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You are here: Home / Archives for Contest & Sweepstakes / Photo Contest Entries

Stories from 3 Veterans

11/11/2022 by ST Leave a Comment

By Larry Droessler, Carl Friederick, and E.S. Kaiser

Photo by Steve Prestegard, Platteville Journal

The background is the world’s largest “M”, an iconic symbol of the mining tradition and the history of the University of Wisconsin Platteville. The Platte mound “M” was developed using whitewashed stones.


1958 John Deere 420: Larry Droessler, US Navy, served aboard the USS Mahon (DLG-11) Tonkin Gulf, Republic of Vietnam service.

I had just graduated High School and was free as a bird doing what I love to do, Farm. Young enough 18 years old then and still had time to party with friends at night, played in a band most weekends, and still had the ambition to work hard on the farm all day. I was in the barn one day about finished with the morning milking of our herd of cows and my sister came up to me and said Mom has a letter she wants to show me when I come in for breakfast. When I got into the house and sat down to eat my breakfast I could tell right away that my Mother was very nervous about something, and then she showed me the letter that I had received that said I was to be drafted into the armed services.

I figured my future was somewhat planned out for being a very young man at the time, and Bang, overnight things had changed big time. I didn’t have much choice because at the time rumor had it that I couldn’t get a farm deferment because I had brothers that also helped on the farm.

After much thought in the short notice that I received even though I hated to give up my farming and future life dreams, I decided not to look into the deferment option any deeper. My Father said he always wished he could have passed the test when drafted in World War II but they didn’t take him because of his flat feet. All other thoughts put aside, I decided to join the U.S.Navy, following the footsteps of my two uncles who served in World War II, one uncle was at the Pearl Harbor bombing.

I then received notice that I should report to boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois. Boot camp was somewhat a breeze, a challenge but because I was fresh off the farm the tough physical activity was no problem for me.

I was not in California too long and off I go to Vietnam. The first night we arrived there I was on the midnight watch. At first site you would have sworn we were at the largest 4th of July fireworks ever, but after coming to your senses you knew this stuff was for real. Don’t have the time right now, nor do I want to get into the Vietnam war issues any deeper, but I can tell you that it is one way for a young man to grow up quick.


1958 Famall 450: Carl Friederick, US Army, Combat Engineers, Armored Personnel Carrier Division, Republic of Vietnam service.

I grew up on a farm in Iowa. I was the youngest of six brothers and 2 sisters. We lost my one sister at the age of 3. I went to a rural country school. There were only 12 students in the school from first grade to eighth grade. The name of our school was Salem School which was about two miles from home, and I had to walk year around no matter what the weather. Of course, it was uphill all the way from home and to school!

I started at a Catholic High School and wasn’t going to be able to graduate because I failed religion class. My Dad couldn’t let me go to Summer school because I had to stay home to make hay.

At the end of that Summer, I enlisted in the Army and was promised I would not be sent to Vietnam. I chose to go to France. Unfortunately, DeGaul, President of France, kicked the USA out of his country. I then had a choice to go to a very nice country or home. I was so homesick I chose home. With that choice, I lost my promise of not going to Vietnam. After 30 days of leave, I was sent to Virginia and got jungle warfare training which was bad as the country itself. After twelve months in Vietnam, I finished my tour in the U.S. After I was discharged I started a gas station and got married. From the gas station, I added a few odd jobs and then was an antique dealer. That job lasted for the next 40 years.

From 1965 til today Vietnam is still with me physically and mentally (and so is my wife of 52 years) who has suffered with me. I am now retired and doing small odd jobs living the big life.


1970 Massey Ferguson 135: E.S. Kaiser, US Navy served aboard the USS Mars (AFS-1) Hai Phong Harbor, North Vietnam, and Tonkin Gulf, Yankee Station, Republic of Vietnam service.

I grew up in SW Wisconsin on a dairy farm caring for dairy cattle, hogs, and chickens. In addition to livestock chores, we tilled and spring-planted oats and corn and harvested the crops in the summer and fall. Our machinery consisted of a Ferguson TO 30, Minneapolis Moline Z, and Farmall 460. I still remember the day my dad purchased the 1958 Farmall, with a mounted 2-row corn picker. He purchased the tractor and corn picker from an implement dealer in Potosi, Wisconsin. He drove the tractor and picker home and parked them in the yard. As a small boy in excitement I ran out and climbed up the ladder and sat in the seat, and amazed as I stared at the gold and silver IH monogram underlined with power steering.

