This is the story of a tractor that spent almost all its years cultivating tomatoes in Merced, California. This 2010 John Deere high crop tractor was built May 11,1961 in Dubuque, Iowa. It’s 59 years old same age as me I was born May 5th, 1961.
It was Shipped June 1st to San Francisco California and sold to the Trinidad brothers by Valley Tractor Co. in Merced, California. It served the brothers very well farming tomatoes until it was traded off to Berenda Tractor Co. in Merced, California.
Sometime in the 70’s it was purchased by Jack Rogina who also farmed tomatoes in Merced. We became partners with the Roginas in the early 80’s and we farmed tomatoes with the tractor until 1986. The tractor was just too under horsepower to keep up with the bigger width equipment. It was retired to Bob Rogina’s farm, Jack’s son kept it until about 2005 when it was traded off to N&S Tractor in Merced, then sold to a farmer in Stockton, California. After he farmed with it for about 10 years he sold it to a fellow in Carson City, Nevada. The new owner put the tractor up for sale on the internet.
I found the tractor and looking at it closely I recognized it as being the 2010. It had a yellow front bolster that we replaced in the mid 80’s so I called the guy and told him to hold the tractor for 24 hours so I could do the number research and sure enough that was the tractor. So I purchased it and brought it back to the same town and ranch it worked on. I spent about 1-½ years restoring the 2010 with most of the parts coming from Steiner Tractor Parts. Now the 2010 runs nice and enjoys tractor shows, parades and retirement.
Augie Scoto of Atwater, California
W. Johnson says
I love your tractor! I wonder if you could help me solve a starting problem with my 1965 2010, purchased at a farm sale by my grandfather in 1975- has been on our farm since.
Augie says
Is it a gas or diasel ? What is the problem ?