Antique tractor owners drive machines through Black Hills
By Judy Hayworth, Journal correspondent | Posted: Sunday, October 26, 2003
Duane Junck of Kingsley, Iowa, who this past summer participated in the first antique tractor ride through South Dakota's Black Hills to Mount Rushmore, polishes a 36A John Deere tractor, which is part of his collection of antique farm machinery. (Photo by Judy Hayworth)
South Dakota's Black Hills are for many a popular destination for a summer trip, and that was the case this past summer for 18 drivers and their 14 antique tractors.
For the Red Power Club of Cherokee, Iowa, whose members drive International tractors, the trip occurred after months of planning. Duane Junck, Kingsley, Iowa, tractor and machinery collector, was a key figure in helping to plan the trip. He says that Wally Leonard of Cherokee, then president of the club, received permission from two groups -- the Mount Rushmore National Park Service and the Custer State Park Service -- to drive the tractors to Mount Rushmore as well as through Custer State Park. The trip, which included 50 to 60 people with family members, was planned for a Thursday and Friday ride so as to not interfere with weekend sightseers.
The Power Club's ride was the first such antique tractor ride through the Black Hills to Mount Rushmore.
Leonard concedes that the idea for the antique tractor ride is one he had dreamed of for a long time.
"Back in 1993," Leonard said, "our family was on a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, and I told the children I would like to go on a tractor ride through the mountains. So it has been in the back of my mind, and when we started the tractor club I mentioned it to the members in November 2002. Everyone dropped their jaws at the idea. But I spoke to the Park Service, and they were happy to have us come. Now there are people calling me, already wondering where we're going to go this year."
Club members transported their tractors to Custer (one club member carried five on one trailer). From there, under brilliant blue skies, they motored for 2 1/2 hours the serpentine highway the 30 miles to Mount Rushmore, then Keystone, and back to Custer. Park rangers escorted the antique tractors the last two miles.
The rangers encouraged the tractor drivers to space themselves along the highway to accommodate traffic flow.
"Actually," Junck said, "they had more trouble with the motorists because they wanted to pull off and take pictures of us." The park board was "very accommodating," he added.
The next day, 13 tractors were driven to Custer Park.
On the two-day ride, the 18 drivers rotated driving the 14 tractors. All of them were from Iowa except for one man from Pennsylvania, Ron Haafke, who brought a tractor from Pennsylvania and joined his father, Ray Haafke of Bronson, and most of their family, on the ride. The two men provided three of the 14 tractors for the ride. Also, one non-International tractor was in the entourage -- a red Long tractor with green wheels.
Junck counts his membership in five tractor organizations -- the Two-Cylinder Club of Spencer (two-cylinder John Deeres), the Red Power Club of Cherokee (Internationals), Tri-State Tractor Club of Bronson (any brand of tractor), the Plymouth County Tractor Club of Le Mars (any brand), and the Western Iowa Tractor Club of Denison (any brand). He is currently president of the Red Power Club and vice president of the Western Iowa Club.
For each of these groups, Junck said, "the big thing is going to directed rides and plowing and threshing events in season. Also parades and shows." Two recent shows were at Holstein and The Depot in Cherokee.
"Actually," Junck quipped, "the clubs are just a bunch of old men playing with their toys," but he adds that the organizations are cognizant of attracting younger members.
"I have been interested in tractors since I was very young because I was raised on a farm," he said.
In the late '80s when he began collecting, he started with horse machinery. His most unusual piece of horse equipment is a horse-drawn rotary hoe, which he located near Cherokee.
"I did want a 36A John Deere for a yard ornament as that was the year I was born. Once I found one, I couldn't bear to let it sit outside. And they've just been following me home ever since," Junck said.
Recently, he purchased "a whole shed full of equipment" at Orange City -- four wagons, a manure spreader, a Super M tractor, two plows and a buzz saw.
Junck transports his "buys" -- restored implements and pieces needing restoration -- on gooseneck trailers.
"I buy them both ways," he said. "It's getting so that if you buy something halfway restored, it's better than one out of a weed patch because parts are so expensive. If they are running, at least you know everything is working."
His collection of tractors, which number at least 60 according to his wife, Pat, are all kept inside, and most other machinery is outside. Tractors awaiting restoration this winter are in one large shed with a work area, and others are housed in a separate shed.
Junck presently is restoring a 1915 Moline Universal tractor, which he found at Shelby, Mont.
"It will be one of the most unique ones when I get done with it," he said. "After three years, I'm still looking for a carburetor, air cleaner and distributor, but it will be ready for a parade next summer. The 1915 Moline was the first tractor made with a starter and lights; it's probably the only tractor that had them until into the early '30s. What broke the company (which operated from approximately 1913 to 1923) is that they were so far advanced at that time."
One of the last steps in restoration is painting, and Junck looks for "a paint as close to the original as I can find. I don't like to have the tractors look better than when they come out of the factory. I admit they are beautiful with the hard, shiny finish, but that isn't true to the original."
In addition to the tractors, Junck claims more than 10 workable plows, as well as many other pieces of farm machinery.
Junck locates antique tractors and machinery in several ways. Son Steve, who lives in Havre, Mont., and is a railroad engineer, keeps his eye out for old machinery as he travels through Montana towns and countryside. Magazines are another valuable source. In addition, auctioneers learn the name of buyers and will place them on their mailing list.
"The most enjoyable part of collecting is finding the tractors and finding parts," Junck said.
