In 1956 Loftness Manufacturing, the forerunner of Loftness Specialized Equipment, Inc., had its beginnings in a farm shop owned by Dick Loftness, a Hector, Minnesota, farmer. Dick had made a V-type snow blower for his own use. A few neighbors saw the blower and asked if Dick would make one for them. Soon Dick had made several of the snow blowers, and Loftness Manufacturing was launched.