Biggest Big Bud Comes to Penfield

The famous Big Bud 16V-747 is coming to Penfield for Historic Farm Days 2009. Checking in at 900 horsepower, the behemoth will be on display at Historic Farm Days this coming summer. The one of a kind tractor was custom built for deep ripping on a California cotton farm, and later sold to a grower in florida who also used it for deep ripping before retiring it. The Williams Brothers of Big Sandy, Montana acquired the tractor and it now resides about 40 miles from where it was built.

Later in August 2009, fans of the world's most powerful tractor will get a chance to see her in action at Half Century Of Progress IV at the Rantoul National Aviation Center in Rantoul, Illinois. A special plow rig of at least 24 bottoms will be assembled to give the big tractor something to play with.

Special arrangements have been made with the Williams Brothers of Big Sandy, Montana to make this appearance possible.

2008 Show Report - Coming Someday

I hope to get a report on the show and some pictures here in the not too distant future. Some time soon, I will sit down and review my pictures and write up a report on the past year's event.

The Big Case

A rare 110 HP Case Stema Engine appeared at the show this year, courtesy of the Jansen Family. The engine, formerly owned by Graham Sellers was the lead engine on the 60 bottom plow at the 2005 Half Century of Progress in Rantoul, Illinois.

If your reporters ears and memory were operating correctly, this tractor started life pulling a 16 bottom plow on the Canadian prairie, a job it held for many years. It eventually found it's way into the Northwest US powering a sawmill and other jobs. Today, the old engine lives on among people who appreciate the role these machines played.

2008 - J I Case and Silver King

J I Case and Silver King take center stage at the 2008 edition of the show at Penfield. The J I Case Collectors Association will be holding their national summer show at the show as well.

Case enthusiasts all over the country will be heading for Penfield in July to show off their prized machines, share stories with fellow Case fans, and maybe find that rare part they've been searching for. Case steam engines and threshing machines built the company that developed into a full line manufacturer. As time went by, especially following the acquisiton by Tenneco, the Case line gradually diminished to tractors and construction equipment by the time International Harvester line was incorporated after that acquisition.

Silver King tractors are the second feature this year. Silver Kings were well regarded, described by a sales manger for John Deere as "the best made, poorest sold" tractor on the market. Starting life under the Plymouth name, about 8,800 Plymouth, Silver King, and Mountain State Tractors were sold before the line disappeared into history. Oddly enough, not all Silver Kings were silver! Various shades of blue and green were used as well, and even a few red ones have been located.

So, make your travel plans, get your room reservations and head for Penfield, Illinois July 10-13 for the best antique power show there in the midwest.