This Is Their Story

Dealer Nate Girbach came in from Milan, MI pulling a trailer with his 1958 John Deere 320.  Nate has been a dealer with Steiner Tractor Parts since 2004.  When asked how many tractors he has restored he replied "too many to remember".  Nate has an agricultural background as a 4th generation farmer, Great-grandfather Andrew, Grandfather Ernest and father Gary all farmed before him.  Nate currently works a 50 head dairy farm along with 1500 acres of cash crop.  It seems tractors are a big part of his personal life as well. He met his girlfriend Sarah when she lived on the section North of his family, they both enjoyed tractor pulls and according to Nate "she had a tractor but I had the trailer".  They are pictured here by Nate’s John Deere but he tells us Sarah is an Allis Chalmers girl.

Father and son, Chet and Chad Terry brought in 4 Case tractors; 1961 model 630, 1966 model 530, 1968 model 430, and a very rare 1964 model 431.  According to Chad they didn’t know the find they had with the ‘431’ they bought it in 2005 with a blown motor and had to rebuild it not knowing that it was a very rare demonstrator model, and a first year diesel sent only for display at dealers.  The family farms 40 acres and attend around eight shows a year within Michigan with their Case tractors.

Geoff Parmenter fell into tractors strictly by necessity.  Geoff purchased a home in North Branch Michigan on 3.4-acres and armed with only a push mower he decided to buy a tractor for mowing and other work around the property.  Geoff chose a Ford because he said he has always been partial to Fords because to him they scream tractor.  Geoff purchased his 1955 Ford model 860 in 2001 as the 3rd owner.  He restored the tractor with his brother-in-law over the course of 2 years.

R.G. Whitford of Perrington brought his International McCormick to the show and says he has been restoring tractors for nearly 30 years and is hoping to pass his love of tractors on to his grandsons pictured with him; Trent 2, Blake 1, Brennan 10 months, and Landon 7 months.  Whitford says "I am an International man, I love them".  R.G. has retired from farming and has passed it on to his youngest with hopes it will remain a family tradition.

Dan Sager of Napoleon and Tony Moore from Grass Lake have been friends for 6 years and have been restoring tractors most of their lives. Both men are members of the Jackson Area Antique Tractor Club,  and take their tractors to around 6 shows a year. The Farmall B they brought with them has been a work in progress for the last 3 years. Tony will be restoring a John Deere B in remembrance of his Grandpa.   

Gene Kurney of Juddville brought his 1957 Farmall 450 to the show.  The 450 was bought new by his father in 1958 and will be passed on to his first grandson Wyatt Rosser.  According to Gene the tractor has around 3200 hours and the motor has never been touched.  The only parts replaced have been the tires, seat and steering wheel.  Gene has farmed his whole life and also owns a 1953 Super H that will be passed on to his son Justin.