RFD-TV Breaks Guinness World Record for Largest Parade of Classic Tractors at the Nebraska State Fair 

Grand Island, NE (August 28, 2012) – The Guinness World Record for a parade of classic tractors is now 964 tractors/drivers thanks to a determined group of tractor owners at the Nebraska State Fair. The parade took place around the Fonner Park Racetrack after a morning thunderstorm as part of the opening weekend of events at the fair organized and sponsored by RFD-TV/RURAL TV.

 
Tractors had to be at least 30 years old to participate in the parade.

In order to qualify, each tractor provided a VIN/Serial number and was at least 30 years old. Over 1,000 tractors/drivers participated in RFD-TV and RURAL TV’s parade. A representative from Guinness certified that 964 classic tractors met all of the requirements and drove continuously around the track for a minimum of two miles. The previous record was 745 held by Elbach, Germany.

 
The previous world record for a parade of classic tractors was 745 participants and was held by Elbach, Germany. 

“I have never felt more pride in the history of RFD-TV,” said Patrick Gottsch, Founder & President of Rural Media Group, Inc. “The perseverance by our staff and these tractor enthusiasts through the mud was a sight to behold in itself, as they were not going to be denied the chance to break the Guinness record. Seeing over 1,000 classic tractors moving at one time was a real crowd pleaser.”

 
The tractors drove continuously around the track for a minimum of two miles. 

A capacity grandstand was filled with over 10,000 viewers in-and-around the Fonner Park track who witnessed this unprecedented display of machinery of the past. At least 31 states were represented, with 730 entries coming from Nebraska and the rest traveling great distances including some entries coming from as far away as New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Michigan, and Arizona. 

 
Over 10,000 people attended the event. 

With additional storm clouds gathering above Grand Island, NE, the rescheduling of the parade was put to a voice vote at an 11am driver meeting. It was unanimously decided that the parade was to continue as scheduled at 1pm when every driver threw their hand in the air and shouted “Today!”

 
Patrick Gottsch, Founder & President of Rural Media Group, Inc. proudly displays the Guiness World Record certificate. 

The parade was broadcast on RFD-TV and RURAL TV hosted by veteran farm broadcaster and tractor enthusiast Max Armstrong, along with KRVN’s Joe Greenwich.

About RFD-TV & RURAL TV:
Launched in December 2000, RFD-TV is the nation’s first 24-hour television network dedicated to servicing the needs and interests of rural America with programming focused on agriculture, equine and rural lifestyle, along with traditional country music and entertainment. Sister network, RURAL TV, launched in February 2012 and is a multimedia agribusiness and rural lifestyle network featuring primetime news broadcasts focused on agribusiness and rural policy issues; weather; world commodity market updates; extensive event coverage; international trade, farm and horse shows; expanded livestock auctions; equipment and ranch reports; plus independent productions designed to give agricultural professionals and hobbyists information to fit every interest and operation. Currently, the two networks are distributed to more than 55 million homes worldwide by DBS and cable systems including DISH Network, DIRECTV®, Comcast, Verizon FiOS TV, Mediacom, Charter, Optimum, Brighthouse, Suddenlink, Time Warner, Cox, and more than 600 independent rural cable systems. The bi-monthly RFD-TV The Magazine has more 180,000 paid subscribers, and the company operates RFD-TV The Theatre in Branson, Mo. Corporate headquarters are in Omaha, Neb., and production operations are in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.rfdtv.com and www.myruraltv.com. 

We’ve all heard stories about the neighbor, uncle or grandfather, who after farming with horses all his life finally bought a tractor. Following careful instructions from the dealer, the new tractor owner got the machine started, and was going along pretty well, when some unexpected occurrence (such as the end of a row) demanded an immediate stop. All thought of clutches and brakes fled the operator’s mind and he hauled back mightily on the steering wheel and hollered “Whoa!” for all he was worth, while the tractor continued merrily on through the fence, into the creek, or whatever.

I don’t have any such stories of my own to tell. My grandfather never drove a motor vehicle as far as I know. He owned cars, which were driven by his sons, but always farmed with horses. When my dad and my uncle took over the farm and bought a tractor, Nandad was content to ride the mower or the binder and leave the driving to others.

Sometime ago, a friend sent me an account of his grandfather’s experiences with his first tractor and gave me permission to retell the tale.

