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Grandson Rebuilt His Grandpa's Deere
For 19-year-old John Gaard, the 1945 Deere "A" he recently restored is the object of more pride than just the completion of his own successful project. That's because the tractor belonged to his late grandpa, Lloyd Gaard, who purchased the unit new as a young man and used it steadily until 1978.
In 1994, at the
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Grandson Rebuilt His Grandpa's Deere AG WORLD 28-2-22
For 19-year-old John Gaard, the 1945 Deere "A" he recently restored is the object of more pride than just the completion of his own successful project. That's because the tractor belonged to his late grandpa, Lloyd Gaard, who purchased the unit new as a young man and used it steadily until 1978.
In 1994, at the age of 9, John bought the tractor at his grandfather's farm auction for $240 and had hopes of restoring the unit himself before Lloyd passed away. However, the soonest he felt confident enough to begin the task was the summer of 2001, and unfortunately, his grandfather passed on in 1997.
John worked on the tractor for two years. It had been in rough shape after serving as Lloyd's main farm tractor for 34 years, so by the time John was finished, he had spent $5,183 on the project.
He found gaskets and bearings at Beckman Implement in Garretson, S.Dak., and many other parts at Rock Valley Tractor Parts in Rock Valley, Iowa, Salem Tractor Parts in Salem, S.D, and Meyer Tractor Parts in Aberdeen, S. Dak. Decals came from K&K Antique Tractors in Shelbyville, Ind., and Steiner Tractor Parts in Holly, Mich., supplied the battery box covers.
"By reading everything you can, you can limit the mistakes you might make û and those mistakes can be expensive," John says.
"Grandpa plowed, cultivated, and planted with it, and although he did acquire more tractors over the years, this one was always his main unit," John says. "For me, I think of Grandpa every time I look at it or sit on it or run it. Because of the fact that he bought it new, and the family remembers him using it so much, that makes it really special."
Thanks to all of his hard work on the family treasure, John was one of the top 10 finalists in the National FFA Tractor Restoration Contest in 2002. He traveled to Louisville, Kentucky where his detailed record book was evaluated and he was interviewed by top names in the tractor restoration industry.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John Gaard, 47690 û 271st St., Sioux Falls, S. Dak. 57108 (ph 605 743-2032; email: gerdd_99@yahoo.com).
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