Mehling named 2023 Days of '85 parade marshal

submitted by Michelle Mehling

Harlan Mehling was born in a farmhouse in Nebraska on March 9th of 1935 to Irving and Gladys Mehling. His brother Frank followed four years later. The family moved to Montana in 1950 when Harlan was 15 and started the Medicine Rocks Ranch.

In 1963 Harlan left the ranch and opened a repair shop and used car dealership in Ekalaka. He started taking on small farming jobs in the area and accumulated one of the more amazing tractor collections of Pre-1930 tractors that existed.

On August 12, 2021 Harlan sold his antique tractor collection and retired due to health issues. While many didn't know this collection existed in Ekalaka, those that did marveled at his collection. Thankfully, some of his tractors sold locally and can still be seen during the Days of '85 parade.