Here’s the somewhat edited story:

“My grandparents, who were getting on in age, were ‘dyed in the wool,’ small mom and pop farmers. Their annual income, which was probably less than we spend in a month, was derived from sales of milk, butter, eggs and vegetables taken to a curb market in Franklin, Pennsylvania. With that, the stage is set!

“Sometime about the end of World War II, Grandad was persuaded to get a tractor, as it would make life a bit easier. Tractors were scarce and in great demand, as were a lot of consumer goods after the war. In order to buy a tractor you had to register and you couldn’t get one of the scarce machines until your name came up.

“Well, Grandad’s name finally came up. Oh my! That was a big day! My dad and I went with Grandad to finalize the arrangements. I was pretty young and, while I knew all about what was going on, I don’t recall any of the details.

“The tractor, which I believe was a Ford 8-N (Author’s note: The Ford 8-N came out in 1947. Before that, it would have been a Ford-Ferguson 2-N), was delivered to the farm and that’s when the transition from team to tractor became interesting. Grandad could only afford to spring for a tractor, so all the old horse-drawn implements had to be converted. My dad told him (Grandad was hard of hearing) that we would have to cut off the tongues and bolt on steel to hook to the tractor’s drawbar.

“Grandad at first didn’t want any part of this because he wasn’t sure the tractor would work and he might need to go back to using the team. We got past that and cut off the tongues of the rake, mowing machine, wagon, and binder, among other implements.

“Now, all these machines needed an operator and I’ll tell you about the mowing machine and that’s all.

“Grandad had a car and did a limited amount of driving, which was understandable with the wartime scarcity of tires and gasoline. So, Grandad was proud of his driving ability and determined not to mark or scratch the shiny new tractor. However, Grandad just couldn’t get the hang of stopping the tractor, he was so used to saying “whoa” to the horses.

“I was ten or twelve and not big or heavy enough to lift the cutter bar of the mowing machine unless I slid off the seat, stood on the lift pedal with one foot, and pulled back on the lift lever with all my might. This seemed to work OK and we started mowing hay.

“Remember I said that Grandad was hard of hearing, and he just couldn’t get his brain to instinctively tell his feet to depress the clutch and brake in order to stop quickly. Many times while mowing, the hay would ball up on the cutter bar and I would have to holler Wooha! several times before Grandad heard me. He then would holler WOAHA! a couple of times before it came to him to push in the clutch.

“This caused no real problems in the field, but after you finish mowing a field it’s nice to clean up by mowing around the edge of the field in the other direction. Grandpa hadn’t made a boo-boo in several days of mowing, raking and hauling in hay and he was getting real proud of himself, however this was the final test.

“As you know, there are often surprises when going around the outside edge of a field and we found one. As we were going along, I saw we were getting too close to an old stump and began to yell “Whoa!” When Grandad heard me, he lost it and reverted to the old horse mode by yelling “WOAHA!” By the time we got stopped, the cutter bar looked like a pretzel. I can still remember how the cutter bar hooked to that stump and began to twist and tear itself up as the entire machine swung hard to the left. Yea man! We had an original thrill ride way ahead of its time.

“We found another old mower and robbed enough parts to get back in business, but I remember that after that I was the “designated driver” for some time.”

It’s fun to read these old stories of the real experiences of real people. If anyone has a tale that has to do with using horses, tractors or farm machinery, send it and I’ll see that it gets told.

I recently came across an article in the October 24th, 1925, Pennsylvania Farmer about the use of tractor power on a Pennsylvania livestock farm. The story described the tractor’s use on the 350 acre Greer Stock Farm in Lawrence County (not far from where your humble correspondent grew up) and mentioned that the tractor operator’s name was George Hackathron, although the make of the machine was never revealed.

The author points out that the tractor has been worked into the general farming scheme along with the draft horses. Some jobs were done entirely by the tractor, but on others it was sent into the field with the horses and was used “... merely as a supplementary form of power.”

The tractor was used “... in tillage work, for plowing, discing and harrowing land before the crops are put into the ground. It pulls two fourteen-inch plows without difficulty. The land on the farm is generally rolling and the tractor seems to have no difficulty in negotiating the hills.”

The article goes on to say, “But the work of the iron horse is not limited to tillage operations by any means. At wheat cutting time the tractor is hitched to a seven foot grain binder and there it has been found to work splendidly during the long hot days of harvest. There is no necessity for changing teams in the middle of the day.”

