Farmer brings old tractors back to life

Benjamin Herrold
Jun 27, 2024
Jun 27, 2024

Mike Schantz restores old tractors for future generations to use. Here he is pictured with his granddaughters Myra, on the tractor seat, and Elaina, on the peddle tractor.
Photo courtesy Mike Schantz

Prefer us on Google

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Benjamin Herrold

For northeast Missouri farmer Mike Schantz, working with tractors is something he’s done almost all his life.

kAm“x’G6 366? 5@:?8 E9:D 7@C c_ J62CD[” 96 D2JD]k^Am

kAm$492?EK H@C<65 2E 2 72C> >249:?6CJ 562=6CD9:A 7@C ca J62CD 2?5 92D H@C<65 @? C6DE@C:?8 @=5 EC24E@CD 7@C J62CD 2D H6==] w6 :D ?@H C6E:C65 7C@> 9:D ;@3 2E E96 562=6CD9:A[ 3FE 96 DE:== H@C<D @? EC24E@CD 2E 9:D {FC2J 72C> :? r=2C< r@F?EJ[ |:DD@FC:]k^Am

kAm“x 8@E :?E@ C6DE@C:?8 EC24E@CD c_ J62CD 28@[ ;FDE E@ DACF46 E96> FA[” $492?EK D2JD]k^Am

kAm%92E D:56 3FD:?6DD 8C6H E@ :?4=F56 7F== C6DE@C2E:@?D 2?5 2 G2C:6EJ @7 H@C< @? EC24E@CD]k^Am

kAm$492?EK ;@<6D[ “x 42== :E C6E:C6>6?E[” 3FE 96 DE:== H@C<D @? EC24E@CD 2?5 C2:D6D 42EE=6 @? 9:D 72C>] w6 2=D@ A6@A=6 2D<:?8 9:> E@ H@C< @? E96:C @=5 EC24E@CD]k^Am

kAm“x’G6 8@E 2 H2:E:?8 =:DE[ 23@FE 2 EH@\J62C H2:E:?8 =:DE[” 96 D2JD]k^Am

kAmw6 D2JD H@C5 @7 >@FE9 :D 9@H A6@A=6 962C 23@FE H92E 96 5@6D 2?5 86E :? E@F49 H:E9 9:>]k^Am

kAm$492?EK D2JD :E :D 2 ;@J E@ 86E E@ E2<6 2? @=5 EC24E@C E92E :D ?@E :? 8@@5 D92A6 2?5 86E :E =@@<:?8 2?5 CF??:?8 ?:46]k^Am

People are also reading…

Propagating the prairie: Couple creates business out of raising native plants
Cattle-station cookbook helps disaster
Wisconsin popular destination for turkeys
Back to grass: Focused on conservation, Midwest farmers return cropland to prairie state
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Iowa pork producer grows with focus on efficiency
From the ground up: Jade Jandel builds his cattle herd on functionality, longevity
Speaking for agriculture: College student finds her calling an ag advocacy
Buyer beware: Problem cows, accessories sold separately
Missouri legislature extends ag tax credits
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
100-year-old veteran recalls battles of World War II
Breakfast offers ‘majestic’ chance to talk dairy
Cook shares classic chicken and cookie recipes with a twist
Fickle weather creates field challenges

kAm“x =:<6 E2<:?8 D@>6E9:?8 E92E’D 9:56@FD 2?5 >2<:?8 :E =@@< 8@@5[” 96 D2JD]k^Am

kAmu@C $492?EK[ :E :D 2=D@ DA64:2= E@ D66 E96 C624E:@?D 2?5 6>@E:@?D H96? A6@A=6 D66 E96:C @=5 72>:=J EC24E@C CF??:?8 2?5 =@@<:?8 8@@5]k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 72C> EC24E@CD[ 7@C A6@A=6 :E H2D E96:C 525’D @C 8C2?5A2’D[” 96 D2JD]k^Am

kAmxE :D C6H2C5:?8 E@ 7:I FA EC24E@CD D@ 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D 42? FD6 E96>[ :?4=F5:?8 EC24E@CD @? 9:D @H? 72C>] $492?EK 92D EH@ <:5D 2?5 E9C66 8C2?5<:5D] w6 92D 2 4@FA=6 @7 @=5 y@9? s66C6 q EC24E@CD @? 9:D 72C> E92E 92G6 366? A2CE @7 9:D 72>:=J 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm“(96? x H2D `_ J62CD @=5[ x >@H65 92J H:E9 E92E[” 96 D2JD] “(6’G6 DE:== 8@E :E]”k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 9:D 7@FC 564256D 2E E96 562=6CD9:A 2?5 H@C<:?8 @? EC24E@CD[ $492?EK D2JD 96 D2H 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 EC24E@CD 2?5 H:E?6DD65 E96 5C2>2E:4 E649?@=@8:42= 25G2?46>6?ED :? EC24E@CD 5FC:?8 E92E A6C:@5]k^Am

kAm“x H2D 7@CEF?2E6 6?@F89 E@ H@C< @? AC6EEJ D:>A=6 EC24E@CD 324< :? E96 52J 2?5 DE:4< H:E9 :E =@?8 6?@F89 E@ H@C< H:E9 D@>6 AC6EEJ 4@>A=:42E65 EC24E@CD[” 96 D2JD]k^Am

kAmw:D 72G@C:E6D 2C6 E96 @=56C EC24E@CD[ 2?5 E92E’D H92E 96 H@C<D @? ?@H 7@C A6@A=6]k^Am

kAm“x’> ?@E E92E >@56C? @7 2 A6CD@?[ x 8F6DD[” 96 D2JD]k^Am

kAm$492?EK D2JD 9:D 72G@C:E6 EC24E@C :D 2 y@9? s66C6 c_a_[ 2 A@AF=2C EC24E@C E92E :D 23@FE E96 D2>6 286 2D 9:>] w6 :D 4FCC6?E=J H@C<:?8 @? D@>6 @7 E96>]k^Am

kAm“%96J DE:== H@C<[ ;FDE =:<6 H6 5@[” 96 D2JD]k^Am