Kelly Melius
When I interviewed Kelly Melius, he had just come in from checking on his cattle at the farm that his parents bought right after they completed college. Although Kelly attended Northern State University, the traditional college route was not for him, so he left after a year and went on to VOTECH, where he received his electrical construction training. Afterward, he spent two years living and working in Minneapolis, but the call of home was strong. He returned to his hometown and acquired some land alongside his father.
Common Sense Manufacturing, the business Kelly would eventually build, started from a simple but persistent problem. While backgrounding his cattle—a process of feeding young cattle before sending them to the feedlot—he noticed that the bale feeders he had been using were frustratingly inadequate. They were light-duty, let feed get contaminated, and even posed risks to his cattle. Kelly didn’t just see a problem—he saw an opportunity. Drawing on this experience, he designed a cradle-style bale feeder that was sturdier, kept feed above the ground, and, by extension, clean, and adapted to the needs of livestock at different life stages.
At first, Common Sense Manufacturing was a side hustle—a way to cover the expenses of farm operations. Kelly partnered with Bill Keldsen, with Bill focusing on production and Kelly handling sales. But when Bill passed away, Kelly took on the full weight of the business, moving operations to his farm. From there, he didn’t just stop at bale feeders. He continued observing his animals to see where they might be having difficulties, and from that, he got new ideas for products in his product line. He expanded the product line to include the bottomless feed bunk and a calf shelter. That calf shelter? It was Kelly repurposing the framework of his bale feeder, but flipped upside down.
In addition to the cradle feeder and the shelter, he also designed the bottomless feed bunk. Its design includes a toe-kick feature inspired by kitchen counters—an ergonomic detail that makes life easier for cattle. For Kelly, it’s all about paying attention to the patterns of his animals, spotting discomfort, and finding solutions that seem, well, like common sense.
Farming isn’t an industry for the faint of heart. It’s a rollercoaster, subject to economic cycles that demand careful spending during lean times and strategic investments when there’s a bit more breathing room. Kelly navigates these ups and downs with the same practical mindset he applies to his products. He markets Common Sense Manufacturing through farm forums and trade shows, but his approach is more about education than selling. He wants farmers to understand the “why” behind his designs—their practical value and the thinking that goes into them.
What strikes me most about Kelly is how deeply he understands the needs of the farming community. His products go beyond equipment—they are solutions developed from firsthand experience on the farm.