At haying time the tractor pulled the hayloader and wagon around the field “...at a pretty good rate of speed and loads a wagon in a very few minutes.” Horses were used for hauling the loaded wagons to the barns, but the speed of loading was said to be “...a mighty valuable thing when there are storm clouds gathering and a lot of hay is still on the ground.”

The Greer farm had its own twenty-two inch threshing machine which was powered by the tractor. This job could thus be done at the “... time when threshing should be done in order that the grain can be put into the bins in the best of condition ...” without having to wait on the busy custom thresherman.

After threshing, three large silos had to be filled to provide feed for the Greer’s sixty-five head of purebred Shorthorn cattle, and this job “... gives the tractor work for quite a few days.”

After the silos were filled, corn had to be husked and shelled, and then ground into livestock feed. “The tractor is used to operate the husker and the sheller and when the corn is all shelled it is dumped into the grinder and worked up into feed.”

The Greer family ran a pretty progressive operation for 1925. The author says, “Plenty of power for the work to be done is one of the slogans on the Greer Farm.” Besides the tractor, there were several gasoline engines used for pumping water.

They also had a large 5-ton motor truck that was used for hauling limestone and livestock. The Greer Stock Farm apparently showed the Shorthorns at various fairs and the truck was used to “... take a number of show animals around the fair circuit in the fall of the year.”

The article says, “... the Greer farm is nothing at all if it isn’t well limed.” Four or five carloads of raw limestone were applied every year and the truck was used to haul this “... amendment to the soil” that produced “... heavy stands of clover and alfalfa.”

The author mentions the “... fine, not new but strictly modern” farm buildings. “Every stable is provided with an overhead manure and litter carrier which facilitates cleaning out the stalls, and loading the manure into the two spreaders.”

There also was an implement and machine shed where “... every machine is kept under cover when not in use and the excellent condition of the implements at all times speaks very well for this system of operation.”

In 1925 it was still several years until International Harvester introduced the row-crop Farmall and most eastern farmers believed that tractors were only for the large farms “out west.” It was probably enlightening for them to read of an eastern farm making so much use of a tractor.

Although this Model T Ford truck is hardly a 5-ton model, and the cows aren’t Shorthorns, the illustration shows how cattle were transported by truck in the 1920s. (From an ad for the Muncie auxiliary transmission for the Model T truck on the cover of Farm Mechanics magazine for September, 1926. In the author’s collection.)
 

1939 Aluminum Hood Ford 9N: Tractor of the Century

It was October, 1938, and a “handshake agreement” between Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson would result in what is generally regarded as the tractor of the century. Incredibly, the prototype of the 9N Ford-Ferguson would be designed and built is a matter of months. There hasn’t been as revolutionary a tractor introduced since this ground-breaking design saw the light of day on June 29, 1939 in Dearborn, Michigan.

Henry Ford once said, “I have walked many a weary mile behind a plow, and I know the drudgery of it”. The advances made by the 9N put nearly 20 million agricultural working horses out of business. Henry Ford recognized the use of hydraulic power as the wave of the future, and when he saw the Ferguson three-point hitch demonstrated, he immediately came to an agreement with Ferguson with the desire of building a tractor that was inexpensive, rugged, and reduced the grueling physical workload for the farmer.

The beauty of the Ferguson system was that its three-point hitch system allowed an operator to change to any of 18 implements in a matter of minutes, and with its patented Draft Control, the hydraulic system would regulate the working depth of the implement. So effective was the Ferguson system that virtually every tractor built since the 9N has used variations of the system. A bevy of standard features included rubber tires, an electrical system utilizing a starter, generator and a direct-driven distributor, and a rear Power Take Off. Essentially using a 28-horsepower Ford Model A engine, and with a price tag almost half of any comparable tractor, this was a value-rich machine.

 This 1939 Ford 9N will cross the block at the 3rd Annual Gone Farmin' Tractor Auction August 3-4, in Walworth, Wisc. 

Early examples of the 9N were built with aluminum cast hoods, grills, and side panels. Approximately 600-700 were built with alloy parts. Most original hoods were destroyed under harsh working conditions, or replaced with steel hoods when the harder material was available. There are fewer than 35 known examples of original aluminum-hood 9N tractors remaining. I recently received a phone call about some rare Ford tractors, and I headed out into a blizzard to see what was being offered. When I saw this 1939 aluminum-hood 9N, Serial #528, I knew that braving the elements had been worth it. While hundreds of thousands of 9N’s and their Ford successors have been built, pristine examples of a very early 9N are something of a Holy Grail. This will be an outstanding addition to any serious collection.  

