Appreciating family history Holdingford

from Country Acres - October 15, 2021

Animals we love

Young remodels great-grandfather’s tractor

BY KATELYN ASFELD STAFF WRITER

HOLDINGFORD – For years, the Young family of Holdingford attended the Albany Pioneer Days Threshing Show in September to view the expansive display of tractors, machinery, gas engines and equipment, along with the demonstrations. But this year, for the fi rst time, one family member decided to be a show exhibitor.

After months of restoration work, Holdingford High School sophomore Aiden Young brought his great-grandfather’s 1941 Farmall B tractor to the show to display. It was the perfect year for it as this year’s show featured lines of International, McCormick, McCormick-Deering, Mogul, Titan and Farmall tractors and equipment.

Young, the son of Ed and Shelly Young, decided to restore the tractor as part of his summer agriculture class.

“My great-grandpa Bauer bought it brand new in 1941 for around $850, and it’s been in the family ever since,” Young said. “I thought it would be fun to tear into it a little bit and have a good-looking tractor.”

The tractor was on Uncle Delroy Young’s farm, and, according to

PHOTO SUBMITTED Aiden Young (on tractor) and Holdingford High School agricultural education teacher John Roberts Sept. 13 ready this newly remodeled Farmall B tractor at Holdingford High School to display at Albany Pioneer Days. The tractor belonged to Young’s great-grandfather, who purchased it new in 1941. (right) Aiden Young, of Holdingford, drives his great-grandfather’s Farmall B tractor with a two-bottom plow behind in the fall of 2020. As part of his 2021 summer agriculture program class, Young and three classmates remodeled the tractor.

Young, “It’s the only red tractor on the farm.”

Although it started up and ran, the now gleaming, bright red tractor needed some attention. Its colors were dull, parts were rusted and there were a few dents from years of use.

After the 2020-2021 school year fi nished, Young brought the tractor into the Holdingford High School agriculture shop where he and three other students, Luke Opatz, Zach Schlepper and Dustin Schmitz, under the direction of agriculture education teacher John Roberts, restored the piece.

Two days a week, from 1-4 p.m., the crew meticulously worked to bring the tractor back to its original luster. Tin was straightened out, the exhaust manifold and front tires and rims were replaced and a new coat of paint was applied.

The entire project cost around $1,800, Young said. The group fi nished the restoration just before Pioneer Days.

Young enjoyed restoring the tractor and learned a lot about it in the process, giving him the confi dence to do other restoration projects.

“I’m hoping to restore my John Deere H next summer,” he said.

Not only does he now have the knowledge and experience of tractor restoration, he also has a piece of family history he and his family can appreciate for generations. He hopes to take it to Pioneer Days every year, so others can appreciate it too.