Hello, gang!  We had a great ride this year for the Great Nebraska Tractor Ride. The KTIC folks put on a great show. Get your reservations in for next year around Wayne, Nebraska!  We certainly are.  I got to see only a portion of the route this year due to fuel pump trouble, but it was great to see old friends and make some new ones both days.   Now, back to your tractors...

This '56 Case 300 is owned by Gene Rewolinski of Grand Island, Ne.  It has had a recent restoration back in 2011.  They found it at a machinery sale in Hastings, Ne and it came from Clay Center.  Gene says it was an oddball tractor and that's why he liked it. 

Janet says it wasn't in bad shape when they started, but Gene commented it was an ugly David Bradley brown when they bought it.  They had to build some new engine curtains since the previous ones were missing.  After that, they added new paint and decals and she's as good as new.  Also, take note of the Case Carrier on the back that was built with the iron seats to haul grandkids during the state fair parades.  Nice touch!  Good job getting the kids started on classic tractors.

After a few tractor rides, I've got some good machines coming down the pike. That doesn't mean, though, I don't need you to send in your tractors to the addresses above.  Take your camera with you to your drives and shows! - Joe

Hey tractor fans!  It was a very successful TRAN Ride as I heard the folks on the last leg of the ride from Fremont to Missouri Valley, IA crossed the state-line at about 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning.  Let's hear it for the folks who made it all the way across Nebraska! Ron and Donelle Moormeier from Courtland, Ne I know made it.  I'm waiting to hear on the other folks.  I'm posting pictures below from my trek from Gothenburg to Grand Island.  A little electrical problem for me so I dropped out at Shelton.  Thanks to all who made this a successful ride!  From the drivers to the organizers, sponsors, meal providers, police and on down the line.  Click on the photos below for a closer look! If you are on Facebook, you can see more by liking the Nebraska Antique Farming Association NAFA page.

Coming up, we are getting stocked on some great tractors like the MM670 from Mason City, Ne, MM "U" from the South Central Tractor Drive and several I've taken photos of along the way.  Including a IH 656 Hydro and an AC Two-Ten Landhandler. See you next week! - Joe

Gary Metzger (on tractor) talks about his new toy with Ron and Donelle Moormeier in Cozad.

The TRAN Ride on the old Overton Lincoln Highway Bridge.  The ride celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Lincoln Highway!

Ernie Fiene of Elwood on his Oliver 77 on the bridge.

Your truly taking my '63 4010 on the bridge.

On the road from Elm Creek to Kearney.

Charlie Case of Ellston, IA next to his Massey 33 at our stop in Gibbon.

Jim Nelson of Dannebrog (seated on Kramer) visits with his friend Roger Grim.

Bob Walters stands by his Case 300.  The Walters were going all the way, but had to drop out for family reasons.

The group rolling into Wood River!

Thanks to Howard Uhrich of Wood River for showing us around his museum!

Hi gang.  For our blog this week I thought I would share some pictures a couple of us took from the South Central Nebraska Antique Tractor Drive over the weekend.  We are mighty windblown, but we are also a hearty bunch!  A cool and breezy day greeted us Saturday, but we can't resist getting out our toys and playing with them.  67 tractors in all. Thanks to all the guys who put this together! You can also now find us on Facebook at South Central Nebraska Antique Tractor Drive.  Click on the pics for a closer look.

We have a real nice Case 300 coming up as well as a nice MM670 we will share from over on our news page.  It showed up in Maywood's Old Glory Days a couple weeks ago. All great stuff!  Please keep your entries coming to the addresses above - Joe

In honor of Memorial Day, we thought we would put up a picture of this Oliver 70 All-American flag tractor.  Thanks to all of you who have served or are serving this country.  We especially want to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  I believe this tractor resides in Iowa and was painted up to honor our Grand Ole Flag. However, it still has Oliver green under the hood.  (Sorry, I couldn't find a picture of that)  It has been featured on a few television shows including Classic Tractor Fever.  I share this because we are in need of a tractor for next week so please send in your machines to one of the addresses above! Hope to see many of you at one of the tractor drives listed below next month. God Bless America! - Joe

Hi gang!  Hope the planting progress is going smoothly?  We've been dodging rain and even some hail on our hobby farm near Gibbon. Remember to tell your friends and relatives about our blog.  We always need good tractors to keep it rolling.  Now, for today's feature machine...

