News WMT Tractorcade: Local riders among hundreds sharing machines, stories

Several guys stood in the parking lot of Vinton-Shellsburg High School on Monday, discussing Love -- not the topic, but the tractor, and Jabez Love, the man who made the uniquely-shaped farm machines that bear his name.

While most of the 530 tractors entered in the annual WMT Tractorcade bore the more familiar names of John Deere, Ford, White, Massey-Ferguson, Massey-Harris, Minneapolis-Moline and Oliver, a few rare names and unusual designs were among the machines that filed into the VSHS parking lot for a lunch stop.

Hundreds of Iowa communities -- from Ainsworth to Zwingle -- were represented in the annual event. Some tractors even came from beyond Iowa's borders.

Organizers said this year's total of 530 tractors is an all-time high for WMT's annual event. Today is just the first of three days of driving throughout eastern Iowa.

Many of the tractors have been in the same families for decades, and generations. Many men who used to use those now-antique tractors in their fields now keep them shined up for events like Tractorcade and others.

Local tractors twice restored

Several local tractor owners were among the participants.

Larry Johnson of rural Vinton, accompanied by his two sons, Zach and Cody, entered three John Deere tractors in the event. The trio rides each year with Terry Hertle and Terry's nephew, Dave Timmerman.

Larry's parents, Zenis (Zeke) and Thelma Johnson, originally bought two of those tractors, a 6030 and a 3010, for use on the farm. Larry later restored them for use in events like Tractorcade. A few years ago, he bought a third tractor, a 1949 John Deere R.

The R, says Larry, was the first diesel engine tractor that John Deere made. The serial number on his tractor -- 1021 -- indicates that it is just the 21st diesel tractor to come off the John Deere assembly lines in Waterloo.  

All three of those tractors, which Larry had hired restorers to finish, were significantly damaged during the wind storm of July 11, 2011, when the 130 mph winds knocked down the building that was housing those tractors, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Because of the damage, the R tractor was not available for last year's Tractorcade. All three were available this year; Larry said his sons each have a favorite, which they drive in the Tractorcade.

Other local participants included Glenn and Marg Werning of rural Newhall, Dell Hanson of rural Vinton and Ross Wiley of rural Brandon, (who was accompanied by a grandson).

The Vinton-Shellsburg FFA served the lunch of sirloin steak or hamburgers. The Benton County Cattlemen's Association members cooked the meat. Many area residents -- as well as those from other parts of Iowa -- stopped to walk among the tractors, talk to the owners and share what they know about the machines and what they remember about using them.

Family project

For many participants, Tractorcade is a family event. Several husbands and wives each drove a tractor. The couples included Ralph and Vivian Mohwinkle of Aplington. She drove an orange Allis-Chalmers; he a green Oliver.

"We both drive the kind of tractors we grew up with," explained Vivian, as the couple took photos with their grandchildren before leaving Vinton, heading to the next stop in Van Horne. 

Many fathers and sons rode together, either on separate tractors or the same one. Others mentioned the names of deceased parents on their tractors, as they drove in tribute and remembrance.