"Sunrise Iron" tractor collection Enterprise, Oregon Podcast #31

Erl McLaughlin has a love of agricultural bordering on obsession. He has been collecting antique tractors since 1983, restoring them to their original glory and storing them in a 40’ x 220’ metal shop on his property. If people hear about his antique tractor and farm implement collection, and they want to see it, they call Erl on his cell phone. They will likely catch him farming his fields. When he receives a call, Erl jumps down from his tractor, the one he uses to farm today, and he brushes the dirt and the dust from his jeans, and he meets you at his showroom, if you can call it that, because really is just a big metal shop off a dirt road. But it contains an incredible collection of agricultural history.With over 35 antique tractors and as many farm implements dating from as far back as 1835 -- many pieces are extremely rare -- it is one man’s monumental tribute to the agricultural heritage of North America in the 1800’s and 1900’s. The collection includes four hard rubber tire trucks from 1918, a number of horse drawn wagons, original cast iron tractor seats, and authentic vintage signs.   Because  Erl  is  driven  by  passion,  you  will  find  his  showroom  without  some  common  things  that  you  might  expect  from  such  a one-of-a-kind  display.  The  showroom  sits  just  off  a  dirt  road.  There  is  no  formal  parking  lot.  There  is  no  lobby,  no  place  to buy  a  ticket,  no  kitschy  museum  gift  shop  selling  cheap  Oregon  Trail  themed  key  chains  and  other  souvenirs.  There  is  only one  man’s  commitment  to  finding,  restoring  and  celebrating  antique  tractors  in  one  of  the  nicest  privately  owned  facilities  in the Pacific Northwest.  The Shop: https://teespring.com/stores/yoga-where-youre-at  DB Creative Designs: http://dbcreativedesign.com/  Baumgartner Ranch: ttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxK5yVrrE9znZXITpCKBJg [email protected]