Larry Bose is back with another family tractor.  This year, the team of Bose & Howsden have been restoring quite a few old beauties and this is one of the latest to come out of the shop.  This 1969 3020 Diesel was purchased new by Larry's dad, Richard Bose from Lueking Implement at Oxford, Ne in early 1970.   Larry says the new 3020 quickly became everyone's favorite on their farm.  He says it was a good addition to the 3010 and 2510 already in use.  It was used to both feed livestock and do field work. 

This 3020 was still used quite a bit on their farm before restoration. Several repairs were made including a new clutch, radiator, and leaks fixed. After a fender was replaced, they decided to go ahead and repaint it as well. Work was also done on the injector pump.  A new panel on the side console and new tach also brink this gem back to original look!

Restoration was done by Larry, his brother Bill and John Howsden.  Bill is planning on driving this one in the KTIC Great Nebraska Tractor Ride in June!  I got to see this tractor in person and start it up last week and it's a nice one.  Great job, guys! 

Click on the photos below for a closer look including original purchase order  Keep those entries coming and thanks for making us the most visiting krvn.com blog! - Joe

Welcome, tractor fans. The weeks keep flying by.  Had a chance to drive our classic 4020 in it's working clothes yesterday burning down some weeds.  Hopefully you are spending some quality time with your machines?

Who wouldn't want to spend some quality time with this week's entries?!  Two 730's from Dennis Messersmith from Cambridge, Ne.  One gas and one diesel.  In the pic below, the one of the left is a 1959 Pony Start Diesel and the one on the right is a 1959 gas burner.   In the middle is Dennis and his helper and dog, M.J.  The 730 gas came from Norcatur, KS and Dennis is the 3rd owner.  The 730 diesel is from Yuma, Colorado. Dennis' daughter, Jamie tells us he has restored all sorts of tractors and has bought and sold many since 1976.  I'm sure he's seen quite a few sell since he's a retired auctioneer and real estate salesman.  I'm sure Dennis would like to have back a few he's sold!

Jamie says tractors are definitely Dennis' hobby.  His ranch is called the "Messersmith Restoration Ranch".  Great name and great tractors. Thanks to Jamie and Dennis!  I'm in need of a machine or machines for next week so keep 'em coming.  The busy season for drives and shows is here so I'll have my camera with me.  Be prepared! - Joe

The weeks sure are flying by.  Maybe not so much if you've been waiting to plant corn!  Here's to a safe week for all you farmers out there.  For you tractor enthusiasts, we have another red tractor from the Mel Parker collection at Amherst.  One of the last remaining from their antique tractor sale back in 2007. She looks like a real hot rod!

This 1942 Farmall M was the first tractor Mel's dad owned.  During the restoration process, they overhauled it with Fire Crater pistons and had the heads planed.  The M now dynos out at 62 h.p.! A splash of new paint helped finish off the restoration job.  This tractor and Mel's first tractor, a Farmall 560 which we featured a couple weeks back, are the only two tractors left from their collection.  31 tractors in all were sold back in 2007 according to Mel.  Some of the other pictures below show how many were in the line-up that day.  Thanks, Mel!

A couple nice 30 series Deere's are coming next week from Cambridge so make sure you come back next week.  Also, check out our calendar below the pictures.  Things are getting busy. - Joe

Hello tractor lovers! Hope planting season is going well as we finally get some warmer weather. We have another "beast" of a tractor for you this week as promised.

As planting season was delayed this spring, Charlie Linder of Loomis, Ne had some extra time to finish this project. Actually, it was more of a "labor of love".  He loves these old Olivers and wanted a Super 99 with GM Diesel for his collection.  He already has a 1900 GM Diesel so he and his dad, Greg, found this monster in Tennessee.  They are not sure of the year since the serial number tag is missing, but they guess it's a late '54 or 55.   As you can see from the pics, it had a loader on it when they bought it, but it still was in decent shape.  The hood was a little wrinkled and twisted so Matt Nissen from Alma took care of the cosmetic work on that.  The rest of the work, Charlie and Greg did themselves.

It has the bigger 23.1 - 26 rear tires that look better on these standard tractors.  The motor is the GM Detroit Diesel 3-71 which puts our around 80 h.p.  Charlie says when you buy one of these, you hope to get a complete tractor because you can't find many parts.  Well, it's sure a complete tractor now!  New paint, decals, steering wheel, tires, chrome stack and air cleaners to complete the job!  Now, Charlie and Greg can relax during this planting season.  Yeah, right.  Great work, guys!
Keep those tractors coming!

