Antique tractors featured in Plow Days this weekend in Elba

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Louis Esten, who founded Plow Days 26 years ago, stands by some Farmall tractors which will take part in the event Saturday and Sunday.

ELBA – An antique tractor purchased “just for kicks” by a Medina man is expected to take part in Plow Days Saturday and Sunday at the Torrey Farm at 7411 Oak Orchard Rd., about one-half mile south of Elba.

Larry Boyle, who lived in Millville at the time, purchased a 1938 McCormick Deering Model 04 tractor for $200 in the late 1960s from a friend in Barre. The tractor ran and Boyle used it to haul wood and work up the fields on his small farm.

After moving to Medina, the tractor was stored in a barn and there it has sat for decades, until Larry’s son Terry decided to restore it.

Terry Boyle of Medina, left, and Louis Esten of Elba stand by the 1938 McCormick Deering tractor which Boyle restored and Esten trailered to the site of Plow Days on Saturday and Sunday on Torrey’s farm at 7411 Oak Orchard Rd., Elba.

Terry knew Louis Esten, having worked for him at Path Truck Lines, and knew about Esten’s passion for old tractors. It became Terry’s goal to get his father’s tractor running and take it to Plow Days, a demonstration by old tractors Esten started in 1998.

John Torrey from Torrey Farms also loves old tractors and has an impressive collection of 85 Farmalls and a large toy tractor collection of die cast and pedal tractors. He offered a large field on his farm just south of Elba for Esten to hold his Plow Days.

The day will feature 15 to 20 tractors working in the field, all of them McCormick Deering and Farmall, with the exception of one Cockshoot, a Canadian/Oliver brand.

This display of Farmall tractors is among the 85 antique tractors collected by John Torrey. He lines them up at his home south of Elba every year.

Terry said his dad’s 1938 McCormick Deering hadn’t been run in 50 years when he started working on his several months ago. The tractor is No. 24 out of only 104 built. Terry estimates he has put at least $5,000 in it. It isn’t clear how much it is worth today, but one site online lists similar models being offered for $9,000 to $20,000. Larry, however, isn’t ready to part with it.

There is no charge to attend Plow Days, which runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine.

Esten said they have been rained out only once, and people still came to view tractors in the barn, enjoy the camaraderie and visit the vendor booths. Breakfast and lunch are available from food trucks on the grounds.

Esten said he has lots of help from his sons, grandchildren and friend Daniel Gerould in putting on Plow Days.

A lineup of assorted McCormick Deering and Farmall tractors sits ready to perform for Plow Days Saturday and Sunday at the Torrey Farm on Oak Orchard Road, just south of Elba.

Terry Boyle, second from left, sits in front of his antique McCormick Deering tractor with Michael Esten, his dad Louis Esten and Louis’ grandson Ayden.