2nd Annual Wine Country Truck & Tractor Pull - June 30th

Full Throttle Fun! Saturday, June 30
2nd Annual Wine Country Truck & Tractor Pull   

Modified and Mini Tractors | Local Truck & Tractor Pull Competitions | Food, wine, beer and live music!
presented by Napa County Farm Bureau 

Napa, CA – The world’s oldest and most powerful motorsport is returning to Wine Country on Saturday, June 30!
 
Presented by the Napa County Farm Bureau (NCFB) in association with the Pacific Tractor Pullers Association, it’s full throttle ahead with front tires popping wheelies as some of the state’s most qualified tractor drivers return to compete to pull the heaviest load farthest on a 300-foot track at the Napa Valley Expo, located at 575 Third Street in Napa.
 
A free Custom & Classic Car Show has been added, which begins at 11am. The gates open to the arena for the Tractor Pull at 3pm with live rock country music by Clayton Andrade and the first pull at 5pm.  In addition to the Local Stock Class and Modified Tractor Class competitions, an Antique Tractor Class will also compete this year. And children under 5 years old can test their skills with a kiddie pull contest.
 
The Modified Tractor Classes competing for the $10,000 purse are 2000 lb mini class; 2050 lb modified mini class; 5800 lb single engine modified class; 7200 modified class; 8000 unlimited class; and 6300 modified 4x4.
 
Local Stock Classes will compete in 3 weight classes. 4500 class, 5500 class and 6500 class. The Diesel Class includes competition in 3 classes, all weighing 8000 lbs. 1st class is Stock; 2nd class is Super Stock; and 3rd class is Modified.  There will be 1st and 2nd place trophies for each of these classes. Entry fee is $40 per vehicle which includes pit pass for the driver, pit passes may also be purchased for a maximum of 2 crew members per entry for $20 each.  Scales open at noon – Stock classes should enter at that time.
 

Custom & Classic Car Show: 11am
Gates open: 3pm
First pull: 5pm
Local Tractor Pull Competition (4x4 stock trucks; $40/truck): scales open at noon
 
ADMISSION
$20 in advance | $22 at the gate
$16 Youth | $18 Youth at the gate (16 & under)
Children 5 and under are FREE
Box Seats (limited)/pit passes $40
Cost of admission includes free parking, a free Kiddie Pull, the Custom and Classic Car Show and live music by Clayton Andrade.  Food, beer, and wine are available for purchase. 

PURCHASE TICKETS
Online:www.winecountrytractorpull.com | by phone: 707-224-5403 or at any one of these locations:

Les Schwab Tires, 830 W Imola Ave, Napa, CA
NCFB, 811 Jefferson St, Napa, CA
Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St, Napa, CA

Napa Valley Expo Fairgrounds
575 Third St, Napa, CA
Free parking!
 
A benefit for: Napa County Farm Bureau, Young Farmers & Ranchers, Napa and St. Helena FFA, and Napa County 4-H clubs
 
Sponsored by:
Byron’s Auto Body, El Avisador, Green Valley Tractor, KVON/99.3 the Vine, Markstein Beverage Company, Napa Valley Register, Les Schwab Tires, The Doctors Company, Euro-Machines, Gamble Family Vineyards, Hudson Ranch, Robert Green & Associates, LH’s Speed & Machine Shop, Novavine, Pina Vineyard Management, Rental Solutions, Bert Williams and Garton Tractor
 
See the website forimages and history of tractor pulling. Click here for a PDF version.

###

Press Contact
Sandy Elles: selles@napafarmbureau.org, 707.224.5403
Napa County Farm Bureau | 707.224.5403 | napafarmbureau.org | Calendar 

Immediate News Release:
Heartland Acres Agribition Center
2600 Swan Lake Blvd.
Independence, Iowa 50644
319 332-0123
Attn: Craig Johnson

Increase your Agriculture IQ #4
1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX Comfortractor 

 
Paul and Kay Weiss stand by their historic and beautifully restored 1938 Minneapolis Moline UDLX on display at Heartland Acres in Independence, Iowa. 

Heartland Acres Agribiton Center along with intern Jason Butz from the University of Northern Iowa, submit Article #4 in “Increase your Ag IQ” series. 

