About 20 years ago, an Eastern North Dakota farmer purchased a John Deere tractor that did not work. He and his sons, also farmers, then proceeded to make it work.
Harvey Kyllo and his sons, Steve and Kevin, followed that purchase with another acquisition and began working on their second used John Deere tractor, according to Ag Week. Thus was born a hobby that saw the men restore as many as four tractors in one year. They have 24 tractors, all of which were manufactured before 1960 by John Deere.
“Is there any other kind?” Harvey asked the publication.
Harvey purchased a farm near Blanchard in 1961. Steve and Kevin took over for him when he retired in the early ‘90s and he and his wife Sylvia recently moved to Mayville, northwest of Blanchard. Though he no longer tilled the fields, Harvey continued tinkering with antique Deere Tractors and their engines.
Kevin paints the tractors and Steve does the body work.
Sylvia enjoys the work they do and is impressed with their camaraderie.
“They work so well together, and they do such good work,” she said. “I’m just proud of them.”
ND man, sons return antique Deere tractors to glory
A North Dakota man and his two sons restored 24 dilapidated Deere tractors manufactured before 1960.