"And," Pat added, "the interesting people you meet in the process."
During the month of August, the Juncks had all the tractors in their farmyard, and many passers-by stopped.
"Duane learned a lot from the people who came by," Pat said. "It's always the people who make it worthwhile."
For the Red Power Club of Cherokee, Iowa, whose members drive International tractors, the trip occurred after months of planning. Duane Junck, Kingsley, Iowa, tractor and machinery collector, was a key figure in helping to plan the trip. He says that Wally Leonard of Cherokee, then president of the club, received permission from two groups -- the Mount Rushmore National Park Service and the Custer State Park Service -- to drive the tractors to Mount Rushmore as well as through Custer State Park. The trip, which included 50 to 60 people with family members, was planned for a Thursday and Friday ride so as to not interfere with weekend sightseers.
The Power Club's ride was the first such antique tractor ride through the Black Hills to Mount Rushmore.
Leonard concedes that the idea for the antique tractor ride is one he had dreamed of for a long time.
"Back in 1993," Leonard said, "our family was on a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, and I told the children I would like to go on a tractor ride through the mountains. So it has been in the back of my mind, and when we started the tractor club I mentioned it to the members in November 2002. Everyone dropped their jaws at the idea. But I spoke to the Park Service, and they were happy to have us come. Now there are people calling me, already wondering where we're going to go this year."
Club members transported their tractors to Custer (one club member carried five on one trailer). From there, under brilliant blue skies, they motored for 2 1/2 hours the serpentine highway the 30 miles to Mount Rushmore, then Keystone, and back to Custer. Park rangers escorted the antique tractors the last two miles.
The rangers encouraged the tractor drivers to space themselves along the highway to accommodate traffic flow.
"Actually," Junck said, "they had more trouble with the motorists because they wanted to pull off and take pictures of us." The park board was "very accommodating," he added.
The next day, 13 tractors were driven to Custer Park.
On the two-day ride, the 18 drivers rotated driving the 14 tractors. All of them were from Iowa except for one man from Pennsylvania, Ron Haafke, who brought a tractor from Pennsylvania and joined his father, Ray Haafke of Bronson, and most of their family, on the ride. The two men provided three of the 14 tractors for the ride. Also, one non-International tractor was in the entourage -- a red Long tractor with green wheels.
Junck counts his membership in five tractor organizations -- the Two-Cylinder Club of Spencer (two-cylinder John Deeres), the Red Power Club of Cherokee (Internationals), Tri-State Tractor Club of Bronson (any brand of tractor), the Plymouth County Tractor Club of Le Mars (any brand), and the Western Iowa Tractor Club of Denison (any brand). He is currently president of the Red Power Club and vice president of the Western Iowa Club.
For each of these groups, Junck said, "the big thing is going to directed rides and plowing and threshing events in season. Also parades and shows." Two recent shows were at Holstein and The Depot in Cherokee.
"Actually," Junck quipped, "the clubs are just a bunch of old men playing with their toys," but he adds that the organizations are cognizant of attracting younger members.
"I have been interested in tractors since I was very young because I was raised on a farm," he said.
In the late '80s when he began collecting, he started with horse machinery. His most unusual piece of horse equipment is a horse-drawn rotary hoe, which he located near Cherokee.
"I did want a 36A John Deere for a yard ornament as that was the year I was born. Once I found one, I couldn't bear to let it sit outside. And they've just been following me home ever since," Junck said.
Recently, he purchased "a whole shed full of equipment" at Orange City -- four wagons, a manure spreader, a Super M tractor, two plows and a buzz saw.
Junck transports his "buys" -- restored implements and pieces needing restoration -- on gooseneck trailers.
"I buy them both ways," he said. "It's getting so that if you buy something halfway restored, it's better than one out of a weed patch because parts are so expensive. If they are running, at least you know everything is working."
His collection of tractors, which number at least 60 according to his wife, Pat, are all kept inside, and most other machinery is outside. Tractors awaiting restoration this winter are in one large shed with a work area, and others are housed in a separate shed.
Junck presently is restoring a 1915 Moline Universal tractor, which he found at Shelby, Mont.
"It will be one of the most unique ones when I get done with it," he said. "After three years, I'm still looking for a carburetor, air cleaner and distributor, but it will be ready for a parade next summer. The 1915 Moline was the first tractor made with a starter and lights; it's probably the only tractor that had them until into the early '30s. What broke the company (which operated from approximately 1913 to 1923) is that they were so far advanced at that time."
One of the last steps in restoration is painting, and Junck looks for "a paint as close to the original as I can find. I don't like to have the tractors look better than when they come out of the factory. I admit they are beautiful with the hard, shiny finish, but that isn't true to the original."
In addition to the tractors, Junck claims more than 10 workable plows, as well as many other pieces of farm machinery.
Junck locates antique tractors and machinery in several ways. Son Steve, who lives in Havre, Mont., and is a railroad engineer, keeps his eye out for old machinery as he travels through Montana towns and countryside. Magazines are another valuable source. In addition, auctioneers learn the name of buyers and will place them on their mailing list.
"The most enjoyable part of collecting is finding the tractors and finding parts," Junck said.
"And," Pat added, "the interesting people you meet in the process."
During the month of August, the Juncks had all the tractors in their farmyard, and many passers-by stopped.
"Duane learned a lot from the people who came by," Pat said. "It's always the people who make it worthwhile."
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