At the young age of 9 years, I began plowing fields with the Ferguson TO30. I cultivated with the Minneapolis Moline Z and picked corn later with Farmall 460, as well as all of the maintenance duties required to be performed on the equipment.

To this day we still have all 3 tractors on the home farm in SW Wisconsin. These tractors require maintenance, and it is comforting to know that I can get parts from Steiner Tractor Parts, which I have done over the years. Lynn, in special orders, was very helpful with a part for the Farmall 460 years ago.

During the years 1959 to 1975, the Vietnam War raged in SE Asia, I had 3 older brothers who enlisted in the Armed Forces and shipped out to Vietnam. I graduated from high school, enlisted in the US Navy, and went to boot camp in San Diego, California. While in boot camp I volunteered for duty in Vietnam and was assigned to a combat supply ship named USS Mars (AFS-1). The ship was homeported in the Far East, and the assignment was for a 3-year tour of duty in SE Asia, Vietnam. For the next 3 years, I answered the call of duty, with combat supply missions performed in Hai Phong Harbor, North Vietnam, and combat supply missions performed in the Tonkin Gulf, Yankee Station, of South Vietnam.

I completed my tour of duty to Vietnam and returned home, and enrolled in college at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. I graduated with a degree in Industrial Safety while putting myself through college with the GI Bill. After college, I received a commission in the US Army and went back on active duty. I spent a 1-year hardship tour to Johnston Island, in the Pacific Ocean, destroying chemical weapons left over from the Cold War. In addition, I completed a tour of duty to Operation Desert Storm, Doha, Kuwait, collecting air samples from the oil well fires in the desert.

I retired with 30 years of service in the US Navy and the US Army. I am a sick and disabled Vietnam Veteran due to exposure to Agent Orange.


If you would like to submit a story with photo(s) about an experience with your tractor, interesting facts about its history, or a restoration project,  please go to Tractor Story Submissions. If your story is picked to appear on the blog you will receive a FREE Steiner hat. Some stories will also go on to be published in our quarterly magazine. We look forward to hearing your story!

1942 Farmall H

10/14/2022 by ST Leave a Comment

I’m the Fourth generation to put hands on this 1942 Farmall H. After a Four year restore of mostly nights and weekends here it is.

In it’s farming days here in Vermont, the H was mostly used to mow with a John Deere number 5 sickel mower. Nowadays it stays parade ready, but every once and a while the John Deere mower will go on, and the H will be returned back to work. Just far less of it.

John Kellogg
Orwell, Vermont
Tractor Photo Contest Winner

View all our tractor photo contest winners here.

1951 Massey Harris 30

06/15/2022 by ST Leave a Comment

The tractor is a 1951 Massey Harris model 30. It has the original F162 Continental Engine. It is owned by Paul Moroni of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. It was purchased locally from the original owner.

Paul has restored it and owned it for over 20 years now. It has become part of the family. It will someday be passed down to his daughters. 

Lynda Ellis
Middleboro, Massachusetts
Tractor Photo Contest Winner

1950 CO-OP E-4 Buda 262 motor

05/26/2022 by ST Leave a Comment

1950 Co-Op

Originally utilized at a farm located near Ann Arbor, Michigan. As technology brought new tractors, this Co-Op was then utilized to haul crops from the field to the farm for storage. The tractor was discovered in the field row, almost out of life, and purchased. It was re-built to the current condition by Gary Baker and Warren Townsend. In its new life, it is a Division 2 puller and has won numerous pulls it has entered. It will spend the rest of its life within our family. 

Bill Parker
Goodrich, Michigan
2022 Tractor Photo Contest Winner

Lucky 17 Winners

03/18/2022 by ST Leave a Comment

Congratulations to the 17 winners of our Finnegan’s Lucky 17. Each winner will be receiving a $25 Steiner Tractor Parts gift card. Thank you all for playing. 🍀 😃 🍀

Daryl Myran

Jerry Lee Gonzalez

Loren Edelman

Christopher Tolbert

Dawn Bezanson

Ronald Bollinger

Richard Boda

Kenneth Waibel

Megan Atha

Dan Housken

Bryon Phillips

Thomas Roberts

Mike Alexander

Allan Abley

Robert Alnutt Sr.

