Ortonville- Dennis Ashton, the son of a farmer, has been around tractors since he was born.
Now, 65 years later, he has ten of his own– all antiques.
As co-owner of Ashton Orchards with wife Sharon, Ashton displays the tractors on Sundays at the orchard, 3925 Seymour Lake Road.
‘I’m not interested in antique furniture or dishes, but I like mechanical stuff,? says Ashton, who also has a collection of 15 hit and miss engines. ‘When you get older you look for older things.?
Ashton learned how to drive on his father’s tractor, a 1936 Allis Chalmers that was used until 1997. He got the tractor from his father in 1999 and reconditioned it. sparking his interest in collecting antique tractors. He uses it to cut firewood with the saw on the front and says it runs good. That first tractor sparked his interest in collecting others and he bought nine more as the opportunities arose– all Allis Chalmers, ranging in age from 1941-1953. All are bright orange and different models, with the exception of two. They vary in worth from $2,000- $3,000 and they all run.
Ashton drives them all out of a barn every Sunday and plans to keep them out through November, before the weather gets bad.
‘Men especially enjoy looking at them,? says Ashton, who is a member of the Yesteryears Farm Tractors Club. ‘Sometimes children sit on them if their parents are there.?
Ashton Orchards is open through Dec. 24 and has pumpkins and several varieties of apples available for sale as well as jams, jellies, honey, cider, apple cinnamon doughnuts, breads, fruit and cream pies, and pastries. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Details: (248) 627-6671.