Larry Ries and Jerry Winkler on the tractor that Ries restored. Photo courtesy Sheryl Winkler

By Lorraine Lieswald,

Atkinson Graphic reporter

For more than 30 years the old Farmall F12 sat in the barn just waiting for the time some whipper snapper would buy the barn, clean it out and see the old puffer’s worn paint, rotted tires and rusted parts as a piece of junk and haul it off to the junk pile.   
Just the thought propelled Larry Ries who had had an active part in making the history of “Old Tractor” to bring it back to life when he retired.

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