The longer you listen to stories from and about farmers and old iron enthusiasts, the more family becomes the central focus of discussion. The “I fixed this up for my grandkids to use” or “I hang out with my dad by restoring tractors” type of people are a common part of both communities.
I suppose I’m no exception though. My own grandfather was a hobby farmer for decades before I was born, and his family has a long tradition of farming starting before they came to the U.S. My transition to being the lead editor here on Farm Collector prompted him to bring out some of his old photo albums from his own mother and grandfather so he could show off some of the vintage (well, new at the time) equipment they used to run. It was all pretty neat stuff from my perspective.
Of course, this issue of Farm Collector certainly proves that I’m not the only one with family ties to old iron. You can read about how Josephine Roberts became hooked on vintage tractors. Her window into rural living across the pond through her and her family’s agricultural history is always a welcome addition to Farm Collector.
In Barry Tuller’s feature on the Mount Pleasant Old Threshers Reunion, he highlights the Reynolds family. The Reynolds have four generations already exhibiting their engines, and they’re looking forward to having a fifth-generation starting in the future.
Our article on The American Tractor Museum by Larry Scheckel can’t escape the bonds of family. The Berkbuegler and Buchheit families certainly leave their mark in the museum they built. We also have family featured in our First Hand article by Charles Lowry.
Even our letters section for this issue has a send off from the much beloved Travis and Shirley Jorde, who know quite a bit about sharing our community with someone you love. There are a few more stories from readers showing off their family bonds, too.
I suppose that one of the best parts of hobbies is sharing them with people you love. Whether it’s with family, old friends or just fellow enthusiasts, I think we all enjoy sharing our passions.
At Farm Collector, we love all the stories we get about sharing passion for old iron and vintage farm equipment across generations. From our Sprouts featured artists to the veteran antique operators, the farm collectibles and old iron communities have a broad demographic, and familial bonds are one of the big reasons why. Keep sharing that passion with the people you love! Often you’ll find them enjoying it as much as you do.
Until next time,
Zach Brown
