From Scrap Metal to One Million Dollars

Perry Widdifield of Markerville, Alberta displays his 1924 John Deere Waterloo Boy at the Calgary Stampede
 
Purchased for the price of the iron it was made of, Perry Widdifield’s 1924 John Deere Waterloo Boy has since become an invaluable part of the family.

In 1956, Perry’s father bought the legendary tractor in rural Saskatchewan. “To most farmers at that time, it was just a pile of scrap iron,” says Perry. “My father recognized that if people didn’t begin collecting these tractors there would eventually be none left.

Perry later inherited the tractor when his father passed away. While the tractor did run when it was originally purchased, when Perry inherited the tractor, it required a major overhaul to be operational. From boring cylinders to replacing king pins and front spindles – there was a lot to be fixed. Perry took it upon himself to completely restore every aspect of the tractor, even matching the original paint colour, which is unique to the 1924 models. He spent countless hours completely restoring the machine’s engine and body, bringing it back to its original condition.
 
The 1924 John Deere Waterloo Boy has been treated as a collector’s item for most of it’s life and still is today, but Perry doesn’t shy away from a tractor pull with it – participating in events in Three Hills, Lacombe and the Calgary Stampede. Seasoned announcers at the events have been amazed at how well the old tractor pulls.
 
Perhaps the most fascinating part of this tractor is not how impressive it looks, but how well it runs. Perry mentions, “I can go out to the shed after storing it from September to May and get it running on the first or second pull.”
 

 
When Perry is not travelling around showcasing his 1924 John Deere Waterloo Boy or any of his other collectible tractors including a John Deere Model D, 1949 John Deere AR, and 1953 John Deere 40, he can be found on his farm in Markerville, Alberta. “I just love getting out in the field, being dusty and dirty and being my own boss,” Perry says. “My father and grandfather were farmers, it’s in my kids’ hearts and I’m trying to teach my grandchildren too.”
 
While the tractor was originally purchased for the price of the scrap metal, today Perry says no amount of money is enough to make him sell: “I say we’ll start at a million dollars - that’s what it’s worth to me because it’s been in the family for so long”.

Perry plans to keep the 1924 John Deere Waterloo Boy in the family and hopes it keeps on running for another 100 years.
 


Perry Widdifield and family in front of his legendary tractor at the Calgary Stampede