The Minneapolis-Moline Tractor Company started in 1929.  It was the product of a merger between Minneapolis Steel & Machinery, Minneapolis Threshing Company, and Moline Plow.  Headquartered in Hopkins, Minnesota the company had plants in Minneapolis, Hopkins, and Moline, Illinois.
 
Minneapolis-Moline was a pioneer in developing the closed cab concept for farm tractors. Revolutionary design was the 1938 model UDLX Comfortractor.  The UDLX design combined the best of both worlds for farmers. The UDLX was a working tractor for field during the week. When Friday night came just clean it up and take your best girl to the dance.

Features like a fully enclosed cab with passenger seat, electric start, full dash board and gauge cluster, heater, cigarette lighter, windshield wipers, even a radio made it popular for use on the weekends as a means of comfortable transportation.  But even with all its innovations, its sales were poor.  A UDLX was double the price of an Oliver or Farmall. Add in the Great Depression and it spelled the end of the UDLX.  Only 150 units were built.  Minneapolis-Moline continued producing a full line of other models for many years. 
 
White Motor Company of Charles City Iowa purchased the company 1963.  White produced its last Minneapolis-Moline tractor, model G-955 in 1974.  

Today a perfectly restored 1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX, owned by Paul and Kay Weiss from Reinbeck, Iowa, is on display at Heartland Acres.  It is one of approximately 40 known survivors. This, along with many other historic tractors, is part of the antique tractor display at Heartland Acres.  

For more information about Heartland Acres please visit us at www.heartlandacresusa.com or call (319) 332.0123.
Heartland Acres Agribiton Center is a 501 (c) (3) non- profit organization. 

Immediate News Release:
Heartland Acres Agribition Center
2600 Swan Lake Blvd.
Independence, Iowa 50644
319 332-0123  

Increase your Agriculture IQ #2 Waterloo Boy   

 
Steven Pals, University of Northern Iowa public history major, stands beside his favorite tractor at Heartland Acres – a 1923 Waterloo Boy.  

Heartland Acres Agribiton Center and intern Steven Pals from the University of Northern Iowa present the second installment in the“Increase your Ag IQ” series. 

Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company was co-founded in 1892 by John Froelich, George Miller and other Waterloo businessmen. Froelich gained success by creating his own gasoline tractor in 1892 by combining exhisting components from Van Duzen  and Robinson tractor companies.  Initial production included four models which had little success.  The company did, however continue to produce small stationary engines.  Froelich sold the company in1895 to John Miller.  Miller renamed the company Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company and in 1912 bought the Waterloo Foundry and combined both businesses.
 
By 1913 the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company had produced its first Waterloo Boy.  The Waterloo Boy was a one-man tractor with a horizontal two-cylinder engine that burned kerosene.  The tractor weighed approximately 9,000 pounds.  The name “Waterloo Boy” originated as a parody on the “water boy” who was responsible for bringing water to cool the older style steam engines. The Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company produced two popular models, the Model R in 1914 and the Model N in late 1916.  The Model R was a single speed that sold for about $985.  The Model N was a two speed that sold for $1,150.
 
During this same time, Deere & Company sought to increase their tractor production and found the most efficient method was to purchase an existing company.  Deere saw the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company as a perfect location for this endeavor.  In 1918 Deere & Company purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company for $2.35 million (or $49 million today).  Deere continued to produce the Waterloo Boy Model N series until 1924 when it was replaced by the John Deere Model D.
 
Heartland Acres currently displays a Waterloo Boy on loan from Kenny and Art Kass from Dunkerton, Iowa.

For more information about Heartland Acres please visit us at www.heartlandacresusa.com or call (319) 332.0123.
Heartland Acres Agribiton Center is a 501 (c) (3) non- profit organization.

When Henry Ford introduced his Fordson Model F tractor to the American farmer in 1918, he fulfilled his desire, as stated in the early 1900's, "to lift the burden of farming from flesh and blood and put it on steel and motors." By the time Fordson production in the United States ceased in 1928, close to 750,000 of the machines had been manufactured.

Ford built only the tractor, declaring in early 1918 that he didn't want to sell implements and that they should be made and sold by the present implement people. The immediate popularity of the Fordson, and the lack of Ford built implements, caused the mouths of many farm machinery builders to water. They saw a huge market for their machines, and especially for plows. Henry considered his tractor a replacement for horses and felt that existing horsedrawn implements would be satisfactory, however it soon became obvious that more heavily built tractor plows were needed.

