From a Holt traction engine to a Claas Xerion Tractor!
These last few weeks, I have been able to experience a ride or two that have been eye opening, educational, and just plain fun.
My journey began at the Half Century of Progress 2023 in Rantoul, Illinois. This, the largest vintage farm show in the US happens every two years. Then right on the heels of the Half Century is the Farm Progress show, in Decatur, Illinois. While the Half Century profiles older, antique equipment, the Farm Progress Show shares the latest and greatest in farming equipment and technology.
At this year’s Half Century of Progress show, Lee Randall allowed me to ride on the unconquerable tractor Earthquake. While it is hard to equal that ride, Will Peterson let me ride along on his Holt Gasoline Caterpillar Traction engine! Mike Timmons, better known as Crawler Mike, coordinator of Tempered Tracks Rusty Rails, coordinated the display of Caterpillar and industrial machinery.
The Holt Caterpillar Traction engine ride!
Sold on March 15, 1914, the Holt traction engine has been in the Peterson family since it was sold. Will Peterson said, “This is the only running Peoria 60. It has been owned since new by my family.”
Attached to this piece of agricultural history was an Avery Power Lift plow with six bottoms. The catch on the ride was I had to trip the plow so each bottom would raise and lower individually. Not a problem! This was the first time I ever tripped a plow. Sitting high on the gasoline tank, when needed Will Peterson jumped on and off the engine with energy only found in the young. I sat, watched, and pulled the rope to trip the plow at the appropriate time. What an amazing opportunity. I was literally riding on a piece of ag history!
Will, who hails from Lowell, Indiana shared about the Holt, “It was purchased in 1914 as a remanufactured machine from Holt. It was built in Peoria, Illinois, 60 horsepower. It worked on a farm in northeastern, Illinois near Chenoa by Highway 24.”
Everglades of the North
Will said the farm the tractor was used in was referred to as, “The Everglades of the North”. I learned that less than a century ago, there was this marsh in the Midwest. This marsh resembled the swamplands of Florida’s Everglades, thus the nickname the “Everglades of the North”. Officially, the marsh is the Grand Kankakee Marsh. This vast wetland once ran nearly a million acres in Northern Indiana and a portion of Illinois. We watched the fascinating documentary, Everglades of the North that Will talked about. They shared that this swamp was once a huge wildlife area. First the Indians lived here. Next hunters came in. Sadly, the swamp was drained. Then big machines like the Holt 60 were used to break up the land. Today portions of the swamp has been regenerated. This success is bringing back some of the native wildlife.
A running Holt!
True appreciation to Will and his family for keeping a piece of equipment over 100 years running and available for others to see. Like my husband Keith emphasizes about old iron, “I’d rather watch it make dust, than to watch it make rust.”
In an ad Will had on the 60, they stated, “Deep plowing retains the moisture and increases yield. The Caterpillar delivers a greater percentage of power at the draw bar than any other Traction Engine.”
Claas at the Farm Progress Show
For my blog, Traveling Adventures of a Farm Girl I was able to visit and participate in a few fun events at the Farm Progress Show 2023. One of those fun experiences was with Claas of America a ride on a Claas tractor, and Claas combine. I loved the fact that the driver of the Claas tractor was a woman named Ginger that when asked said, “I have been driving combines since I was eight.”
She appreciated the fact that several of the media that came out to ride were women. At the Farm Progress Show, Claas was sharing the launch of the Xerion 12 Series and Arion 600 Series. Ginger drove me in the Claas Xerion 12.590 tractor. My husband Keith and I both got to experience the tractor, and a ride in the Claas 750 Tron combine. In both cases, what I really noticed was how smooth the ride was, and how comfortable and roomy the cabs are.
New machinery for Claas
Claas announced on their website a bit of information about their new line. “CLAAS is excited to introduce their latest tractor lines: the XERION 12.650 and 12.590, the ARION 660, 650 and 630, as well as row-crop friendly options on the AXION 960 TT and 930 TT. These machines have been developed with extensive input from North American farmers for exceptional productivity, efficiency and comfort.”
That comfort is real! After sitting in the buddy seat (and occasionally driving) our combine, this is a big plus.
Frans Reijmers, the Production Manager of tractors for North America said there were a few take aways from the new machines. First was, “Comfort and the ease of operation.”
He explained this allowed less experienced workers to operate and stay in the equipment comfortably for long periods during harvest. “Efficiency,” was another point. Claas has the new machines operating at the point of fuel efficiency for cost effectiveness, and the ride is smooth with less vibration.
The high point for me was getting to drive the smaller Claas tractor! It was so easy to operate. I didn’t think I was going to get Keith out of it after he got in the smaller tractor with the loader.
From the older to the new, it was a wonderful contrast and a great farm Half Century and Farm Progress experience!
