International Harvester Museum Brought to Life

By Bill Vossler
Published on June 30, 2009
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This relatively simply built workhorse, an International 1206, is Jerry Mez’s favorite tractor. He is shown here with his wife, Joyce.
This relatively simply built workhorse, an International 1206, is Jerry Mez’s favorite tractor. He is shown here with his wife, Joyce.
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Jerry likes the IH 1206 so much that he had a miniature one built.
Jerry likes the IH 1206 so much that he had a miniature one built.
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The Farmall-Land museum is a landmark in western Iowa.
The Farmall-Land museum is a landmark in western Iowa.
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A few of the 1,000 farm toys in the Farmall-Land museum.
A few of the 1,000 farm toys in the Farmall-Land museum.
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Case New Holland Inc. loaned this International 5488 all-wheel drive tractor to the Mez museum for display during the 2009 season. Never sold, this tractor was the last one off the line at the Rock Island, Ill., IH plant at the time the plant closed.
Case New Holland Inc. loaned this International 5488 all-wheel drive tractor to the Mez museum for display during the 2009 season. Never sold, this tractor was the last one off the line at the Rock Island, Ill., IH plant at the time the plant closed.
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One of Jerry’s favorite tractors in the museum is this IH 4300 in construction colors.
One of Jerry’s favorite tractors in the museum is this IH 4300 in construction colors.
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One of the featured tractors of the 2009 season at Farmall-Land museum: the first Farmall Regular sold in row-crop configuration.
One of the featured tractors of the 2009 season at Farmall-Land museum: the first Farmall Regular sold in row-crop configuration.
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IH made many different products during its reign, including this IH Scout.
IH made many different products during its reign, including this IH Scout.
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A forerunner of the skid-steer loader, the Honeybee has a loader on the rear. Its controls face the rear, so the operator generally used the machine backward.
A forerunner of the skid-steer loader, the Honeybee has a loader on the rear. Its controls face the rear, so the operator generally used the machine backward.
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Part of the museum’s collection of IH lawn and garden tractors.
Part of the museum’s collection of IH lawn and garden tractors.
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International Harvester made this M-1 rifle in the 1950s.
International Harvester made this M-1 rifle in the 1950s.
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The pink Farmall H pedal tractor is one of a pair of pink models marketed to men, allowing them to buy a toy for the women and girls in their lives.
The pink Farmall H pedal tractor is one of a pair of pink models marketed to men, allowing them to buy a toy for the women and girls in their lives.
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Jerry’s pedal tractors on display.
Jerry’s pedal tractors on display.
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Jerry with his father’s F-20, the tractor that got him to start thinking about a museum.
Jerry with his father’s F-20, the tractor that got him to start thinking about a museum.

Few people sustain a dream for 40 years. Jerry Mez, Avoca, Iowa, is the exception.

The result of his dream is the 26,500-square-foot Farmall-Land museum, dedicated to the machines and history of International Harvester.

“I’ve had this dream of making a museum for over 40 years,” Jerry says. “I started saving tractors with an F-20 35 years ago, because my father told me I should keep one of those old F-20s to show people what he did when he first came to Avoca in 1943. It all evolved from that. I started collecting tractors slowly at first, and it picked up speed from there. My wife, Joyce, says it’s a disease, but I think it’s one of the better ones I could have.”

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