Farmall tractor shares Weis family’s fond memories at county museum

Phillips County Museum is home to a 1936 Farmall F-12 tractor that holds special memories for the Weis family.

It was purchased by Darlene M. Weis’ father, Harvey H. Galitz, for $400 in 1938. He was the tractor’s second owner.

Weis was about 9 years old, and her father taught her to drive at an early age. The other tractor they had at the time, a John Deere D, was difficult to start and drive. It also needed a lot of ground to turn a corner. This tractor was used for the heavy farm work and the Farmall did the lighter work.

Weis could crank the Farmall, which could get into smaller places, required less ground to turn and was easier to drive. This became Weis’ favorite tractor, which she used when helping with farm work.

She said she has several fond memories of the tractor. Her mother loved to have company to their house for Sunday dinners, and Weis remembers excitedly driving the Farmall around their yard to showcase it to their visitors. She also recalled taking her cousin for rides on it around their farm.

A spring-tooth harrow worked well with the Farmall, as did the family’s rodweeder and two-row cultivator, which someone rode to guide it in the rows.

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