Farmall Ms Painted In University Colors

Farmall Ms Painted In University Colors There’s a sea of brand colors when nearly 1,500 tractors participate in the annual Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing every September. Two of the most unique entries in 2024 were Farmall Ms, painted in the school colors of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. Jerry Bement of Dowagiac, Mich., has driven his 1950 M sporting the green and white colors of the Michigan State Spartans since 2014. Paul and Jo Burchardt of New Salem, Mich., drove their 1941 M painted in maize and deep blue, colors of the Michigan Wolverines. Both of the owners profess allegiance to their respective universities. A plaque on the side of Bement’s Farmall lists MSU as a Bement family tradition. Jerry’s father Ben graduated from MSU in 1937, Jerry in 1973 and 1980, his sister Natalie in 1979 and 1984, and his son Jess in 2005. Jerry and Jess put their MSU agronomic degrees to good use on their southern Michigan farm. Natalie used her agronomy degree working in the MSU Extension Department. Jerry says he painted his Farmall in MSU colors in 2013 as a tribute to his father, who dearly loved MSU, although he never participated in the Mackinac parade. He farmed with an M as his largest tractor until 1957, then acquired a 400. Jerry and his son still farm with red tractors and machinery. Bement has driven in 14 of the 16 parades since the event began. He says the experience and atmosphere of driving an open station tractor across the 5-mile long bridge is amazing, something that people who drive a car or truck never get to feel. Seeing Bement’s MSU Farmall in the staging area for the parade was the impetus for Jo Burchardt to ask her husband, Paul, to find a similar M and paint it in Wolverine colors. She says, “Paul thought I was crazy, but we found an M, and when we went to pick it up, the owner had an MSU flag in his shed. I told Paul not to say a word about what we had planned.” Paul Burchardt and a friend painted the body of the M Michigan blue with a bright maize flare on top of the radiator cowling. The wheel rims, seat and decals are also maize. A large sign on the seat back reads “Go Wolverines.” An authentic circular University of Michigan maize logo, featuring the distinctive block letter M, identifies the tractor model. Before the 2024 parade, they parked close to Bement’s MSU tractor in the staging area, where both owners fielded plenty of questions and comments. Jo Burchardt is quick to tell people that their tractor and driving it in the parade are all for fun. She says it’s a lot like opening deer season, where once you’ve got the bug, it’s in your blood forever. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing, 1003 S. Washington St., Owosso, Mich. 48867 (ph 989-721-6882; bridgecrossinginfo@owossotractor.com; www.mackinacbridgecrossing.com).

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