I found a man on a mission to preserve the history of tractors and the memories of growing up with his granddad and dad who farmed in Kansas.
Emery Ball of Kismet, Kansas
At first Emery asked me for a screwdriver to pop the lid on that can of Keystone Grease he purchased. He wanted to see how much grease was in the can. Most people buy such relics of the past for the antique or collectible value of the tin--but Emery said the old stuff works better on water pumps and stops leaks better than anything new out there.
Then we got to talking about how Emery restores tractors. But the tractors aren't for sale--they are only to preserve a part of his personal history and the history of friends, family and neighbors who worked the Kansas farmlands for decades.
People often find out about what Emery does--for the love of it and not the money--and donate antique tractors with the provision that they won't be sold. Emery also participates in tractor pulls.
Emery and his wife, Laura, were on vacation in Colorado--and often like to stop in Florence where they know they will find items perfect for restorations and other projects.
So far, Emery has 22 restored tractors on his land. Emery is a salesman by trade, but still lives on the land farmed by his family and has fond memories of working the land with his granddad and father.
Getting his father to finally retire, involved promising him they would always keep him supplied with tractors to restore. Emery said his father is now 87 and almost every day, works on restoring tractors.
Several of the tractors date to the 1920s and Emery is always on the hunt for parts--and Florence often produces just the right item.
Emery and his family live in Kismet, a town smaller than Florence, not far from Liberal, Kansas.
I am always running across interesting people living out their talents and dreams, and preserving legacies and history--who stop in Florence.The town of Florence often helps people find the tangible items needed to carry out those dreams.
This time we found Emery Ball, in Florence, carrying out his dreams and helping his father preserve a family legacy.
Will you be the next person I find in Florence ?
#FindItInFlorence
