Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Finding new life in an old combine

Monday, August 21, 2017

A restored combine is the result of a partnership between a regional Case IH dealership and a local 4-H group

By Jennifer Jackson

When Craig Smith, co-owner of O'Niel's Farm Equipment Ltd. in Binbrook, told Robert Meier, Territory Sales Manager for central and eastern Ontario for Case IH, about a 1930s A-6 Case combine that was up for sale at auction, it wasn't long before the pair set a plan in place for the piece of equipment.

The combine needed to be restored and Meier knew the right team for the job: the local 4-H machinery club.

Along with Smith and Clint Burrows, leader of the 4-H Machinery Club in Hamilton-Wentworth County, Meier hopes the completed project will showcase the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the 4-H members, as well as the agricultural industry's history and progression.

Here, Better Farming provides further highlights from the restoration process.

Restoring Combines

Smith found the combine for sale online in an auction. An individual involved with the project snapped a photo of the 1930s combine at the start of its journey, leaving the grounds of the Grey Roots Museum & Archives.

Restoring Combines

The combine sat untouched over the winter of 2016/2017, while Meier and Smith started to plan the combine's restoration. The pull-type combine features a galvanized metal body, a six-foot-wide head and an innovative grain unloading system.

Restoring Combines

Once the combine arrived at the farm of Clint Burrows, the Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Machinery Club got to work. This was one of the six meetings where the members fixed, rebuilt and painted the combine.

4H restoring combines

    Photo credit: Hamilton-Wentworth County 4-H machinery club photo

The 15 4-H machinery club members range in age from nine to 21 years old. Members with all levels of skill and familiarities with machinery had ample opportunities to contribute to the project.

4H restoring combines

    Photo credit: Hamilton-Wentworth County 4-H machinery club photo

Part of the group stands for a photo after a night of hard work. The meetings each lasted for about two hours and, according to Burrows, the 4-H members are all very enthusiastic about the project.

4H restoring combines

    Photo credit: Hamilton-Wentworth County 4-H machinery club photo

The 4-H members had many opportunities for hands-on learning – the kind of learning not acquired with a computer program, says Smith – through such responsibilities as cleaning, the completion of structural work and painting. BF

Current Issue

May 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

New board members for Ontario Pork

Friday, April 25, 2025

Ontario Pork, an association representing the 1,898 pork farms that market 5.9 million hogs in the province, has announced its new board lineup for 2025. As a Guelph, Ontario-headquartered organization, Ontario Pork is engaged in the areas of research, government representation,... Read this article online

Sheep farmers win Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Sheep farmers and wool producers from Wallenstein, Ont. are Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers in the industry with an award like that,” Ryan Schill told Farms.com. “When we started the sheep farm, there were people questioning us... Read this article online

Ontario ag connections in the NHL playoffs

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

The 2025 NHL playoffs are underway, and some of hockey’s biggest names got their start on an Ontario farm or have invested in agriculture since becoming professional athletes. Farms.com went through each of the 16 playoff team rosters to uncover which players have a connection to... Read this article online

New Alcohol Trade Freedom in Ontario

Thursday, April 17, 2025

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has welcomed Ontario’s bold step in eliminating trade barriers and allowing direct alcohol sales to consumers. This new legislation aims to ease internal trade across provinces and support small businesses. One of the key changes... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top