If you ever search online for information about LS Tractors, there is a high probability that you will run across content created by CJ Drake. Also known as “The LS Tractor Guy”, CJ is the founder of Mallard 5 (+1) Farmhouse & Homestead, a YouTube Channel designed to highlight the day to day work on his family farm, and how he uses LS Tractors for various jobs and tasks. CJ filmed a lot of personal LS Tractor content, which led to a partnership with LS as a Brand Ambassador. This allows him to test new tractor models on his channel, as well as provide feedback to the company.
CJ, raised in the country, wanted to share that lifestyle with his family. They found their dream property in 2016 which included a 108-year-old Ohio farmhouse, 50 acres of land, and a lot of future potential. With so much renovation and land maintenance to be done, CJ knew he had to purchase a tractor. Both his father and uncle owned LS Tractors, but CJ did his own research on various brands to find a good tractor at a good price. To no surprise, CJ’s research led him to the same brand and same dealer as his dad and uncle, and at the end of summer in 2017, he bought his first LS Tractor, the XR4040.
After the LS Tractor purchase, CJ decided to start his own YouTube Channel. He noticed there were not a lot of videos about LS Tractors, and that did not make sense to him since both his father and uncle liked their LS Tractors and had no issues with them. “That’s when I told myself I will film myself working with mine, and whatever happens I will show it,” said CJ. At that time, he and his wife had 3 daughters, so he named his channel, Mallard 5 Farmhouse. The goal was to be honest and take everyone along to show them what they did on the farm with their LS Tractor. After several years of footage working with hay bales, firewood, giant pumpkins, chicken keeping, and renovations, in 2023 they welcomed a surprise son to the family, changing the farm name to Mallard 5 (+1) Farmhouse. Today, the channel has 34.5K dedicated subscribers, who have consistently watched the family of 6 build their dream house and farm.
CJ posts a wide variety of content centered around his LS Tractor. “My XR4040 has done everything I’ve asked it to.” CJ gave a long list of jobs his tractor had tackled: Brush hogging, transporting firewood, gravel work, tilling, moving giant pumpkins, leveling ground, moving a 900-pound wood stove to their basement, and their most recent project, cutting and baling hay. CJ says, “A goal of mine when we moved to our farm was to make our own hay. We achieved that this year by using my XR4040.” CJ bought a 5-foot drum mower, a landscape rake, and a square baler. His LS Tractor ran them all, and they were able to put their own hay in their barn for the very first time! After using his tractor for 8 years, CJ testifies that the price and features are what sold him on his tractor, but now the proven reliability is a huge bonus.
After posting lots of videos using his personal tractor, LS contacted CJ to express their appreciation, and asked to partner with him, to which he was excited to reply, “Yes!”. Over the years, LS has provided CJ with 6 other LS Tractors on the farm to use. This opportunity to be involved with the testing of multiple tractors has transformed his YouTube channel to become a place to watch all kinds of LS Tractors in action. There are playlists dedicated to each specific model of LS Tractor CJ has worked with on his farm. LS truly listens to and values CJ’s feedback and recommendations. The partnership with LS Tractor has been life changing for CJ. “I don’t just feel like a guy who makes videos. I feel like I am part of LS. Not only has our experience with LS Tractor been great for us and our channel, but the relationships that have come with it have been great.” CJ shared that having the opportunity to attend multiple dealer conferences and farm shows have been fun, and he has built lifelong friendships and connections from these experiences.
CJ invites you to subscribe to his channel and see lots of LS Tractors in action. The real day to day life filming of these tractors give testimony to the versatility and dependability of LS Tractors. Currently, CJ is making videos testing the MT473. He is having a blast with this model and says it’s a tractor he could definitely see himself upgrading to in the future. For anyone considering an LS Tractor, CJ recommends finding a good dealer. “Once you do that, it is smooth sailing because the tractor quality is already there.”
Published on July 10th, 2025 and written by Kimberly Steele