Like Father, Like Daughters

By Bill Vossler
Published on November 5, 2019
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by Bill Vossler

Mike Wahl traces his interest in old iron to the tractor shows he attended as a boy, tagging along with his dad and grandfather. But while working with local steam enthusiast Danny Moerke in the mid-1980s, he began to focus on steam engines.

With Danny as his first mentor, it was soon evident that Mike had “steam in his blood.” After much searching and a lot of persuasion, Mike convinced his parents that they should purchase their first steam traction engine: a 1921 15hp Style K Farquhar.

Danny continued as Mike’s mentor until his death in 2005. Today, Danny’s legacy lives on through Mike, who lends a helping hand to others who want to learn about steam – including his daughters, 17-year-old Lilly and 13-year-old Maddy. The Wahls’ Farquhar – Mike’s teenage passion – remains the focus of a shared interest.

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