Members of the Hartford Old Engine and Tractor Club decided to find a tractor that it could rebuild and restore, then raffle off.
So the hunt was on. Members knew of a tractor sitting in the weeds for about 15 years. The club featured Allis-Chalmers tractors at its show this year, so that was what the members wanted. They talked with the owner, who was really reluctant to sell the Allis because it was his father’s tractor. After a few weeks, he called to tell the club that he wanted to donate the tractor to the club so that younger members could have the experience of working on such a project.
In October, the work began, and after eight months and a lot of work by all the club members young and old, men and women, the tractor was ready.
The man donating the tractor was Dr. Larry Jackson, originally from Edwardsburg and now living in Marcellus with his wife, Debbie, and 4-year-old son, Josh, where they own and operate Our Daily Bread Christian Health Care and a campground on Miller Lake. This last summer, they built two cabins on the lake for kids. His health care facility is to help with health care for people in need.
The club decided right  from the start to donate its raffle money back to Our Daily Bread.
The drawing took place the Sunday of the club’s annual Labor Day show at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds. Josh drew out the winning ticket for a 12-year-old boy, Collin Dussel from Cassopolis, whose dad purchased the ticket at the Cass County Fair. His parents are ark and Christie Dussel, owners of Dussel’s Farm Market. He was pretty excited when his name was called in the drawing and he said he could now pull a wagon and haul melons. This was just the kind of kids who helped work on the tractor.
Also, a portion of the club’s raffle money will be donated to the FFA to help pay for the kids who are members to take tractor safety classes.