We live on a small farm in Haywood County and have always had tractors, but nothing antique. When our daughter Courtney was in high school in 2009, she decided that she wanted to restore a tractor for her senior year project. Her great uncle had a 1951 John Deere MT and gave it to Courtney to restore. She restored the tractor with the help of her dad and granddaddy and that’s how our obsession with tractors started.
Our family has now restored 10 antique tractors as well as close to 25 pedal tractors. My husband got the idea to make a barrel train that would be pulled with Courtney’s tractor so that the kids that come to our show would have something to do. There are 5 different barrels and each is painted a different color, complete with stickers, steering wheel and gauges. We have been amazed at the response that we get from kids when they see it and many ride several times, even crying when it’s time to get out.
This has become something that we do as a family including my parents and in-laws as well. We are members of the Ole Smoky Antique Tractor and Engine Association in Haywood County and we try and attend as many shows as possible.
Karen Wade
Clyde, North Carolina
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