Almost Twin Tractors

I was born and raised on John Deere equipment on a farm near Fort Atkinson Iowa.  I learned to drive a tractor on my Dad’s 1953 John Deere 50. My uncle had a John Deere 520 which I always liked and got to drive on occasion. For years I always wanted a tractor from around the time I grew up. I wanted to drive in parades and go on tractor rides. Living in town, I had no place to keep a tractor. 

About 5 years ago, my oldest brother saw a 1958 John Deere 520 for sale online. He told me I should buy it. I told him I had nowhere to keep it. He said I could keep it in one of his sheds on his farm. The tractor was 30 miles away and I bought it. A couple of months later, I saw a 1956 John Deere 520 for sale online. It was 75 miles away. It looked almost identical to the one I had. My brother said he still had room in his shed. Having tractor fever I ended up buying the second one. I tried to make them look like twins. I have to admit, at times I have to stop and look to make sure which one is which. I have taken them to several parades and tractor drives. Any of my brothers is more than happy to drive one of them for me in parades.

Sometimes, after a stressful day at work, I take a tractor drive. I find it very relaxing as I remember the days growing up on the farm. It doesn’t get any better.

Paul Schmitt
Fort Atkinson, Iowa
Tractor Photo Contest Winner

Our tractor photo contest runs every year between April – July.
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