1952 Ford 8n

After purchasing the Groningen Farm in 2006 we've embarked on slow but steady efforts to improve the property.  The buildings are stable with metal roofs but they are due for painting,  The septic  will be updated in 2014 and the 40 year old well for the house will likely be updated at the same time.

Owning a farm generally implies that you are a farmer, growing crops.  The focus here is fruit trees, fruiting shrubs and beekeeping.  A 39 acre field is under till by a neighbor and 20 or so acres of pasture awaits a couple of cows.

Ford 8n tractors have intrigued me for a long time, long before owning a farm.  I could repeat all the history and lineage but that's widely available.  Over the years I looked at many 8n tractors on Craigslist, on eBay and the multitude parked here and there in various states of neglect or maintenance.

During 2012, which was a difficult year I decided that if I needed a tractor I should just dig deep and buy something new or at least from the recent decade which would make it safer, attachments would be readily available and whatever.  It was a firm, good decision.

On New Year's Eve my mother passed away.  Shortly thereafter I saw an 8n on Craigslist and gave the seller a call.  A couple of days later I was on a 300 mile road trip on a cold January day to northern MN.  The closer I became to the destination the more I revisited my decision to not buy an 8n and came up with even more reasons to just turn around and head home.

As I drove into the farmyard a 30 something guy was standing next to the tractor which was idling nicely with no smoke.  He was a construction worker who spent his weeks in North Dakota.  I hoped that he knew nothing about the tractor hoping to make a quick buck; that would give me another out, not knowing the history.  Turns out that is was his grandfathers who had owned it for 25 years.  Hoping that it needed lots of work I still hoped to escape sans tractor.  With new exhaust, a recent engine re-build, new tires and conversion to 12 volt all those exit options vanished.

I turned to the house where three young kids watched me, their dad and h grandfather's tractor.  "You should keep this tractor.  It would be perfect for your kids when they are a bit older.  They would appreciate that you saved their great grandfather's tractor.  Can't you see them riding it in parades?"  The seller explained that their lives were full of equipment and livestock.  It needed to go.

Finally we got down to price.  He was asking $2500 which I felt was $800-1000 less than market.  As a last resort I hoped he would reject my offer.  I said I'd pay him $2500 if he delivered it 150 miles south to Finlayson.  That gave me an out.  With only a moment's pause he responded "OK, I'll be there Saturday at 10 AM."

To date I just start it up and ride around.  It's awesome.