I know it's busy out there, bet we enjoy your entries.  Maybe you are using your old tractor to do a little planting? Send us some photos! Check the calendar and pics below. - Joe

Been a strange couple of weeks weather wise.  I was out mowing Sunday, now it's raining all morning and snow in the forecast!  Definitely a year to tell the grandkids about someday.

This week's tractor makes us see "red" again as Greg Linder and his son, Charlie of Loomis, Ne recently finished up a couple of projects.  This WWII era H is one of them.  It belonged to Gene Wilken of Bertrand.  The guys say since it was a wartime tractor, it came on steel, was converted to cutoffs in the back and a Schwartz wide front was put on with rubber. Greg says a tree had fallen on it and the hood and nose were smashed.

If anyone knows Charlie, he's a whiz with motors and Greg says he had it running not 10 minutes after they had it home.  The rest of the tractor was in pretty good shape with not much to replace or fix.  The Linders know I'm a Deere man and Charlie was quick to point out it runs smoother than their older JD tractors!  Point taken. Haha.  Another fine machine to add to the Linder collection.  We will also be posting here soon Charlie's new big boy toy...an Oliver Super 99!  Thanks, guys.

If you have a classic machine recently restored, or one that has been in the family still in it's working clothes, please share it with us! Addresses to reach us are above.  Either digital photos or we can scan the physical ones for you.  Click on pics for closer look.  Calendar below. - Joe

We must be getting close to spring because I'm getting more and more entries in for our blog!  Guys must be getting out their machines ready for our summer show season!  Keep 'em coming!  Address link is above.

This week, Larry Bose of Orleans, Ne shares a family tractor with us. I'll let Larry tell us in his own words. "This tractor was bought new by CA and Richard Bose at the John Deere dealer Shaffer Bros. Implement in Alma, Ne.  It was used to do field work and feed livestock.  I can remember when the wide front was removed and Roll-A-Matic front end was installed. The front wheels were "dished out" to run the go-dig to cultivate corn.  This would help the tractor steer itself through the field.  My two brothers; Bill, Chuck and I would all got to run this tractor at an early age.  Pretty simple GPS system!"

"In later years, the tractor was used on an F-11 loader.  The engine had been overhauled and the clutch was worked on before the loader was installed.  Then, the transmission needed repaired and the loader came back off.  A decision was then made to install fenders and restore the tractor."   Restoration was done by Larry, brother Bill and John Howsden.

Larry says the JD 2510 was built from 1966 to 1968.  2520's, 3020's and 4020's were also of comparable size and were built during this time.  This 2510 will be taking part in the Great Nebraska Tractor Ride in eastern Nebraska in June of this year.  If you see Larry at the ride, make sure you stop and take a look at this beautiful family machine!  Thanks, Larry!  Click on the pics to enlarge the photos.

Hello, all!  Had several good conversations with old iron collectors/users this week.  Sure is fun to catch up on all the fun projects out there.  I got a bit of good news last week.  We are the top rated blog on krvn.com which is quite an honor!  We've had over 1,500 pageviews from the start of March!  Thanks to all of you who submit and take a look each week!  Now, on to this week's tractor.

Another long rage entry this week which is great to see.  That means our blog is becoming more and more popular.  Thanks to Ed McCreery of Shelton, CT for this 1958 Massey Ferguson TO-35.  I'll let Ed describe this beauty to you.  Look for a video link after the pictures!

Hello iron lovers. We hope you had a great Easter!  After taking a week off, we have some great tractors coming up for you. This week's machine is from collector Mel Parker from Amherst, Ne.  Ran into Mel getting ready for a local sale and he was nice enough to send us several entries.

This first tractor is a 560 he bought when he got out of school in 1961.  He bought the tractor and the plow for $5000.  That's quite a deal!  Mel tells me they had a sale back in 2007 and sold many tractors.  31 in all that day!  But, he saved back his dad's first tractor and his first tractor.  What a sale that must have been.  We'll have more from Mel in future posts.  Thanks for the great machines.  Click on the pictures below for closer look.

We are fresh outta new tractors, folks.  So here's one to remind you of the plow day coming up in April near Cambridge.  Details are on the calendar listing below.  No, that's not a picture of me with the sign, BUT how I would love to have the 730 and plow behind him!  To tide you over, see our updated information on Howad Urich's IH combine in the previous post.

