A Kamsack senior resident was dismayed to find his car battery had gone dead on April 8.
Confronted with unsettled weather of alternating snow flurries, gusty winds and minus 10 C temperatures under grey skies, Bernie Brandt decided to use whatever transportation was available in order to make a quick trip for some necessary supplies at the Kamsack Legacy Co-op Food Store.
In this case, it happened to be his 1947 Ford Model 2N tractor.
Wearing his insulated outerwear as protection from the cold, and a facemask as protection from the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, Brandt parked his trusty 2N steed in the parking lot, and proceeded into the store.
Upon completing his purchases, and exiting the store, Brandt stopped for a moment to chat about his well-loved tractor, all the while observing social distancing and wearing a face-protective mask.
“I used to drive this tractor to school, 70 years ago,” the spry octogenarian said with obvious pride.
Brandt went on to explain that his father had passed away in 1972, and the tractor had been sold on auction in 1973.
“In 1974, I found the tractor, and bought it back from the new owners. I’ve had it ever since.”
Pointing to the blade attachment, Brandt said he uses the tractor to clean snow in the winter, and he has had to do some mechanical work to his beloved tractor over the years to keep it running.
“I changed the electrical system from 6-volt to 8-volt, and it starts better now than it used to when it was newer. It just proves that ‘old’ is ‘wonderful.’”
After finding various available spots on his snowblade and tractor body to hang his five bags of groceries, Brandt proceeded to drive to his Kamsack residence.
