Grandpa’s tractor ends an emotional ride back home
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WINTER BLOWOUT SALE
THE LAND, FEBRUARY 24, 2012
ders to see, then handing things over to the only tractor that my father had ever bought This is the debut of Karen Schwaller’s their new owners. They had worked hard brand new. column “Table Talk.” with our dad and with all of it, and they They set a top price and stood nervously by their Schwaller grew up on a grain-livestock had also worked very hard at getting it dad as he did the bidding for them. As the bidding farm near Remsen, Iowa. ready to sell. went on, they soon neared their top-end price. They After obtaining a degree in journalism, Finally it was time to sell the farm bid as few more times, and soon their dad whisshe moved to Milford, Iowa, to write for equipment. Our sons had stomach aches, pered that was too far over their price, and shook the local newspaper, and it was there that nervous that there were plenty of other his head as he looked at them, albeit rather relucshe met one of the locals, who became her bidders out there who had more money tantly, knowing how much they wanted that tractor. farmer-husband, Dave Schwaller. than they. But none had more pure desire I felt their disappointment, and it showed on their The Schwallers grow grain and liveTABLE TALK to have one of grandpa’s tractors than faces, and probably on my own. The end of the bidstock near Milford, and they also have By Karen Schwaller those two on that day. ding came, and as if a miracle occurred, the man three grown children — a daughter, who The first tractor sold, a John Deere A, who was bidding against our sons had somehow figwill graduate from South Dakota State and it went to my oldest brother. After it ured out that our boys were bidding on the tractor, University this spring with a degree in agronomy; sold, I told him, “It’s really cool you got that tractor.” and he backed out. After the auctioneer cried “Sold!” and twin sons who are farming and raising cattle He replied, “Well, it’s been here 50 years,” as he as he had so many times that day, the auctioneer near Milford. began to choke up. It used to amaze me as a kid, went over and shook the hands of our two young ■ watching Dad and my brothers start that tractor. I sons, congratulating them on becoming the very It was a familiar place; more familiar to some than thought it was positively mystifying as they worked proud new owners of one of Grandpa Art’s most to turn that flywheel. beloved tractors. to others. Other tractors and equipment sold, including an They were overcome with joy, as were many there I lived there for my first 18 years, but my parents older Honda motorcycle that one of our sons purin that moment. Tears flowed by family members had lived there for more than 50 years. chased with some money that was apparently burn- and friends of all ages. The auctioneer later told me On this day, pickup trucks lined the gravel road. I ing a hole in his pocket. Soon it was time to sell the could smell the aroma from the lunch wagon. There tractor that our boys had wanted, an Oliver 1750, See TABLE TALK, pg. 30A were people in bib overalls and greasy jeans milling around. I could hear the hiss of a John Deere Model A being started and the rumble of other tractors that were lined up in the yard and being started. It was the day of my parents’ farm sale. Farm sale day is a day unlike any other in the life of a farmer and his family. A rite of passage, painful as it may be. My family traveled to the RemsenKingsley (Iowa) area to be part of this day, which held the possibility of great things for our two (then) 14-year-old boys, who wanted nothing more than to get one of grandpa’s tractors, for which they had saved all summer. For my dad, going to farm sales was something he had done often in his 74 years. But this one was his own, and his sorrow showed the night before the sale, as our family gathered to look around the farm and share memories, laughter and tears. It’s amazing how a farmer can become one with the land and the work it takes, and that letting go of those things used each day could be so hard. It was once a thriving farm with lots of kids and lots of 2012 Prowler 2012 Salem BHBS 2012 Sundance work to be done. • 36’ • 2 Slideouts 26PS FB 3200RE • Bunk Beds On that night, a lifetime of sweat and grit was • Great Floorplan • Bump-its • Solid Surface Countertops lined up and ready to be sold to the highest bidder. Before the crowd arrived and the hum of the auctioneer began, my dad and I walked around the items that were lined up all around the yard. Me, wondering how he ever used all that stuff, and him, gazing at it all through misty, nostalgic eyes, remembering, and wondering how 50 years of farming could Over 250 New & Used Units On Hand have possibly gone by so quickly. He bent over to AWARDED THE NATIONAL #1 AWARD for show me an item, and when he did, one of his tears Motorhomes • Travel Trailers Outstanding Customer splashed onto it. I felt a lump in my throat, and Service Satisfaction Fifth Wheels • Tent Trailers • Car Dollies when the auctioneer began, I knew it was all really out of over 350 dealers Will Pay Cash for New & Used happening. Trailers, Campers & Motorhomes It was quite a feeling at first, seeing three of my LARGEST PARTS DEPT. IN THE STATE four brothers on the hay racks with the auctioneer, Financing OAC Tow Bars & Base Plates On Sale holding up part of their own farm memories for bid-
29 A
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