Anthony Della Camera

William LeRose

Allis Chalmers WD

02/10/2022 by ST Leave a Comment

I started pulling tractors when I was in junior high, starting out on my dad’s Farmall M. After a while I wanted my own tractor, and I knew I wanted an Allis Chalmers. We went to an auction and brought home this Allis Chalmers and she quickly was named ‘The Lil Allis’. She received a paint job from my dad, the old Allis Orange with the new Allis Orange flames coming off the grill going through the decal, and coming down the fenders.

We continued to pull throughout high school. When I went to college my dad continued to pull her while I was gone. One year he flipped it during a pull, after that she came home and sat in the shed until now. I decided I wanted to get back into the pulling game. We pulled her out, dusted off the cobwebs to reveal her custom paint job, and got to work. In this picture she is showing off her custom-made weight bracket in the front and in front of the rear axle, and the custom-made wheelie bars in the back. This Winter she will receive a whole new paint job that I’m excited to be part of. Won the weight class (3,750 lbs Farm Class) that I pull in with the WeakEnders Tractor Pulling Club this year.

Cassie Mack
Harvard, Illinois
2022 Tractor Photo Contest Winner

February Featured Photo

02/01/2022 by ST 6 Comments

1957 Ford 600

In 2019-2020 my junior year of high school, my best friend and I completed the restoration of this 1957 Ford 600 for a local competition. We made it to nationals and finished as part of the top twelve finalists.

The restoration took around 9 months with over 600 hours invested and many memories made. This restoration was a learning experience of a lifetime where we developed our mechanical knowledge beyond what we thought possible.

The tractor was later sold to a very kind gentleman who takes his new tractor ‘Anni’ out for Sunday drives and keeps in contact about her many appearances in parades. We couldn’t imagine a better ending for this restoration and can’t wait for many more to come.

Annika Ernstrom
San Luis Obispo, California
2022 Tractor Photo Contest Winner

December Featured Photo

12/06/2021 by ST 6 Comments

Ford Tractor in Barn

Eric Parker on Great-Grandpa Parker’s 1954 Ford NAA.

Erica Parker
Battle Creek, Michigan
2022 Tractor Photo Contest Winner

Erica’s photo was used for our 2022 Steiner Tractor Parts catalog cover.
  • The winner’s name was incorrectly listed as Erica Walker in our 2022 catalog. The winner is Erica Parker as listed above. We apologize for the mistake.

City Tractor

12/02/2021 by ST 1 Comment

I fell in love with the IH Cub after finding an abandoned 1951 in an old barn. A city boy who has no connection with a farm, I took on the hobby to rebuild it to working order. I am the only person in the City of Chicago with not one, but two IH Farmall tractors.

My boys and I live downtown not far from the John Hancock building and often drive them around for others to enjoy the rare site. I drove this Cub across Michigan Ave in stopped traffic and parked in front of Bloomingdales for the beautiful shot. Even the Chicago police were taking pictures. Great memory for our family.

This photo was taken on Thanksgiving 2020.

Ray Pelelas
Chicago, Illinois
2022 Tractor Photo Contest Winner

1938 Case C

10/13/2021 by ST Leave a Comment

My 1938 Case C has been in the family for over 40 years. It’s pulling an 8′ Case WRA one-way Wheatland disk plow built in the 1930s. This tractor was first owned by my late uncle, Bruce Watts, then by my late father, John Pinkney, and now me. It is the tractor I first learned to drive, on my uncle’s farm.

This photo was taken in front of the Lucas barn in Milton, Ontario, Canada. The barn was used for the Anne of Green Gables movie on PBS in 2016. The barn was used for the chickens in the movie. This photo was taken after the filming was finished.

Shawn Pinkney
Caledon, Ontario, Canada
2022 Tractor Photo Contest Winner

October Featured Photo

10/06/2021 by ST 2 Comments

My grandfather bought this tractor new in 1956 at the dealership, west side implement in Wood Lake, Minnesota.

My father grew up doing custom hay baling with this tractor. When the farm was sold I was able to keep the tractor, and in my senior year of high school, my father and I restored it together.

This picture has the fourth generation of family ownership pictured.

Tyler Dotseth
Jordan, Minnesota
2022 Tractor Photo Contest Winner

Tractor Photos Wanted

06/04/2021 by ST Leave a Comment

Submit a photo of your tractor for a chance to be featured in our 2022 Catalog or 2022 Calendar!

