in person. Thanks for showing it! Did you get Zane some toy tractors? He does look a lot like you. His hair looks extremely straight - does that come from you? Lars

What rooms open off your "dog trot" hallway and how do the doors divide the space up? Have you considered dividing the space into two seperate spaces. Not necessarily with solid walls but could be a screen to cover 4' of the width leaving a doorway opening into another "room". Then decorate each space for seperate uses. All depends on rooms leading off the hall and how they would be affected.

Thanks everyone!!! I had no idea how horrible trying to load a GW thread with a lot of comments is from a phone - I know now. Many times people have split the long discussions to two posts and it’s time to do that now. Everyone who’s a member will have notifications to check this thread since we’ve been posting - PLEASE - don’t post here anymore - have all new discussion go to the part 2 thread that will make everyone on a phone so much happier. https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5812129/i-love-halloween-swap-fotess-october-part-2