Here’s what my mom and dad have to say about teaching kids to fix tractors.
Preschoolers are old enough to start doing simple tasks in the shop. My tricycle floor-dry delivery system was a real hit – sometimes, I think dad spilled things on the floor just to let me clean it up! Preschoolers can also bring you small hand tools and pretend to fix the engines on their pedal tractors. Children of this age are ready for meaningful work – my younger sister at age four would clean lawn tractors at my parent’s dealership.
Mature kids may be ready to start on basic mechanical tasks. A child who shows interest can work alongside an adult at restoring a tractor, learning as they go. It’s even better if a child can have a sense of ownership and personal investment in the tractor she’s working on. My dad insisted that I put in some of my own money on any tractors that we bought and sold together, even if I could only afford a small amount. Investing my own money and time gave me a real sense of accomplishment when the tractors were fixed up and sold!
Teens can be ready for even more responsibility. They can start to work with less supervision in the shop, and take on more complex tasks like painting. As a teenager, I worked with my dad to paint my own Ford Jubilee pink. The more maturity a teen shows, the more responsibility he or she can take on in their own projects. Some teens might even be ready to start aggressively buying and selling on their own – I started getting serious about doing so around 15 years old, and the nest egg I built up served me well when I went off to college!
By the time I was a college freshman and living away from home, I was ready to bring in extra money by buying and selling tractors and parts. I’m not too sure what my landlord thought of the tractors that sprouted in the backyard or the hallway that boasted some of my parted-out 8N Ford, but he didn’t complain! My parents had taught me well, and the side gig of selling alongside my studies helped a lot.
No matter what stage the children in your life are at, you can nurture their interest in antique tractors. How about you – when did your love for tractors start to spring up? How was it nurtured by the people around you? I’d love to hear your story – please share in the comments below.
CAPTIAN RONNIE LOESCH says
I Like the items you publish keep up the good work. Rachel I worked at a Dealership sold Ford New Holland Hesston Hay Equipment Service Box Blades 15″Cutters Etc. When it would get cold floor in shop would have water on it be slip and slide.