Rod Stanley, retired history teacher and coach at Panorama High School, Panora, posted photos of this tractor, along with this note: “The Panorama FFA restored my Dad’s 1940, Ford Ferguson tractor. They had it on display at the 2025 Iowa State Fair and won a blue ribbon for their great work. Those members and advisor did such a nice job with the restoration. I donated this tractor to them after the death of my Mother and I could not be prouder with the work that they did on the tractor. Thanks Panorama FFA for the fantastic restoration! My Dad would have been proud of your work!”
Rod grew up in Dexter and is on the board of the Dexter Museum. I asked him if he’d share more of the story behind this handsome tractor.
This Ford tractor first belonged to his Grandpa George Stanley, the first tractor he ever owned. Before that, most farmers with horses. When George died of a heart attack in 1958, his son Gerald (Rod’s dad) ended up with the tractor, along with the 2-bottom plow, disc, cultivator, and harrow that George had used.
When Gerald owned it, he plowed and disced many gardens in Dexter. It seemed like everyone in town had a garden. He would not take any money unless someone put it in his pocket. He eventually bought a 2 -row planter for it that he used to plant sweetcorn.
Gerald attended a school to learn how to fix Ford tractors. He worked at Akins’ gas station, along White Pole Road in Dexter, which was located where Don and Tony’s was. Akin sent him to the Ford School. When Akins’ station burned down, Gerald was out of a job. Many people around Dexter who owned Ford tractors brought them to Gerald to repair.
After Gerald died in 1997, the tractor sat in the shed, not used that much because they had another Ford they used to mow and for gardening.
Rod’s mom passed in 2023, he decided to donate the tractor to the Panorama FFA. High schoolers. They spent a year and half tearing it down and completely rebuilding the tractor. They have their own paint booth so it looks like new. The FFA decided to take it to the Iowa State Fair where they received a blue ribbon for their efforts.
“I am so proud of the work the boys and their instructor did on the tractor,” Rod noted.
I’m smiling! So sweet, Joy.
Thank you! ❤️
This is an outstanding story, Joy. Quite heartwarming!
Thanks, GP. Rod, his son, and another man have been restoring old tombstones this summer (among other things).
Fantastic!!
Grandpa Charlie Scar bought a 1941 John Deere model B. I think it was his first tractor since 2 “work horses”, Dolly and Don enjoyed retirement in our milk barn until I was about 3. I remember crawling up in the manger to pet them. Heads as big as me, so gentle. Rod is a priceless asset to Dexter and all of Dallas County and beyond. I always coveted other families with a Ford-Ferguson or Ford. They traveled much faster on our gravel roads!
Bob, I sure enjoy your memories of the farm! Rod, his son, and another man have also been restoring old tombstones in Guthrie County this summer. There’s a product that will dissolve the lichens without hurting the stone. They also fix broken ones.
Talk about a blast from the past. I recall old tractors like this on the farm.
Yes! But we never even thought about taking photos of them, and now people are collecting and restoring them.
True.
Three hearty cheers for the FFA! (We had a very active FFA when I was in high school.)
The 1940 Ford Ferguson tractor is a work of art and the FFA are superb artists-and mechanics! 🙂
Thank you, Nancy. FFA also prepares teenagers for leadership and career guidance. Really a terrific organization.
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