|
These memories are not for sale at any price"When we got that tractor we thought we had the world by the tail with a downhill pull," Koirtyohann said. By Doug Rich "When I first got that old tractor running, I would never get on it without a memory of some sort rolling back," Roy Koirtyohann said. The love that many people have for old tractors and farm equipment is not based on the fact that these are marvelous machines that changed agricultural production around the world. It is all about the memories. Most people that grew up on a farm can remember distinctly the first new tractor their family owned or the first tractor they ever drove. Those memories are clear and come flooding back to us with ease. "I remember the day when my father drove that tractor off the truck brand new when I was 15 years old," Koirtyohann said. "When we got that tractor we thought we had the world by the tail with a downhill pull." The tractor he is referring to is an International harvester (IHC) Farmall M that Koirtyohann has restored and now exhibits at shows around the Midwest. There has never been a second bill of sale on this tractor. It has remained in the family ever since his father purchased it in 1945. Koirtyohann inherited the tractor from his brother's widow after he was killed in an accident. "She knew I would fix it up and get it running again," Koirtyohann said. "My nephew, Kenneth Koirtyohann, is the youngest member of the family who actually worked the old tractor, actually put it in the field and used it," Koirtyohann said. "I will give it to him when I can't handle it anymore." Koirtyohann's interest in antique farm equipment has led to his involvement in regional and national farm equipment shows. He is president of the Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association and is serving as regional chairman of the Red Power Round Up this year. The Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association will hold its 44th annual "Back to the Farm Reunion" Sept. 6 to 9 at the Brady Showground in Booneville, Mo. Every show has an annual special feature. This year's is John Deere . " John Deere is always a good feature for us," Koirtyohann said. "A lot of people around here are dedicated to green paint." The show will feature all types of antique farm equipment in addition to John Deere . Everything from draft horses to classic cars and trucks. Old steam and gas tractors are still a highlight for the show. Three of these tractors stand out from the rest for Koirtyohann. There is an Altman Taylor 30-60 gas tractor owned by the club that puts on the show. This is a monster with rear wheels that are 6 feet tall. An even bigger tractor is the Twin City 40-65, owned by Roger Baumgartner of Keyetsville, Mo., that weighs in at 13.5 tons. "As gas tractors go, these are huge machines," Koirtyohann said. The steam engine that attracts a lot of attention is a carefully restored 40 horsepower Case engine. This is a very colorful steam powered tractor that is housed at the showgrounds but is owned and restored by Brian and Lisa Koester from St. Charles, Mo. The show typically has seven to eight full-sized steam engines and 10 to 12 model steam engines. These engines will be used to thrash grain, crush rock and saw lumber. "The people that grew up on steam and are enthusiastic about steam are gradually passing out of the picture," Koirtyohann said. "Younger people can afford an old tractor but to buy an old steam engine you are talking some bucks to get into that game. They also require a very significant time commitment because they are old and need a lot of maintenance." Since he joined the association, Koirtyohann has run the sawmill during the show. He grew up on a farm near Washington, Mo., and during the winter months his father ran a sawmill. The IHC M Farmall tractor that he owns today powered that sawmill. Koirtyohann claims to have the biggest contrast between what he did for a living and what he does at the show. He earned his living for over 30 years as a professor of chemistry at the University of Missouri. "Sawing is how I got started in this show and it is still what I do today. Once you get saw dust in your blood you never get rid of it." Because of his personal interest in International harvester equipment , Koirtyohann is excited about the return of the Red Power Round Up to Missouri in 2008. The International harvester Collectors Club will bring their national show back to Missouri on June 11 to 14, 2008. The Red Power Round Up has not been held in Missouri since 1993. The Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association and the Great Missouri State Chapter of the IHC Collectors are co-sponsors for the Red Power Round Up next year. Koirtyohann said there would be nearly 1,200 exhibits and around 800 tractors at this show. In addition to his M Farmall, Koirtyohann hopes to have another vehicle on display next year: A 1947 International grain truck that belonged to his father. "The truck is not running yet but it will be by this time next year," Koirtyohann said. "It has to be at the Red Power Round Up." Koirtyohann does not consider himself to be a big collector. He has a 1938 Farmall F-20 that his daughter, Linda, named "old ugly", a 1946 Allis Chalmers WC that has been converted to a road grader, a 1956 Ford two-ton truck he has restored for hauling his tractors and there is a Model A car in his garage that belongs to his wife, Laura. Even his everyday "working" tractor shows up at antique shows occasionally. It is a 1966 Allis Chalmers D-17. The WC, referred to as a W-Patrol, has hand controls for the blade, hand brakes, and a steering wheel. The operator was a very busy man. Not all of the memories associated with his M Farmall are good ones. Like the time he rolled the tractor on a pond bank on his 21st birthday. "It did not get me but it was close," Koirtyohann said. "I can show you a weld or two where we repaired the damage that was done on that day. It must be a tough old tractor because four boys tried their damnedest to tear it up." Machinery collectors can relate to Koirtyohann when he talks about the value of his M Farmall. He has twice as much money invested in it now as it would bring at a typical farm auction and he got it for free. These tractors are not a money making proposition. "No reasonable price would be accepted for that old tractor," Koirtyohann said. "It is just not for sale." Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304 or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com. 7/30/07 Date: 7/26/07
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