Each photo chosen for the catalog or calendar will receive a $25 Steiner gift card. The 3 grand prize category winners will each receive a $300 Steiner gift card.

This year we are mixing it up and have changed two of our three categories.

NEW! Friends & Family – A photo of your tractor(s) with one or more friends or family members.

New! Furry & Feathered – A photo of your tractor(s) with a furry or feathered friend. Man’s best friend, cow, or chicken, we look forward to seeing all your non-human friends.

Our third category is Best Photoshop Effect.

Photos must be uploaded to our contest site from our Facebook page or from our website. Hurry, the contest ends July 15th, 2021.

1937 Case CO

09/14/2020 by ST 1 Comment

4th Generation owned, 1937 Case CO, Great Grandfather purchased brand new for Orange Grove farming in Downey, California. Tractor is all original, all decals are present, even one original rear tire.

Tractor is pictured with the disc used from back in the 3 used in the Orange Groves. Tractor sat inside a barn for 60 plus years. A true barn find. Runs and operates great, for more generation’s to enjoy! 

Danny Barber of Ramona, California

2020 Tractor Photo Contest Winner

September Featured Photo

09/10/2020 by RT 6 Comments

Septembers featured photo was submitted
by Mark Kurth of La Porte County, Indiana.


Our home is on the National Register listed Forrester Farmstead in LaPorte County, Indiana. Allis Chalmers (previously Rumley) was an important manufacturer in La Porte before 1984, when the plan was shut down. When we needed a tractor to help with restoration work at the farm, an Allis D14 was a natural choice – being a hometown favorite. Our tractor has never been apart and still works as good as it did when it was build in 1957. The post-hole auger is an original AC implement.”

-Mark Kurth

Doriann and her John Deere

05/30/2020 by ST 1 Comment

1953 John Deere 60

Doriann Damarau is a graduate of Marion High School in Marion Texas. She was a 2019 senior attending Sul Ross University in Alpine Texas, majoring in Natural Resources Management with an emphasis on Range Management. She was working at an internship for the NRCS in Boerne, Texas for the Summer of 2019.

Dori has been pulling tractors with Tri-County Antique Tractor pullers for 9 years, since she was 12. She helps with the sign up sheets and does the hook for the sled. Above she is pictured at the Comal County Fair in New Braunfels, Texas with her 1953 Model 60 John Deere. This was her Grandfather, Roger Bierstedt’s first tractor. He purchased it at Hilbert Implements in Seguin, Texas.

A fine young lady with a great future in agriculture and a tractor that will be pulling for many years to come. Her proud parents are James and Gail Damerau.

Ellen C. Loessberg of LaCoste, Texas

2020 Catalog Photo Contest Winner

1948 Allis Chalmers C

05/28/2020 by ST Leave a Comment

1948 Allis Chalmers C

This 1948 Allis Chalmers C was restored by Justin Mraz and his grandfather, Van Fowler. This tractor was purchase by Justin’s great great grandfather in the Spring of 1949 and has never left the family land in Ellis County, Texas.

Justin, with the help of his grandfather, traveled with the tractor all across Texas through FFA for Ag. Mechanics Shows where he received numerous recognitions and awards. 

Justin Mraz of Ennis, Texas

2020 Catalog Photo Contest Winner

1952 Cockshutt 20

05/22/2020 by ST 5 Comments

The Tractor was originally my Grandfather’s. It was sold outside the family in the late 90’s, it took me two years to track it down, it was owned by a Cockshutt Collector Mr. Lauzon of Williamstown Ontario. He gracefully sold me the tractor, and I hauled it over 400 miles back home. Took a little over a year, but was finally completely restored.

Cockshutt 20

The following story was written by Ross Dokis for the Cockshutt Quarterly, and he has allowed us to share it with our readers.

Hello I am from northern Ontario, for those whom do not know me, my name is Ross Dokis, I am 26 years old, and I am from Sudbury Ontario.

I can recollect as far back as the early 1990’s, I was three or four years old, my grandfather had a Cockshutt 20. I used to sit on his lap, and he would let me steer the tractor. I would later watch him plow snow in the driveway with the rear blade. Wow! Was I ever amazed! Weekends were spent going for a ride up and down the driveway as a youngster; I had a smile from ear to ear!

That smile quickly faded when in the late 90’s; grandpa gave the tractor to my uncle who later partially restored the tractor sporting new paint and later sold it outside the family. I thought l’d never see it again.

