The 3rd Annual Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing, Sept. 17, included 789 tractors. The parade route went through Mackinaw City, across the bridge and through St. Ignace. Organizer Bob Baumgras says the goal for next year is 1,000 tractors.
GROWING FASCINATION
DeLane Ruess, who is a fourth generation owner of a centennial farm in Owosso, had so much fun in the parade last year that this year his wife, Nancy, joined him. He drove a 1958 John Deere 620, while she was on a 1961 John Deere 3010. Ruess, who farms about 1,100 acres, says he owns about "eight or nine," tractors, including a 1931 John Deere GP he restored that was his grandfather's. "I couldn't bring it because it isn't fast enough."
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Floyd Koerner Jr., who has been in the parade all three years and farms about 600 acres in the Laingsburg area, drove a 1948 Super 44 Oliver across the bridge, while his wife, Nancy, drove a 1963 Oliver 550 that was originally purchased by her father, Charles Kridner. Floyd's son, Floyd Koerner III, drove a 1945 SC Case, his son-in-law, Alan Stroup of Coruna, drove a 1946 Ford NA, and his grandson, Caleb Stroup was there to greet them. From left, are Floyd III, Nancy and Floyd, Caleb and Alan.
NO AGE BOUNDARIES
The allure of antique tractors is for the young, even the very young like Harrison Seidel, 2, and for the young at heart. He is the son of Chris and Vickie Seidel of Ovid. Chris was in the parade driving this 1941 Allis Chalmers C. Harrison's older brother, Lincoln, was also there to cheer daddy on.
NEWCOMER
– It was the first time across for Bryce Bollwahn of Howell, who bought this 1956 Farmall 400 about five years ago. It took him a year and a half to restore. He also has a 1948 Farmall C he's restored.
LOOKING GOOD
Dale Rice, 78, of Three Rivers obtained this 1962 Minneapolis Moline 4-Star 15 years ago after it was in a barn fire. He completely went through it and has declared it, "about finished." Rice, who has seven more antique tractors, is part of the Kalamazoo Valley Antique Tractor Club and it's his second time crossing the bridge.
JUST IN TIME
– Soybean farmer Jerry Johnson of Tekonsha (about 25 miles north of the Indiana line), started working on the restoration of this 1948 Silver King Model 42 in Nov. of 2008 and finished it just a month before the parade. Johnson was one of a handful of drivers who provided assistance to tractors following, pulling his neighbor, Lauren Devenney, who lost the water in his tractor.
OH WELL
This tractor gets a tow, but it doesn't ruin the spirit of its driver.