In 1918 Ford promised to sell a Fordson tractor and a 2-bottom plow from the Oliver Chilled Plow Works for $875, an attractive package price. This was news to Oliver's management who hadn't been consulted about the deal. Oliver did then get on board and advertised their Oliver No. 7 Gang plow, in addition to the No. 14 Two Way Plow and the No. 76 Middlebreaker, as "Special Fordson Farming Equipment." Ford didn't permit his dealers, many of them automobile agencies, to handle any farm machinery except for "approved" items such as the Oliver plows and Roderick Lean discs.

Another big-time plow maker, Deere & Co., flirted with Ford all through 1918. In March of that year, after several years of trying to develop a tractor of their own, Deere bought the Waterloo Gas Engine Company and its Waterloo Boy tractor. Deere's Plow Works, along with sales manager Frank Silloway, were excited about the Waterloo purchase since it would mean more plow sales in the future. However, only about 4000 Waterloo Boys had been sold in 1917 and yearly sales were projected to remain flat. Meanwhile, all the experts were predicting runaway sales of the Fordson; W.R. Morgan, manager of Deere's Harvester Works, said, "I think they will sell thousands of the Ford tractors as soon as they are on the market." Silloway and Plow Works manager H.B. Dineen got their heads together and worked to develop a strong, light, 2-bottom tractor plow especially for small tractors such as the Fordson.

In early 1918 the plowing demonstrations put on by Ford featured Oliver plows, but in March Dineen met with Henry and Edsel Ford, who liked the Deere plow — primarily because it was 180 pounds lighter than Oliver's. Ford asked that a set of the Deere plows be sent to Dearborn for testing and Silloway exulted: "The chances are we should build and sell fifteen to twenty thousand Ford tractor plows a year." At a meeting in May, Ford indicated the Deere plow was satisfactory and things looked rosy for Silloway, but Deere executives weren't sold on the idea and debated the issue all that summer.

Deere Vice President C.C. Webber generally was against selling through any outside distributors such as the Ford agents. However, he thought maybe the little Ford plow might be another matter, saying: "... if we do not make an arrangement with Ford, it may be that we will lose the sale of a lot of plows without doing our agents much good ..." Webber also wasn't sold on the worth of the Fordson, as he felt the materials used in its manufacture, in light of wartime shortages, might better be used for other (more important) purposes.

Finally, in September of 1918, the Board of Directors voted to not use any outside agents, including Ford. Theo Brown saw Ford in November and was told that "(Deere) had missed the big opportunity in not selling plows to Fordson distributors."

Ford continued to encourage Deere to develop a small plow for the Fordson, saying at one point that: "You (Deere) could build a hundred million of them." During 1920 Deere tested the No. 40 plow with the "Self-Adjusting Hitch" and, after approval by Ford, began to build them in quantity. A 1921 ad calls the No. 40: "The Plow the Fordson Needs" and goes on to say, "The John Deere No. 40 Tractor Plow, built especially for use with the Fordson Tractor, gives Fordson owners real plowing economy."

An ad for the John Deere No. 40 Fordson plow. [From the Feb. 7, 1925 issue of Country Gentleman magazine in the author’s collection] 

The John Deere No. 40 tractor plow stayed in the lineup well into the 1930's, but after about 1925 it was renamed the No. 40C and all reference to the Fordson tractor was dropped. Later ads called the No. 40C: "The only plow built for small tractors, with the great draft-reducing combination of self-adjusting hitch and rolling landside." 

I don't know how many No. 40 plows were sold for use behind Fordson tractors, but chances are there were a lot. After a couple of disastrous years during the 1920-'21 depression (only 79 Waterloo Boy tractors had been sold in all of 1921), Deere introduced the John Deere Model D in 1923. The new tractor was an instant success; by 1925 the tractor operation was in the black, and the sale of plows to go behind Fordson tractors wasn't nearly as important to Silloway, now Vice President of Marketing, as it had been in 1918.

August 21, 2010 is shaping up to be a pretty interesting day as far as antique tractor and antique gas engine auctions go. While there are likely many antique farm equipment auctions taking place across the country that day, here are two we'd like to put a spotlight on:

Jake Shafer's Private Collection of Classic Cars and Tractors
10 a.m. @ 1211 West J and J Circle, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 52641
Menke-Hoyer Auction Realty Co., Inc.

