In early spring 1976, Andy Kellogg’s father, Donald, purchased a new Model 6600 Ford utility tractor for $7,500 from Simpson Ford in Richland Center, Wis.

“Dad had a Model 2010 John Deere but needed more horsepower to handle tillage chores and thought the dealership offered a good deal. It soon became the primary workhorse and was a jack-of-all-trades, planting corn with a four-row International unit, operating the New Holland 273 baler, disking, hauling manure and moving snow,” says Kellogg, who lives in Viola, Wis. “I was 15 and often ran the 4-foot, 16-inch plow until well after midnight.”

The 6600  has a wide front end, fenders, three-point hitch, front-end weights, eight forward speeds and two in reverse, two lights in the front and one in the rear, power steering, full independent PTO, a toolbox on the left fender, differential mechanical wet disk brakes, a tachometer, and an adjustable seat but no cab. One day while traveling between farms, a wire shorted and an electrical fire broke out under the dash. Kellogg reached up inside and extinguished the flames. A few minor maintenance chores have been needed over the years. In 1996, the clutch was replaced, and later the block and head were changed, and some work was done on the motor.

When his dad retired in 1992, Kellogg purchased the 6600, along with a 1959 Model 861 Ford, 1967 Model 1550 Oliver, 1980 Model 2675 Massey Ferguson and 1981 Model 7700 Ford.

Today the tractor is used to seed oats and alfalfa with a 10-foot International drill and to operate the hay bine. Kellogg’s son Billy also tills several wildlife food plots that are planted in corn, soybeans and turnips.

“This is my favorite tractor because it’s handy, has excellent maneuverability, is easy to turn, and I like the convenient one step on and off,” Kellogg says. “After I stop milking our 40 registered Jerseys and I slow down a little, my goal is to restore the 6600 along with the 861 Ford and 1550 Oliver.”

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