By Paul Coon – Beaumont, Alta.
Art Minor bought a Massey ‘44’ tractor and farmed in the Florence district of southeast Saskatchewan from 1936 to 1953.
In 1953, at age 64, Art and his wife Fern moved from their farm to Sundre, Alta., where some of their children were settled. He wasn’t sure how to get his tractor to Sundre. Someone suggested he drive it and he liked the challenge.
Art loaded up a farm wagon with goods and machinery, then headed out on the 1,280 km trip. It took him four days of driving through wind, rain, snow and road bans.
At one point he came to a steep hill. To save fuel, he shifted the transmission into neutral position to coast down the hill.
The tractor and trailer gained so much speed, he had to pull out and pass another vehicle going down the hill. There’s no doubt he got the attention of the other driver as he overtook him!
Art had to coast to a stop going up the other side and engage the transmission again. The brakes on the tractor became very hot when attempting to slow the speed.
Mr. Minor gave the tractor to his son, Claude, who used it for farming west of Sundre until it was donated to the Sundre Museum, where it found its last resting place. The old tractor still appears to be in good condition.
