Slepicka tractor collection displayed

This past Saturday marked the very first ever "Annual Slepicka Tractor Collection Show."

The event, sponsored by the Niwot Community Association and the Slepicka family, was well attended by folks near and far. Niwot resident Ed Nowak was front and center with his wife Megan and two fascinated children, all having a great time checking out all of the amazing tractors on display.

Also on display were many farming implements used during the late 1800s and early 1900s, plus excellent examples of functioning hit-or-miss engines.

Jerry and Marsha Slepicka, along with their son Brandon, graciously shared all their tractor knowledge from years of collecting and restoring tractors. Jerry remembers his grandfather purchasing a 1936 Case tractor for $100 and a team of horses, only to be disappointed with the tractor, so he returned the next day to get his horse team back.

Jerry's father farmed in Boulder County, using a tractor to mow and take care of his and other properties throughout the county. The Slepicka's have been in Niwot 33 years, moving to their current home in 1994. They have two sons and a daughter they raised in Niwot, including Brandon Slepicka, who was on hand Saturday.

Jerry and Brandon have restored at least 15 full-size tractors along with 17 hit-and-miss engines. Brandon is a glazier by trade, and but if you ask him about tractors or motors, he is happy to describe any process or fact without hesitation–almost as if it were his livelihood.

Jerry and Brandon are especially fond of their Gibson tractor collection.

Gibson tractors were manufactured in Longmont from 1946 to 1952, and most were purchased by out-of-state farms. According to Brandon, many of them went to Canada. The Slepicka's are fortunate to have in their collection ten of these tractors, which makes theirs the largest collection in Colorado.

One of the oldest tractors on display was a 1927 Fordson purchased by Marsha's father and used on his homestead in Nauvoo, IL.

Almost all the tractors on display are operational and give the observer an amazing opportunity to see many types from at least nine different manufacturers spanning several decades.

For those interested in learning more, the Slepicka's will have some of their collection on display at the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver August 26-28, 2022.