R.I.P. Scout26
I have freeze proof Iowa brand hydrants that have survived minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. I rebuilt one that was acting up but you can pull and rebuild from the top without excavating the whole thing. IIRC the rebuild kit was about $19.
On the farm, we had spigots outside that were buried about 4' or so underground, and the only "mechanism" was a lever on top to pull the stuff down low.
Pretty sure that's what Kingcreek was talking about.