| Practically everyone has heard of John Deere | | | | The John Deere Company also pioneered farming |
| Tractors, the famous green workhorses that till our | | | | efficiency with their "Quik-Tatch" mechanism, enabling |
| farms, haul our hay, move debris, seed fields and just | | | | the driver of the tractor to attach and detach |
| about any other task you could possibly think of. But | | | | tractor implements quickly. Without leaving his seat, |
| did you know that the famous line of tractors began | | | | the driver can reach back and detach a plow, |
| as a humble plow? | | | | cultivator or other tool safely and easily. Attaching |
| John Deere was a blacksmith when he left his home | | | | implements was just as easy; the driver merely |
| state of Vermont in 1837 to move to Grand Detour, | | | | backed up to the attachment, reached back and |
| Illinois. He had an idea that he thought would | | | | connected it! Farmers enthusiastically embraced this |
| revolutionize farming-a plow he had made from a | | | | new feature, glad to leave their wrenches behind be |
| broken steel saw blade. It could slice through the | | | | done with heavy lifting and repeatedly getting on and |
| hard soil of the Midwest farms as the common | | | | off the tractor. |
| cast-iron plows never could. This simple discovery | | | | A John Deere tractor can be recognized from a |
| would take him and his family on a journey that | | | | great distance just by the distinctive green and |
| eased the lives and increased the profits of farmers | | | | yellow colors. Nobody really knows the origin of the |
| around the globe and help to feed the world! | | | | color scheme but it's been theorized that the green |
| After relocating to Moline in 1848 John let his son, | | | | represents corn stalks and the yellow symbolizes the |
| Charles begin running the company ten years later. | | | | corn itself. This seems reasonable, as corn was one |
| The company became a corporation known as Deere | | | | of the main crops grown by farmers when Mr. Deere |
| and Company. They gradually absorbed six other | | | | began to manufacture tractors of his own. |
| farm equipment companies and began adding to their | | | | You can travel to nearly any country around the |
| product line. The early 1900's saw the introduction of | | | | globe and find John Deere tractors and other farm |
| the combustion engine and by 1918, Deere and | | | | equipment. There is a fascination with the brand that |
| Company bought out the Waterloo Gasoline Engine | | | | goes beyond general interest in farm machinery. |
| Company, starting an evolution that resulted in | | | | There are collectors all over the world who buy John |
| making it the most respected tractor producer in the | | | | Deere clothing, models, die cast tractors and even |
| world. | | | | jewelry! Parents can even buy their children miniature |
| Eventually, the Deere company would release the | | | | pedal-operated John Deere tractors. The company |
| Model M tractor in 1947 with more than 20 | | | | now manufactures lawn mowers, leaf blowers and |
| implements and Touch-O-matic hydraulics, saving time | | | | even construction equipment. |
| and muscle for tractor owners handling many farming | | | | There is even a museum in Moline, Illinois, that |
| chores at once. At the touch of a hand, the driver | | | | exhibits early as well as modern examples of Deere |
| could raise, lower or set the tractors tool to the | | | | tractors and implements, hands-on exhibits and a |
| depth needed to work on the fields. Previously, it | | | | virtual factory tour. Guests can see an original |
| was hit and miss with the driver dismounting, | | | | Waterloo Boy tractor, learn how seeds are planted, |
| adjusting, getting back into the seat and checking the | | | | grown and harvested then processed and turned into |
| set of the plow or other attachment. Deere and | | | | the food we eat. The museum also explores options |
| Company had reached another historical milestone in | | | | for farm practices of the future and tells the history |
| farming history. | | | | of farming since 1830. |