Richard Wahlstrand 69 #1 Posted May 1 When I read the posts and see pics that members share, the machines are tools, big boy toys, hobbies, therapies and possibly more. When I see kids and grand kids in posts, I see the tractors as memory makers. I grew up and spent most of my adult life in the mother land of the big green tractor company. Wheel Horses are hard to find in this area. There is intense loyalty to both green full-size tractors and garden tractors. My first garden tractors are green. About 15-years ago I developed an interest in Wheel Horses. I now have four. The tractor that I have owned the longest is a green model 314 with Kohler K-series and hydro. It has been my memory maker so far. When my daughters were elementary school age, I'd pull them on their sled on our side street. It was good safe fun. When their elementary school parent group had fall festivals, I would use this tractor and another to pull mini hayracks around the school yard. As the daughters got older, I had them drive it in the backyard to build skill and prepare for driving a car. When they were in high school marching band, I'd use my tractors to transport visiting bands' stationery percussion instruments from the staging area to the performing field. It was fun for me while supporting our host high school. Now that I have high-school and junior high school aged grandchildren who live locally, my next mission is to find opportunities for my tractors, including my Wheel Horse 416-8. One thing is to come up with a float entry in local parades with the 416 as a tow vehicle. I have an Aluma aluminum garden trailer which is a novelty itself. I want both my 416 and green garden tractors to create memories for my grandchildren and their friends. I encourage members here to reflect on what memories they are creating with their tractors and share them. 6 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 60,256 #3 Posted May 1 One month ago… Huge foundation to driving safely! 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,769 #4 Posted May 1 Memories and tools to build on. I was so lucky to have a father that really never discouraged anything. Had an old mower that would not run, dig into it he would say, see what you can find. Then he would help. I used the same reinforcement for my kids. I give the old man credit, sometimes it was tough and I was hoping they didn't make matters worse. But our youth, and for the matter people, just want a chance. Now it is the grand kids turn. TJ was 7 at the 2019 show I going to ride even if it is raining! I trailed him and he ran that thing till there was no more fuel! 1 5 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,617 #5 Posted May 1 My own beginnings with Garden Tractors go back to my maternal "Grammy and Grampa". The local dealer to them was IHC Cub Cadet equipment. They had a yellow and white tractor back in the 70s and traded that in for a red Cub Cadet (682,782?) around 1980. My own history with Wheelhorse in particular goes back only to fall 2016. Trina and I needed a physically heavier machine for pulling heavy stuff. Sooooooooo many usages and at least 20+ Tractors have gone through our shop since. Nowadays we consider our Wheelhorses and implements to be a permanent part of our tool set for our lives. Memories? Many! Some challenging. ALL good. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 24,353 #6 Posted May 1 Memories are what it's all about... My brother gifted my son the C-105 for his lawn and snow business in 2015... off to college a few years later so dad took over the duties... 1 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 4,916 #7 Posted May 1 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: My own beginnings with Garden Tractors go back to my maternal "Grammy and Grampa". The local dealer to them was IHC Cub Cadet equipment. They had a yellow and white tractor back in the 70s and traded that in for a red Cub Cadet (682,782?) around 1980. My own history with Wheelhorse in particular goes back only to fall 2016. Trina and I needed a physically heavier machine for pulling heavy stuff. Sooooooooo many usages and at least 20+ Tractors have gone through our shop since. Nowadays we consider our Wheelhorses and implements to be a permanent part of our tool set for our lives. Memories? Many! Some challenging. ALL good. Nicely said Eric. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 4,916 #8 Posted May 1 Richard: I like your post. It shows the love of tractors Red or Green. Enjoy the ride. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 47,064 #9 Posted May 2 23 hours ago, Richard Wahlstrand said: , the machines are tools, big boy toys, hobbies, therapies and possibly more. Teaching aids for the younguns for all things. Mechanics, math, physics, and many more... 3 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHGuy413 2,545 #10 Posted May 2 (edited) Love this post. I have made many memories working on these tractors in my garage with friends but the best ones are watching my son get really into them. A few years ago life tossed me a major curveball and I stopped working on and even using tractors. I had no interest in going out to the garage even. But he was the driving force to get me back out into the garage and I’m thankful for that. The memories we have made out there are incredible. He’s gone from driving mine when he was little to owning 1 to probably zeroing in on double digits if he hasn’t already gotten there now. He has gained knowledge of how things work and can do pretty much do it all. I look forward to the texts when he gets home from school and I’m still at work saying “dad I’m going to the garage” or “dad I got my (insert latest project here) running”. He’s a hard working 13 year old that has a passion for wheel horses. He pays for his addiction to them with hard work fixing push mowers and selling them with the skills he has learned in the garage. I hope he can take these skills into what ever the future holds for him. Edited May 2 by WHGuy413 5 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,769 #11 Posted May 2 Hard to beat! The smile say it all 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