This auction is likely to draw a big crowd and not necessarily because of the more than 30 vintage and collector cars up for bid. Rather, the highlight of this sale is a rare 1917 Heider tractor, which auctioneer Corey D. Fraise claims is similar to two other Heider's sold at two separate Aumann Auctions within the last three years that sold for $15,000 and $30,000. Even if you don't have the bank account to take a stab at the Heider, it'll still be worth it to check out this auction and watch the bidding sparks fly. Also up for bid will be a Ferguson tractor.

The Estate of Otis Hardy
Noon, Stevinson, CA
Garlic City Auction, Gilroy, CA
(408) 612-5638

Otis Hardy was president of Branch 18 of the National Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Assc. and amassed quite a collection of large gas engines on his 15 acre ranch in Stevinson, CA. According to the auction listing, some of the manufacturers represented in Otis' collection include Western, National Transit System, Witte, Ottawa, Reid, Fairbanks-Morse and many others. The listing also includes several photos of the many big engines up for bid.

Back in my college days, a couple friends and I got a small rock band together and started writing songs. Problem was, we could never find a reliable drummer to play with us, which eventually led to the band's ultimate demise. If only we had an old antique tractor to keep the beat. 

Terri Keitel, our advertising account executive, gave me a heads-up on this great video that appears to come from Germany. It features three really good musicians (four, if you count the tractor) doing a smokin' version of "Sweet, Georgia Brown." Enjoy!

And since I'm not a tractor guy, I'll let you all figure out what kind of tractor that is. Post your answers in the comment section below.

It’s safe to say that the process of ranking the best farm shows in the country would be a futile endeavor. Everyone has their favorites and it’s not likely you’ll find two people with the same list.

That said, it would be interesting to see which shows make it onto multiple lists. And I have a feeling that if more folks were aware of it, the annual Camp Creek Threshers show in Waverly, Neb., would be one of those.

The 2010 Camp Creek Antique Machinery and Threshing Show will take place July 17-18 in Waverly, Neb. Photo by Christian Williams

Wrapping up its 33rd year, the Camp Creek Antique Machinery and Threshing Show is simply one of the best all-around farm shows I’ve been to. Even my wife - who’s hardly ever excited about walking down dusty paths and watching me ogle gas engines – had a great time. And the reason is because there truly is something for everyone.

I know that phrase gets tossed around so much that it has likely lost its meaning for most of you. But in addition to a stellar display of rare gas engines and prairie tractors (more on those later), I was pleasantly surprised by how well the show was geared toward everyone ages 8-88.

There was a blacksmith shop, a working print shop where, for $1, you could have your name printed on a linotype slug, an elaborate model railroad set-up in the old Waverly train depot relocated to the show grounds, a replica service station surrounded by antique vehicles, a saddle and harness shop with horse demonstrations, a butter churning demonstration, a flour mill, flea market and antique drug store, as well as much, much more. And don’t forget the delicious homemade apple pie and ice cream!

I was also excited to see so many kids having fun, whether by turning the crank on the corn shellers, playing with the animals in the petting zoo, watching a gas engine power a water pump, or just simply marveling at the size and beauty of the steam engines and prairie tractors. I had a chance to speak with Camp Creek Threshers President Heidi Cheney, and she shares my opinion that getting kids interested in the hobby is vital to the future of the hobby. And it’s obvious that the Camp Creek Threshers recognize the unique opportunity they have to educate children about the history and preservation of antique farm equipment. You could tell that the kids weren’t just having fun, they were also learning how their ancestors got work done. I think the hobby is in great hands with folks like the Camp Creek Threshers around.

And for those who are just interested in the nuts and bolts of a farm show, there was plenty of rare old iron on display. The featured tractors were of the prairie variety – my personal favorite – and I counted at least 10 on display. Over in the gas engine area, I spotted several engines which I had yet to see in person including a 5 HP Stickney, 1-1/2 HP Flying Dutchmen, 12 HP Root & Vandervoort, 8 HP heavy-pattern Baker Monitor with enclosed crankcase and 10 HP Ohio sideshaft, just to name a few. Having talked to several club members, I’m going to venture a guess that next year’s lineups for tractors and gas engines will be just as impressive.

Located just 10 minutes from Lincoln, the show is also one of the most convenient I’ve attended, and would be an easy drive for most anyone in the upper Midwest. I’m already checking to see if my 2010 schedule allows for a return trip. And speaking of the 2010 show, it takes place July 17-18, preceded by a swap meet on May 22. Visit www.ccthreshers.com for more information.