Take a peek inside the machine shed at Aylward Farms in northern Missouri and there is more than just a Hagie spray rig. Push open the shop door and step over the threshold into a world of muscle cars, tractors and farm memorabilia.
The extensive collection was built by the father-and-son team of John and Doug Aylward. “This was something that brought us together,” John says. “We spent a lot of time together either looking for the pieces or rebuilding cars and tractors,” Doug adds.
The two started looking for opportunities off the farm to enjoy a little bit of life. So, they became treasure hunters of sorts, attending auctions and estate sales. That was back in the 1980s. Today, they share their finds with visitors to the farm or small groups of school kids. They’ve even opened it up a time or two for farm events.
While the collection took years to build, today the rigors of farm life keep them from adding much more to their collection, and frankly, they are running out of space. Still, each family member has a favorite piece in the collection. Even, this ag journalist found one she was fond of.
Click through the slideshow to view and learn more about the collection and see which items we liked the most. There are many impressive finds inside this shed.
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