Old Tractors Keep Family Together

By Bill Vossler
Published on March 10, 2014
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Norbert Hoefs’ 1929 Wallis 12-20.
Norbert Hoefs’ 1929 Wallis 12-20.
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The late Norbert and Lois Hoefs (also deceased).
The late Norbert and Lois Hoefs (also deceased).
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Jim Heyda on Norbert's 1929 Wallis 12-20.
Jim Heyda on Norbert's 1929 Wallis 12-20.
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The Wallis 12-20. Wallis claimed its tractors were
The Wallis 12-20. Wallis claimed its tractors were "certified" in design, material, workmanship and inspection. Ads boasted that every tractor the company manufactured was subject to 5,291 inspections before leaving the factory.
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Family members pitch in to help load the John Deere D and Wallis 12-20.
Family members pitch in to help load the John Deere D and Wallis 12-20.
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Jim Hoefs and his daughter, Julie, on the 22-36 McCormick-Deering, waiting for the parade to start. Jill Hoefs is on the 1941 Farmall H at right; Donna Hoefs (Jim's wife) stands between the tractors.
Jim Hoefs and his daughter, Julie, on the 22-36 McCormick-Deering, waiting for the parade to start. Jill Hoefs is on the 1941 Farmall H at right; Donna Hoefs (Jim's wife) stands between the tractors.
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Norbert’s seven grandchildren with a sign honoring him at the Le Sueur County (Minn.) Pioneer Power Show.
Norbert’s seven grandchildren with a sign honoring him at the Le Sueur County (Minn.) Pioneer Power Show.
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This arch of wheels at the Pioneer Power Show is constructed of 31 implement wheels donated by Norbert Hoefs. Norbert not only collected and painted the wheels, but also financed the project.
This arch of wheels at the Pioneer Power Show is constructed of 31 implement wheels donated by Norbert Hoefs. Norbert not only collected and painted the wheels, but also financed the project.
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Jim Heyda's son, James, and grandsons Jimmy and Jason on the 1929 McCormick 22-36.
Jim Heyda's son, James, and grandsons Jimmy and Jason on the 1929 McCormick 22-36.
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A pair of Norbert's grandsons on the 1930 John Deere D.
A pair of Norbert's grandsons on the 1930 John Deere D.

When Norbert Hoefs died in 1998, he left behind a large collection of old iron, including threshing machines, plows, elevators, wagon running gears and tractors. What happened next was a collector’s fondest hope. Through a carefully considered plan, Norbert kept his family and his tractors together.

Before his death, Norbert bequeathed tractors from his collection to members of his extended family. He knew they would want to continue his custom of ferrying the relics to the Le Sueur County (Minn.) Pioneer Power Show every year. That meant they would be helping each other, just as they’d helped him, coming together as a family.

“In giving tractors to family members,” says Jim Heyda, Norbert’s son-in-law who lives in Montgomery, Minn., “it was Norbert’s intent to help keep the family close. Collecting the tractors was very important to Norbert. Outside of farming, he spent much of his spare time working on his collection. He wanted the family to continue taking care of these antique tractors and showing them at the Le Sueur Show every August.”

Building a collection

Jim and Norbert enjoyed a close relationship. “I grew up on a farm and my dad died fairly young,” Jim says, “so after I got married, my father-in-law became kind of like a father figure to me. When he got into old tractors, I volunteered to go to auctions with him wherever there were auctions, all over Minnesota and Iowa. He would buy this big stuff and I helped him haul it back. He was a good man. With Norbert, you never knew what he was going to bring home.”

The hoard eventually included nine old tractors. “When Dad brought tractors or other old equipment home,” says his son, 58-year-old Jim Hoefs, “we just rolled our eyes. ‘Here’s another one to restore or paint,’ we’d say. He really got into the painting. He loved making it as original as he could remember from when he was younger.”

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