Return to Archived Stories

Three years ago, Jon drew a picture of a tractor he had helped his father Richard restore. As tractor restorers, the Pfleuger family subscribed to "Farm Collector Magazine," and Jon always admired the submitted tractor drawings included in each edition, so he asked his mother Cathy if she would submit his drawing, which she did.

When the family didn't hear from the magazine, they assumed the drawing would never be published, and eventually they forgot about it. Jon, now 14, was pleasantly surprised last fall when a letter arrived informing him that the drawing would be included in the January issue, nearly three years after he submitted it.

Jon Pfleuger, an eighth grader at PAMS, stands near a restored John Deere tractor. His drawing of a similar antique John Deere tractor, done three years ago, was published this month in "Farm Collector Magazine."

Jon, an eighth grader at PAMS, has always loved to draw. He especially likes drawing tractors, farm scenes, and cars, he said. His mother has books full of Jon's drawings and once used some of his drawings for Christmas cards.

Antique tractors became one of Jon's favorite drawing subjects when he and his dad started restoring their first John Deere tractor together. Once finished, they used the tractor to compete in tractor pulls throughout Minnesota.

Next, Jon and his dad restored a John Deere tractor - that Jon bought himself. They also use this tractor to compete in pulls. He and his dad have earned 10 trophies from tractor pulls between them, said Jon.

Jon still draws a lot, mostly tractors, he said. And going to tractor pulls gives him new subjects to render.

When he's not drawing or competing in tractor pulls, Jon likes playing football and hanging out with his friends. While he's proud to have had a drawing published, Jon has no plans to become an artist. While he's not sure what the future holds, he's pretty sure his career will include tractors, and he's sure drawing will be a lifelong hobby.