In January 2015, with a house, garage, and mechanic know how of my own, I set out to find that Cockshutt! Determined, I set ads on the internet, calling family friends if they knew where the tractor had gone. Over a year went by, until February 2016. I received a call from a gentleman who said he was a collector in Williamstown Ontario, near the Cornwall area. The man was Glen Lauzon; Glen was able to provide the tractors history right back to my grandfather even before I gave him the serial number to confirm it was the one.

How did it get more that 600 kms, or over 400 miles from home? Glen recounted how he was up north near Cochrane Ontario on a yearly hunting trip and seen it for sale on the side of the road, and being the collector Glen was, he immediately brought it home.

in May 2016, with help from my dad, uncle and a friend’s car hauler, we set out to make the trip. I had the opportunity to bring the 20 back home, and more importantly, I got to meet Glen and his lovely wife Brenda, and became close friends with Glen.

Fast forward two years, with the 20 sitting comfortably in the garage. Late nights in the garage, on the internet and looking through books and manuals and getting advice through countless friends met through the club, and the Facebook Cockshutt page, the 20 is now completely restored.

I am so proud to be a part of the Cockshutt family. I was blown away at how Cockshutt people are the friendliest, most caring people to not just talk tractors, but to give you a hand when you need it.

A close friend once told me “tractors bring you together; the people keep you together”. lt’s a true testament to how Cockshutt people are.

Since hauling grandpa’s 20 home, two other 20’s have joined the family along with a 30. With no cure to the fever in sight, a supportive wife, and room to store the gorgeous red and creme machines, things will only grow!

Ross Dokis of Hanmer Ontario

2020 Catalog Photo Contest Winner

Tractor Teeter-Totter and history of the Farmall F-12

05/19/2020 by ST Leave a Comment

Wade Wiley on his original Farmall F-12 competing in the teeter totter contest at the South Plains Antique Tractor show.

Farmall F-12 on the Teeter-Totter

Wade’s father-in-law found the F-12 in Lamar, Colorado in 1991 and Wade acquired it upon his passing. 

The F-12 was International Harvester’s answer for a low cost, all purpose tractor smaller than the F-20. Designed to compete with Ford Motor Company’s Fordson, it weighed 1,700 pounds less and was a foot shorter than the F-20. The large 54 inch diameter rear wheels provided good clearance without the need for F-20’s drop gears. The F-12 was equipped with three forward gears, one reverse and came standard with a narrow front end. Wide front or single wheel were also options. In 1934, IH’s small 4 cylinder ohv engine replaced the original Waukesha L-head 4 cylinder. It was advertised as a one plow tractor with 10hp at the drawbar. The F-12 was very popular with small farmers and over 123,000 total units were sold during the  1932-1938 production run. It was replaced by the F-14.

Bill Adams of Lubock, Texas

2020 Catalog Photo Contest Winner

Gaggle of Allis Chalmers

04/20/2020 by Suzette Thomas Leave a Comment

Allis Chalmers Tractors

Sheridan Hansen of Cedar City, Utah leads his family on a gaggle of Allis Chalmers in the Iron County Fair parade in Parowan, Utah.

Photo by Billy DeSilva of Cedar City, Utah

2020 Calendar Photo Contest Winner

1942 Farmall H with Stars

04/03/2020 by Suzette Thomas 9 Comments

In 1942, Mr. Hoover of Troutman, North Carolina wanted a new tractor that had rubber tires on it, so he purchased the 1942 Farmall H. The Farmall was used actively on the Hoover farm from 1942 until 1980. Then the tractor was placed in the barn where it remained for 20 years.

Nichol Lancaster Photography took this picture for Park’s 1st birthday in 2016.

Alan Johnson of Troutman, North Carolina purchased the Farmall in 2000 from the Hoover family and began the restoration process. When Alan sanded the paint he noticed 2 white stars on the hood of the tractor. He went to the Hoover family and ask what the stars were for. Mr. Hoover had two sons that were serving in the military during WWII, during this time families would put stars in their windows to show they had family members in the military. As Mr. Hoover drove his new tractor home he stopped and had a white star painted on each side of the hood, in honor of his sons.

Today, the Farmall is still in great condition and resides at the Johnson Farm in Troutman, North Carolina. Mainly used as a show piece in town parades and family pictures!

Alan Johnson

2020 Calendar Photo Contest Winner

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