Clay Equipment was originally incorporated in Iowa in 1900 as Iowa Gate Company. Clay Equipment was always a company engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of agricultural products. Clay Equipment's main facility was located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with various branch warehouse locations including Binghamton, New York.

   After a number of changes in ownership and management, the CLAY EQUIPMENT CORPORATION was purchased by TOP AIR MANUFACTURING in 1995. TOP AIR moved the main facility from the Lincoln St. site the following year. This move was primarily due to a flooding issue in the area. The original CLAY EQUIPMENT site is now the home of Gateway Park in Cedar Falls.

   TOP AIR purchased other complimentary farm equipment lines, but ultimately began to offer the CLAY BARN EQUIPMENT product lines for sale. It was at this time that THE FREEMAN Co. of Rockwood, Ontario became involved.

   In 1997, THE FREEMAN CO. purchased the CLAY silo unloader line. This was a good fit with the BEATTY BROS (of Fergus, Ontario) line that THE FREEMAN CO. already manufactured. (Many components of the CLAY silo unloader and barn cleaner are interchangeable with the BEATTY equipment).

   The FREEMAN Co also took over the lease of the CLAY EQUIPMENT warehouse in Binghamton, NY. This is important for the distribution of the CLAY Barn equipment parts to hundreds of dealers throughout the United States. Doug Holbert, a long-time employee of Clay Equipment Corp., now oversees this warehouse location.

   A few Years later, TOP AIR went into receivership, taking with it the remaining CLAY Equipment product lines.

   THE FREEMAN CO. again became involved, and through agreement with UNVERFERTH Mfg, (the purchaser of TOP AIR MFG), FREEMAN took on most of the remaining CLAY FARM EQUIPMENT lines. Again, this was a good fit for all companies as UNVERFERTH was primarily interested in the Top Air, Better-Built, Parker and Ficklin product lines.

   Since 2001, THE FREEMAN CO. has been manufacturing parts and replacement units for most CLAY farm equipment. CLAY EQUIPMENT product lines manufactured by THE FREEMAN CO include: