Leonard and Elsie Splett’s favorite tractors are Elsie’s 1950 Farmall H and Leonard’s 1947 Farmall B. Both machines were purchased new by their respective fathers.

The Farmall H model was built from 1939 through 1953, and the Farmall B was built from 1939 through 1947.

Elsie’s Farmall H was used very little on her home farm near Medford, as her dad continued to farm primarily with horses until his retirement in the early 1970s. The tractor was used to pull the hay hoist for unloading bales into the hayloft. Elsie’s father never let anyone drive the tractor in fifth gear, and he wrapped the axles with baling twine to protect them.

After Elsie used the H for a number of years, it was carefully restored and is now only gently exercised on the farm. 

Leonard’s Farmall B has been used almost daily for more than 70 years. He estimates it has between 15,000 and 20,000 hours. The tractor went from pulling a plow on his father’s farm to pulling the trailer for picking stones and filling the bunk feeders on the Spletts’ home farm in Barron County.

Leonard says a pretty sight is seeing it pulling double rakes for more than 100 acres of hay each year. It hasn’t been overhauled but was recently repainted.

Folks traveling Highway 8 just west of Almena may see either the Farmall B or H raking hay — both a bit more shiny.

To have your favorite tractor featured, email or send a photo of yourself with your tractor, along with a 300- to 400-word write-up about the tractor, to: [email protected] or Wisconsin Agriculturist, P.O. Box 236, Brandon, WI 53919.

— Submitted by Nate Splett, Leonard and Elsie’s son