Just send pictures and description of your classic machine to jgangwish@krvn.com. Or, PO Box 880 Lexington, Ne 68850.  We'll be happy to put it up next week!

Boy, the weeks sure move fast! It's gonna be a cold start to spring.  But, here's another classic tractor to warm your heart.

This 1937 A-C WC belongs to Roger Bauer of Lexington, Ne.  My friend Barry Bauer sent it to me. You might have seen it on Marshall's consignment sale last week. Barry says they've had it about 30 years. Roger bought it since he was born in 1937 and his family farmed with one when he was a kid. They kept it around for nostalgia purposes. Barry says it sat in the shed for years and he snapped this picture after they cleaned it up to sell it. Now, it belongs to another classic tractor collector out there.  If you know who bought it on the sale, let them know we have it posted for all to enjoy! Thanks to Barry for sharing. Looks like it would be hard to part with.

We need a classic tractor for next week so please share with us your classic machine or machines! The addresses for us are at the top of the page. Below is what's going on around the area.  You can also send me your events for listing below. - Joe

Hello gang!  Things look to warm up this week after another winter blast. Hope your projects are going well.  Also, please take advantage of your local shows and rides in your area.  A few are listed in our calendar below. Now, for our entries this week!

I say entries because Ryan Osborn shared these fine Farmall tractors with me last week.  I asked him if he wanted to go one at a time and he said to take the whole kitten-kaboodle which is fine with me! The numbered tractors belonged to his grandfather, Arlyn Osborn of Cozad, Ne. They are a 1964 Farmall 806,  1960  Farmall 560 (with cab), 1959 460 (without cab). These  tractors were used daily as feed tractors at the Osborn Farms cattle operation northeast of Cozad. Arlyn Osborn & Sons have been a local cattle operation for over 50 years in the Dawson County area. Arlyn's youngest son, Kraig Osborn, did the restoration of all three tractors. They are still in use today!  Arlyn told me the 806 is a gas burner with an Egging cab from western Nebraska.  He says he and his wife drove to Gering to pick it up. It still has original T/A and the rear end has never been touched!  He also told me they have another 560 with a cab and loader that gets used everyday as well.

Happy Monday!  Even though this signifies getting back to another work week, one of the best parts about Monday is a new Tractor of the Week.  We have another beauty for you.   A 3020 from Northern Kansas.

This 1967 John Deere 3020 diesel was bought new by Frank and Barbara Baetz from Maynard Frank who owned Smith County Implement - the John Deere dealer in Smith Center, Kansas. This tractor spent many hours farming in the Thornburg, Kansas area. In 1996, the tractor was in need of a lot of work, and Frank took the tractor to his neighbor, Bob Wagner, to have an extensive overhaul of the tractor mechanically. After Frank passed away, Barbara had a farm sale in October 2006. Bob purchased this tractor and took it down the road to it's new home. Bob used the tractor around the farm for the next 6 years pulling a rotary mower and running augers. In 2012, he decided it was time to retire the 3020 and have it restored.

Bob fixed a few mechanical issues to make it top notch.  Then, sent it to Jeremy Dennis Restoration for the cosmetic repairs. Many new parts and many meticulous hours later, Jeremy had the 3020 looking better than new. Bob has enjoyed showing this tractor at local shows and it was on display at John Deere Day at Landmark Implement in Smith Center, Kansas. (see bottom picture) This tractor was restored as a tribute to Bob's long-time, good friend Frank Baetz.

Thanks, Bob! Great memories and a gorgeous 3020 just in time for Deere's 175th anniversary!  If you have a great looking tractor like Bob's or you know of someone who does, please send them to us so we can share with the fellow machinery lovers who stop by our blog.  The address link is at the top of the page.  Have a great week! - Joe

2013 Calendar 
June 1-9, Tractor Ride Across Nebraska. Email howster@nebnet.net for more info.
June 1, South Central Nebraska Tractor Drive, Alma, Ne.  308-233-4555 for more info.
June 14-15, Great Nebraska Tractor Ride, beginning and ending in Wahoo. kticradio.com for more info. 

For Sale
1959 John Deere 830 Diesel. Factory electric start. Starts and runs. Call 308-233-4555 for more info. 

