100 John Deere D tractors expected for Historic Farm Days

ARMSTRONG, Ill. — To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the John Deere D tractor, a large display is planned during the Historic Farm Days.

“We are looking forward to having 100 John Deere D tractors there,” said Ed Winkelman, president of the Friends of Green tractor club, which is a branch of the I & I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club.

Winkelman has received calls from John Deere collectors located in many states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota and Michigan.

“Some of the guys are bringing semi-loads of Ds,” he said.

The club members are planning some special activities during the four-day show.

“Our plan is to take the Ds to the hillside and make the number 100 with the tractors,” Winkelman said.

Typically, an off-site tractor drive is held as part of the annual event.

“This year, we’re going to have a drive through the woods with the Ds,” Winkelman said. “These tractors don’t have a road gear. They only run about 3.5 miles per hour.”

John Deere made the D tractor from 1923 to 1953.

“They were the longest-running production tractor that John Deere made,” Winkelman said.

“It was a popular tractor and it did a lot of hard work for the time it was built,” he said. “It didn’t have a lot of power, but it could pull a two- or three-bottom plow, which was a big step from a horse.”

Winkelman grew up with John Deere tractors since his dad was an “avid” John Deere guy.

“I’ve had as many as 19 tractors, but I’m down to about 11 now,” he said. “My oldest tractor is a 1937 John Deere B, and I have a 1947 D along with 530s, 520s, 720s and 4020s.”

The collector will have his tractors on display during the show.

“I’m taking everything I have,” he said. “I live only about four miles from the show, so I can just jump on my tractors and drive over to the show.”

In addition to tractors, Winkelman’s collection includes eight or nine plows, a disk, a couple of combines and a John Deere hit-and-miss engine that’s close to 100 years old.

“I have a pretty big collection of lawn mowers and I have the compete collection of Patio John Deere mowers,” Winkelman said.

“In 1969, John Deere decided they wanted to compete with the other manufacturers, so they painted their lawn mowers different colors — orange, red, blue and yellow.”

The collector also will have his Patio lawn mowers on display at the show.

“I’m pretty proud of those,” he said. “I’ll put a bunch of them on a trailer and take them over there all at once.”

In addition to featuring the John Deere D tractor, the E engines will also be highlighted, which were first introduced 100 years ago in 1923.

“We are also featuring the John Deere 4420 — the new generation tractor that is 50 years old,” the club president said. “And we will have a special feature of John Deere four-wheel-drive tractors.”

Winkelman has been restoring tractors for 50 years.

“I restored the D we’re giving away at the show along with the help of Frank Glenn who donated the tractor,” he said. “He just passed away, so he won’t see us give away his tractor.”

For more information about the Historic Farm Days, go to www.historicfarmdays.com, or call 217-595-5000.