Over the years, I have written about the bond between farmers and their tractors. In some cases, it was their own tractors, and in others, a tractor that belonged to a father, grandfather or even a neighbor.
The first tractor someone owns, when starting a farming career, often leads to an emotional attachment to the machine -- some people will choose to keep that first tractor forever, while others need the equity to help purchase the next one.
Pennsylvania farmer Lucas Criswell initially chose to trade his first tractor, yet it seemed to keep popping back up in his life. That ultimately led him to buy it back to create an opportunity for the next generation of his family.
Criswell, who farms near Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, started farming in central Pennsylvania in the mid-1990s. He now raises corn, soybeans and wheat; he also has a custom hog operation and fertilizer business.
In 1996, he applied for an FSA machinery loan, was approved and bought a 1974 Case 1370 tractor from a local farm machinery dealership. If you are familiar with this series of Case tractor, you know that most of these models featured a cab. Criswell's did not.
"I thought it was unique since it didn't have a cab," Criswell told DTN.
After he first bought the 1370 -- the tractors were originally painted orange, white and black -- he decided to repaint it red and black, which Criswell said are "true Case colors."
In the spring of 1997, Criswell used the 1370 to pull a 13-foot no-till drill on his farm. The tractor did various other tasks on the Criswell farm that first year as well.
However, Criswell soon realized he really wanted to have a tractor with a cab. So, the following year, in 1998, he traded the open-station 1370 for a 1370 with a cab at the local implement dealer. That dealer eventually sold the open-station 1370, and Criswell didn't know where it went from there.
Fast forward several years, and Criswell was looking to buy another Case tractor, this time a 970 Case. He was visiting another farmer who lived a couple hours south of him and had a 970 for sale.
As he walked into the farmer's shed to examine the 970, an open-station 1370 tractor caught his eye. After taking a closer look at it, he realized it was his old tractor.
Source: dtnpf.com
Photo Credit: istock-arthon-meekodong
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, General