Hello classic machinery fans!  I say that because this week we have another classic combine for you!  We hope you weathered the snows and have enjoyed the moisture.

This week's classic machine belongs to Howard Uhrich of Wood River, Ne.  I caught these photos at Husker Harvest Days last year where Howard had this machine in action!  Howard says it was listed for sale in the Midwest Messenger in the spring of 2011.  He went up to look at it in a building southeast of Ashton, Ne where it had been since 1973.  The paint and tires are original as well as the silver canvas seat.  Howard says he couldn't believe his good luck finding such a good machine as they had just made plans to plant corn in 36" rows at Husker Harvest Days to use old pickers and combines.

Howard tinkered with it in the shed to get it running.  It only needed an ignition coil since someone had taken it off, probably for another machine.  The clutch was stuck, but they drove it home to Wood River!  All it needed was some new belts and a hole welded shut on the unloading auger.  It had a tall bin extension made out of galvanized tin.  He had to take it off because it was too tall for his building.  He adds the 101's were made from 1958 to 1962 and were replaced with the 303.  Thanks to Howard for tracking me down to give me the rest of the rundown on this great, original machine!

2013 Calendar 
June 1-9, Tractor Ride Across Nebraska. Email howster@nebnet.net for more info.
June 1, South Central Nebraska Tractor Drive, Alma, Ne.  308-233-4555 for more info.
June 14-15, Great Nebraska Tractor Ride, beginning and ending in Wahoo. kticradio.com for more info. 

For Sale
1959 John Deere 830 Diesel. Factory electric start. Starts and runs. Call 308-233-4555 for more info. 

Hello tractor lovers! I heard it was a great meeting for those of you who attended the latest Tractor Relay Across Nebraska meeting this last weekend.  We'll have more on that as we get close to the event. If you can make it, we'd sure love to have you attend in June.  Now, on to this week's posting! The Ristine's from Gothenburg, Ne have shared a 4020 and a B they restored for our blog. They just finished restoring this lovely '68 3020D.

Richard Ristine says they've spent the last 2 winters working on it.  It was purchased by his father, Bernard Ristine, and was was the only new tractor he bought during his farming career.  It is serial number 116110 from the Waterloo plant and has over 12-thousand hours on it.  The engines was overhauled before the painting started.  It now has new tires, batteries, tach, and several other new parts to go along with it's new coat of paint.

Richard's second son, Ramey will be the proud owner now.  It will help with snow and yard work around his house in Kearney.  His two sons still on the farm, Javan and Kyam, helped with the restoration doing most of the work.   Richard says he has a couple of Farmall's to share with us down the road.  One that is running with a new overhaul to be painted grey.  This one was the first tractor Richard's dad used after farming with horses for years. He plans to get started with the grey one before spring fieldwork.  The other will be red and will be restored later.

Thanks to the Ristine's for their 3020 and good luck on the Farmalls!  Check our calendar below to see what's coming up. We've got another nice 3020 coming in two weeks after a real nice, original IH 101 combine. See you then. Remember to send in your entries! - Joe

2013 Calendar 
June 1-9, Tractor Ride Across Nebraska. Email howster@nebnet.net for more info.
June 1, South Central Nebraska Tractor Drive, Alma, Ne.  308-233-4555 for more info.
June 14-15, Great Nebraska Tractor Ride, beginning and ending in Wahoo. kticradio.com for more info.

 

We hope this week finds you well and making good progress on your winter projects.  I've seen some nice tractors for sale on various web sites and farm sales. One part of tractor collecting scene that's becoming very popular is lawn tractors.  We have a nice Wheel Horse lawn tractor for you this week from a very prominent collection in North Central Kansas.

Jim Lorensen is back from Phillipsburg, KS with a '64 Wheel Horse 1054.  Jim says it does not have a mower deck, but he has a front blade and plow attachment for it.  It also has a hydraulic lift! Jim says he bought this particular lawn tractor in 2007 and restored it.  It had the traditional 10 h.p. motor switched out with a 14 h.p. before it was purchased.

Jim has 15 lawn tractors in his collection. 7 are Allis-Chalmers. 3 of which are restored including a '62 and two '66 models.  Thanks a lot, Jim!  You don't see many Wheel Horse tractors around any more.  I'm running low on entries so send me some pictures and your contact info.  I can call you for details.  Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Tell your neighbor's friends we need entries! - Joe

2013 Calendar 
June 1-9, Tractor Ride Across Nebraska. Email howster@nebnet.net for more info.
June 1, South Central Nebraska Tractor Drive, Alma, Ne.  308-233-4555 for more info.
June 14-15, Great Nebraska Tractor Ride, beginning and ending in Wahoo. kticradio.com for more info.

