The tractors will be raffled off during the International Plowing Match
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
A farmer from Chatham-Kent, Ont. is using his passion for tractor restoration to help two local charities.
Tom Robert refurbished a 1939 John Deere Model B and a 1954 Massey Ferguson 50. He is donating the tractors to benefit the Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation.
The tractors will be raffled off at a cost of $100 per ticket and both charities will split the proceeds. The winning entries will be drawn at the International Plowing Match in September and only about 400 tickets are available for purchase.
For Robert, using his love for vintage tractors is a way to help organizations that assisted his family during difficult times.
“My family has dealt with cancer a lot and I wanted to give back something to the community where my loved ones were cared for,” he said in a June 28 release. “One of my passions is repairing and refurbishing farm equipment, so cleaning up a couple of vintage tractors and putting them up as prizes seemed like a great way for me to help those going through the same circumstances my family did.”
The charities are humbled by Mr. Robert’s generosity.
Seeing how much time and care he put into the restorations is heartwarming, said Jodi Maroney, executive director of the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation.
“This is an amazing opportunity for the organization,” she told Farms.com today. “But more importantly we were impressed with his thoughtfulness and willingness to take on such a large project on behalf of both of our organizations.
“And really he’s doing this on behalf of the community too, because that’s who is going to benefit from his kindness.”
Tickets can be purchased at the Chatham-Kent Hospice, 34 Wellington St. E. in Chatham, and at the Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance offices at 9 Ursuline Ave. and 325 Margaret Ave.
Tickets are also available at Can-Am Tractor Ltd. and Lambton Kent Farm Implements.
Farms.com has reached out to Robert for more information.
From left: Jodi Maroney, executive director, Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation, Tom Robert and Mary Lou Crowley, executive director, Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance photo