Kidney family tractor in the Glidden parade– an Oliver 60

Guy’s dad collected old tractors, keeping them in a grove on the farm. Most of them were sold after his death (at age 48) in 1970, but Guy’s mother kept the old Fordson. Guy’s brother Vey, 14 years younger, who has lived in Indiana for decades, hauled it back to Indiana and is restoring it.

Another tractor that survived the sale was an old Oliver 60 which Vey got running again. It stays on the farm near Glidden where they grew up and where their step-father still lives.

Fordson and Oliver 60 tractors, farm near Glidden, Iowa

The Oliver 60 was introduced in 1940 as a less expensive alternative to the Oliver 70. Those were row crop tractors built by the Oliver Farm Equipment Company in Charles City, Iowa.

Guy has been unable to attend the Glidden school reunions lately, but Vey still returns for it. The weekend includes a parade and Vey, a Hospice chaplain, has enjoyed being part of the parade driving the Oliver.

Vey in this year’s parade, August 2025

24 comments

    • A Johnny Popper? My Uncle Bill Neal started out with one. Dad eventually switched to John Deere’s as well. Next week’s tractor was restored by the grandson of a cousin, while he was still in high school! He’s riding it in parades this summer before returning to college.

  1. Beautiful. I remember playing on one that was even older at my great-grandmother’s house. It was parked just outside the barn, and I couldn’t wait the climb up on it when we arrived. Fond memories that’s left a soft spot for antique tractors.

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