Hello, friends!  We're back this week with another fine lookin' Ferguson from Larry Holmberg of Riverton, Ne.  Larry's been a tractor fan since he was 9-years-old.  He's had an eye for these Ferguson's ever since then.

Larry found this TO-35 on ebay about 2-years-ago at Georgetown, Ohio.  It was in good working order as it just needed a tune-up and some other minor repairts.  Larry did the re-paint himself which really turned out nice. The colors are listed by Ferguson as "bamboo beige" and "metallic silver".  I love the name for bamboo beige. Companies sure thought of some some original names for colors.  (Case was my favorite with Flambeau Red and Desert Sunset) Before Ferguson merged with Massey Harris, the Ferguson company "brightened" these tractors up with the new color scheme according to Larry.  Most of the Fergusons you see are all grey with the blue emblem on the hood. You might agree they did a nice job.

The TO-35 is a 33 h.p. machine with a Continental power plant. If I remember right, the TO stood for tractor overseas since most of them were made in the U.K.   They were called TE, or Tractor England for the UK models.  Before the merger, some were made in the U.S. Our friend Nebraska Cowman says Harry Ferguson began manufacturing tractors in Detroit after the breakup with Ford.  Thanks for looking and thanks to Larry for sharing his machine!  Please keep those tractors coming.  Email or standard mail me at the addresses above. - Joe

2013 Calendar 
June 1-9, Tractor Ride Across Nebraska. Email howster@nebnet.net for more info.
June 1, South Central Nebraska Tractor Drive, Alma, Ne.  308-233-4555 for more info.
June 14-15, Great Nebraska Tractor Ride, beginning and ending in Wahoo. kticradio.com for more info.

It's a foggy day here in Central Nebraska as I type this.  So, what better way to spend a dreary day than to view some classic tractors on our blog!  This week, we look back at the Classic Tractor Parade at the state fair in August.  I had the pleasure of meeting Leonard Lindly of Anselmo, Nebraska as he waited in line to be interviewed for Talkin' Tractors by the RFD-TV crew.

Leonard told me he got tired of hand cranking this '39 Model A so he installed an electric start. Years ago, he began looking for one of these rear mounted manure loaders and found this one near Coates, KS. A No. 26 model.  Leonard tole me he knows of 8 more sitting in yards and tree rows around the Midwest!  He acquired the loader in bad shape.  It took him about a year to get it restored. 

The lift attaches to the tractor's PTO drive.  Then, gears run some chain attached to pulleys with cables that help the bucket go up and down and back and forth. Cables also make the bucket dump.  I've attached several pictures showing the loader in action.  Leonard says he has 10 tractors total in his collection.  3 are restored and the rest he uses.   Great tractor and loader, Leonard!  It was nice meeting you at the parade and I hope we can see you at another function sometime.

If you would like to submit your tractors and machines for our blog, email me at the link above.  Or, just send a letter with description and pics to the KRVN address. We have a very nice Ferguson tractor for you next week. - Joe

2013 Calendar 
June 1-9, Tractor Ride Across Nebraska. Email howster@nebnet.net for more info.
June 1, South Central Nebraska Tractor Drive, Alma, Ne.  308-233-4555 for more info.
June 14-15, Great Nebraska Tractor Ride, beginning and ending in Wahoo. kticradio.com for more info.

Hello, gang. How are our winter projects coming? If you can catch a nice day, take some photos of your winter projects or tractors completed in your collection and send them our way!

We have a treat for you this week as Tim Rebman has sent us some vintage photos of a plow day to help his grandfather back in 1954.  Tim's grandpa, Edgar, was in the hospital suffering from terminal brain cancer. The neighbors all pitched in to plow his land for him and created by a stunning picture which appeared in the Hastings Tribune that April.  Tim thought it made a great picture and so do I!

Please click on each picture to enlarge it so you can see them better and read the article.  I'm looking for your tractor to feature next week!  Please email the link above or mail photos to Tractors, C/O KRVN, PO Box 880, Lexington, NE 68850. - Joe

2013 Calendar
June 1-9, Tractor Ride Across Nebraska. Email howster@nebnet.net for more info.
June 1, South Central Nebraska Tractor Drive, Alma, Ne.  308-233-4555 for more info.
June 14-15, Great Nebraska Tractor Ride, beginning and ending in Wahoo. kticradio.com for more info.

