tractor parade

 

The biggest thing happening in Hale Center today was the South Plains Antique Tractor show at the Hale County Farm Museum.  Twelve antique tractors formed an impromptu parade along the I-27 access road.  Sadly I was the only bystander.

 

Hale Center, Texas

 

 

Ever wonder where John Deeres go in the off season?  Must be like a spa for tractors!  The sign on the lot across the street says "Finished."

 

Hurst Farm Supply

Abernathy, Texas

2.11.2017

Farmall 560

 

On Sunday I got a call from my dad to come and take a tractor picture.  From 1958 to 1963 International Harvester built 65,982 Farmall 560s.  The price for a 1963 model was $5,500. This was the model designed to get the edge on competitor John Deere.  Pop's friend Brooks purchased this Farmall 560 LP Gas new sometime in the 1950s.  After Brooks retired, the tractor made its way to a farm sale and was picked up by the auctioneer. Because of its age, it wasn't a hot item.  It sat awhile and when the auctioneer couldn't get it started, my nephew was called in. Seth got it running and ended up with the tractor, which he restored.  About the only modification-- made by Brooks-- was moving the headlights from the front to the middle.

 



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Farmall 560
Fortenberry Farms
New Deal, Texas
4.3.2016

small town parade

 

What other kind of float would you expect the 4-H Club to have besides a John Deere tractor with a bale of hale pulling a trailer?  Shallowater's Harvest Festival featured a parade, barbecue, street carnival and harvest princess contest.  After the police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, vintage cars and assorted vehicles with all the candy throwing, the horse posse was last.  Wonder why?

 

Shallowater, Texas



sandfighting

One would think during a wet May with record rainfalls, a farmer wouldn't have to "sandfight." After a  hard rain, the surface quickly dries off.  When the wind blows (like today's wind advisory) the top soil will blow.  If you look closely, you might be able to "row" (or see) the tender leaves of the baby May cotton seedlings.  Sandfighting is done to keep the young plants from getting sandblasted and hopefully save the stand. Sandfighters are plows with small rolling blades which dig into the soil and break up the smooth surface and prevent the sand from blowing. The South Plains has bigger gamblers than those found in Las Vegas.

Fortenberry Farms
Lubbock County, Texas

spring plowing

 

The field lay fallow all winter.  Today the sorghum stubble is being chopped down in preparation for spring planting -- if it rains, if seed prices go down, if cotton prices go up --the perennial odds that the farmer faces.

Adcock Place
Hale County, Texas

pop and his work hat

 

These past spring-like days have had my father working in the fields in his baby John Deere tractor.  He's wearing his "work hat" not to be confused with the regular hat or Sunday hat -- all Stetsons.  Pop started farming about 70 years ago after leaving the Marine Corps in World War II. 

 

 

The Fortenberry Farm

Hale County, Texas

2.15.2015



smith homestead

 

As a child, I thought the Smiths lived in a big house surrounded by stately trees.  Today's reality didn't match my memories.  My Uncle Ed said it was all right to wander around and photograph the barn.  I didn't ask when the barn was built but it predates the 1950s tractor still inside.  Uncle Ed's father moved to Lorenzo in 1910 around age 11 -- before the town was incorporated. The Smith family engaged in farming and had a gin. Ed, the Lorenzo ginner's son, married my Aunt Betty, the New Deal ginner's daughter (guess who was flowergirl).  Uncle Ed, age 84, still "supervises" son and grandson who farm the family land.

 

Lorenzo, Texas

the last fall sunset

 

We took advantage of the last nice fall evening on Wednesday to take Christmas card pictures with the yard display on the Lusk farm.  Mr. Lusk decorated his John Deere tractor and 100 year-old wagon for fall but the lights made a great backdrop for Clara, Hannah and Collier.  The John Deere Model B was produced from 1935 to 1952 as a smaller tractor for row-crop farmers.

 

Lubbock County, Texas

11.20.2013