MachineryLink

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- The year was 1953 and it was time to add a new tractor to the family farm to help make raising crops and livestock a little easier.

The investment of $1,500 probably seemed like a huge amount of money back then. To put it into perspective, corn was $1.48 per bushel, a gallon of milk was $0.94 and gasoline cost $0.28 per gallon in 1953. My, how times have changed.

The Carrico Farm actually dates to 1871, when my great-great grandparents purchased the ground in west-central Iowa from those who had homesteaded it. I wish I could've asked them why they decided on this spot, but now the legacy has continued for over 150 years. My kids are the sixth generation to raise cattle and farm here.

THE TRACTOR PURCHASE

My grandfather was a hard-working Army veteran who raised crops, cattle, hogs, chickens and horses. My grandmother's family found this site, and she helped on the farm each day too.

On the Carrico Farm, my dad and his two siblings were able to help daily, especially during the summer months. The 1950s was when agricultural production really made a change to being more productive. Fertilizers were beginning to be used, and with more tractor power, farmers could get more done in a day. The Super M sure helped with making the work easier and was a very good investment.

It's hard to imagine corn yielding 40 bushels per acre and soybeans 20 bushels per acre, when it's so much higher than that now. The 1950s is when production started to increase to get to where we are now.

GROWING UP ON THE FARM

The Super M was the first tractor I learned to drive. Raking straw and hay was my main job in the summer before I was old enough to lift a hay bale and stack it five bales high.

The Super M was certainly a mainstay on our farm, and everyone knew how to drive it. I know at times my grandma would even be seen crawling up on it if we needed an extra driver.

RESTORATION OF THE GEM

Fast forward to 2021, and I mentioned to my son, Klayton, that it would be cool if he would restore the Farmall Super M that had been sitting in the machine shed for many years collecting dust. It took the support of my dad, and we then had to wait for room in the school shop for his project.

As they say, it was a labor of love and time to tear apart, find new parts, figure out what exactly needed done, and then actually do it all. The tractor started to transform into its original look of 70 years prior with the help of Klayton's FFA instructor, his buddies and a few family members. My advice to anyone restoring a tractor is to label every part and piece that is removed, do some research on where to get parts, and know who the local antique tractor expert is who can help when Google doesn't have an answer.

The Super M has had a lot of tweaking to get it just right (in my dad's opinion) after it left the school and found its way back home. It looks great and is a cherished part of our farm.

It was on display at Klayton's graduation party and the background to many photos. At the end of June, I had the honor of driving it in our town's parade.

Our Farmall Super M has seen many hours in the field through the years and was a start of helping our farm become more productive. Now, it has a special place for generations to come, even if it doesn't see the field again.

See a video of the tractor here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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