My, how the weeks fly by in 2013!  I never wanted to believe my elders when I was young when they told me time goes faster as you get older.  Well, believe me it does!  It's already time for another tractor and I was still enjoying last week's post.

Dennis Connealy of Tekamah, Ne owns this cool looking and rare '69 2040 with Front Wheel Assist. You don't see many of these around.  FWA was an option starting in 1966, but the drive was actually just that, an assist for the tougher parts of the field. Several tractor manufacturers were experimenting with front wheel at this time.  Most of them were hydraulically driven.  Dennis tells me this tractor was sold new in 1969 from Bennington Implement, then was used on a farm near Blair most of it's life. After that, it went the way of the farm sale out of Nebraska. Dennis saw it advertised for sale in the middle of Iowa a couple of year's ago.  When the serial number was checked, they discovered it was used mostly on a farm just 15 miles from his farm near Tekamah. So, he says he bought it and returned it back to the Missouri River bottoms.

It only has 5300 hours and still has the original tach.  Great tractor and I think the first FWA tractor on our blog?!  Thanks, Dennis.  Please send my your tractors to the addresses above.  I need one for next week so if you or your neighbor has one for us, please send it in! Thanks for looking. - Joe

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope 2013 brings you happiness and many smiles as we re-live some classic farming memories here on our tractor blog. Some of the tractors we feature, I get to see in person and even drive from time-to-time!  This week is a great example! Fellow All Points Cooperative employee Ross Montgomery owns this 1949 John Deere "A" and has kept it in the family.

It pays to keep track of where your old family tractors go in case you want to add them to your collection later. Such is the case with Ross and his A which had belonged to his great uncle, Andy Montgomery.  Andy had sold it a few years on a farm sale and a neighbor picked it up.  The neighbor restored it to it's present condition, then Andy purchased it back. Ross then bought it in 2007 and has been using it ever since in parades, tractor pulls, and light chores such as moving snow, square baling hay and moving trailers.  Ross told me he got a chance to move a little snow with it last month. I got to take it for a quick spin at the Cozad Christmas Parade and it runs like a top!  Thanks, Ross for sharing your family heirloom with us!  Make sure you check out the pictures blow for closer look.

Okay blog fans, I'm quickly running out of tractors for future weeks so if you have a tractor you'd like to submit..maybe you've been putting it off for a while...well, now's the time to send me some pics and photos to the images above!  Tell you neighbors, too!  Maybe they have a classic tractor that would look good on our blog.  I'd love to feature them! Have a great week - Joe

**UPDATE**  We'll be back next week with a new machine. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year this year! Check the updated "Frito Bandito" commercial below to see where the inspiration for the tractor's name came from.  I'm sure a lot of you remember that commercial.  "Ay, yi, yi, yi...."

Jeff Ludeke of Atlanta, Ne is helping us spread some holiday cheer...Mexican style. I guess we should say "Feliz Navidad"!

Jeff restored this 1959 John Deere 730 Diesel last spring/summer.  What really makes this machine special is that it is one of the very few built in Monterrey, Mexico. Green Magazine says only 514 were built there! Jeff named it the Mexican Bandito (a.k.a The Bank Robber) after he had to rebuild or replace almost everything but the tranny. Everyone he talks to from Mexico says it should be Bandido, but the Frito mascot he used spelled it that way, so Jeff went with that. 

Jeff added some really cool details to the Bandito. All the safety and service decals are in Spanish along with the guages.  Plus, the tach is in kilometers per hour. He says he had to add a little chrome to the axles to go along with the theme.  Also, check out the sombrero on the air cleaner and the toy pistols on the frame for the bank robber.

Jeff says the best story of the tractor is the seat assembly. He purchased the tractor from Steve Just who had this tractor brought up from Mexico.  The seat assembly was so trashed, it needed to be replaced. He searched around for parts, and the best deal he could come up with was $400 plus shipping for just the frame.  After making a call to our friend John Howsden, who is a great parts finder, he found a seat frame for only $20 on a semi coming up from Mexico! Jeff says what really made it a crazy deal was the fact that this one was in the best shape of all of them.