Old Tractors Need Love Too Piston Scholar Annika Ernstrom Restores Character and Value to Antique Farm Equipment

Tractors Are Something Special

“I was in my sophomore year of high school in San Luis Obispo, and I was not really sure what I was going to do,” she explained. “I either wanted to be a vet or I wanted to go into the Air Force as a pilot.” But, because San Luis Obispo was in farm country, her interest turned to being a part of FFA (Future Farmers of America). “To get an American degree or work your way up through those different certifications in FFA, you had to be a part of a team. So, we started a team of high school kids working on tractors,” she said.

“We were just fiddling with things and learning how to drive them. We didn’t really have a coach and some of the guys were restoring a tractor in a local competition called the J.B. Dewar Tractor Restoration Education Program.”

It was one of the McPherson professors she met during a J.B. Dewer competition in California who introduced her to the college, and Annika has since officially moved to Kansas to attend college and work at her “word-of-mouth” shop restoring tractors for several clients, including one from California.

She’s taking car restoration classes at McPherson, which include automotive paint, drivetrain, chassis, as well as accounting and small business management. “I definitely have a love for old trucks and some of the cars that are around, but so far, right now, I’d like to stick with tractors,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind doing a few cars here and there, but my heart is in tractors. I love them. I don’t know why. I love the sound of them, the smell. You really just can’t beat it. There’s just something special about them.

“There is always a story and not everybody had a classic car growing up,” Annika added. “But usually you can remember a picture of your grandpa on a farm sitting on a tractor of some sort. It’s something that’s connected to your family, and I thought that was the coolest thing. They come from an era where everybody was just trying new things. I love all the oddball stuff that’s really unique and I think tractors really exemplify that.”

Finding Her Balance

As for the challenges she’s encountered on her career path? “There’s quite a few challenges that can tie for first place,” Annika said. “A lot of is daunting. You see the good sides and you say, man, these people in restoration shops are so successful. You see the highlight reels and the good parts. When you start something yourself, you sit there and say, OK, what is it going to cost, am I going to make a profit or a loss within the first year, and them how am I going to still live, and how am I going to pay for college, how am I going to budget my time?

“It’s a battle creating a balance between life and work and understanding that you are one person and you can only do so much. I fight burnout greatly. I try so hard not to get there, but I can tell you it happens at least once a month. And having the right people backing you is also a big thing.”

Opening Doors With a Piston Scholarship

Receiving the Piston Scholarship is a key factor in Annika’s progress. “Every bit counts,” she said. “The Piston Foundation alone has been just a very, very big encouragement to me. I’m constantly seeing different opportunities open up, whether it’s going to certain events or just having an interview or being able to talk with somebody else who is a scholarship winner. It makes a difference. It really does. And I think the community that Piston has and the encouragement that Piston gives to all these students makes a big difference, and it sets Piston apart from a lot of other scholarships out there.

“My goal is that I will graduate debt free. So, the Piston Foundation has been absolutely incredible because it has helped me reach my goal. I am super, super close to making it through this semester. Next semester I’m definitely in need of more help, but I know that I’ll get there at some point. Piston has opened huge doors.”

Duds for the “Tractor Chicks”

Although she’s far from being a “fashionista,” she claims, she’d like to see a line of durable work wear available to women like her. She enjoys wearing oversized pants and a “good” T-shirt. “We broke a record this year at McPherson,” Annika said. “We have 17 girls here in the automotive program specifically, and we all agree that women’s work wear is not what it’s all cracked up to be.

“I know I’m a pro at splitting pants. I think there’s a lot of improvement that could be made. So we’ve talked about working together to see what we could do to make a difference, and as college kids we can’t spend $250 or $200 on work wear. I’ve checked with a few companies so [we’ll see].”

Don’t be surprised to see “Tractor Chick” work wear available at some specialty stores in the future.