Spring 2010 - Issue #19

THE PLOWSHARE News for John Deere Collectors Event marks the 50th anniversary of the New Generation of Power If your summer plans include vintage tractor shows and rides you’ll want to add Waterloo, Iowa, to your itinerary. This year Waterloo will be hosting the John Deere Fall Festival, September 9 through 11, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the New Generation of Power. “There’s no better place to celebrate New Generation tractors than at the site of the factory where they were manufactured and in a city with so much John Deere history,” said Chris Boyens, senior heritage marketing & research specialist. “Waterloo has been home to major John Deere facilities since the company purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company in 1918.” The Fall Festival will include a tractor and implement show, tractor ride, swap meet, tractor and memorabilia auctions and more. And, while the event will focus on the New Generation of Power, organizers say other eras of John Deere’s history will be represented at the festival. Both the tractor and implement show and the tractor ride are open to any model John Deere tractor, regardless of its age. Some current John Deere products also will be displayed.

50 years ago, ads like this let the world know about an entirely new line of John Deere Tractors. In September you can celebrate the anniversary of the introduction of the New Genearation tractors at the John Deere Fall Festival in Waterloo, Iowa.

Considering John Deere’s long history in Waterloo the memorabilia auction is expected to include a variety of exciting John Deere collectibles, said Mary Swehla, supervisor, visitors services at Waterloo and event organizer. “There should be a wealth of memorabilia available,” she said.

At least one employee is planning on taking advantage of the auction to sell a unique John Deere item. “A welder at Waterloo designed and built a toy tractor from scrap metal,” said Swehla. The welder plans to sell the tractor at the memorabilia auction and donate the proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Fall Festival will also include a number of guest speakers discussing a variety of tractor-related topics. One session will feature a panel discussion with several John Deere retirees who were involved in the creation of the New Generation of Power. Guests will have another chance to soak up first-hand accounts of John Deere history during a meet and greet with engineers who helped design the New

See Fall Festival on Page 5

Details

• For more information on the John Deere Fall Festival, to register for the swap meet or banquet, or register your machine for the tractor and implement show or tractor ride visit http://www.deere.com/ en_US/attractions/fallfest index.html • To consign an item for the tractor or memorabilia auctions visit www.AumannAuctions.com

Longaberger Basket Fest Returns to the John Deere Pavilion

Hammer In to celebrate “Blacksmith, the Master Craftsman” The John Deere Historic Site will host the fourth Hammer In August 7 and 8. With the theme “Blacksmith, the Master Craftsman,” the event will focus on the blacksmith’s historical role in creating iron products and making tools used in other trades. Along with blacksmiths, a variety of other tradespeople will be featured. Basket weavers, broom makers, gunsmiths, wheelwrights and others will be on hand to demonstrate their skills and sell their wares.

Thousands of visitors stopped by the John Deere Pavilion May 6-9 for a rare event - the Longaberger Basket Fest. For the third time since 2006 Longaberger representatives set up shop in the Moline, Illinois, Pavilion, giving participants the chance to enjoy activities usually only offered at Longaberger’s Ohio headquarters. For many, the highlight of the Basket Fest was the opportunity to weave their own Longaberger baskets. Several Longaberger weavers were on hand to help participants create their own one-of-a-kind keepsakes.

The Hammer In will also include an auction featuring items made by the craftspeople participating in the event. Hammer In sponsors, the Upper Midwest Blacksmith The Details Association What: Hammer In 2010 and the Illinois When: August 7 and 8, Valley Blacksmith 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days Association, will use Where: The John Deere the auction proceeds Historic Site, 8334 S. Clinton to support their Street, Dixon, IL 61021 scholarship programs and to fund future More information: Rick Hammer Ins. Trahan, 815-652-4551

Some visitors even got the chance to have their baskets signed by a member of the Longaberger family. The Basket Fest also featured Longaberger merchandise at discounted prices, including discontinued baskets, pottery, wrought iron products, candles and food items. “The Basket Fest was an opportunity to bring together two great brands,” said Al Higley, Manager, John Deere Branded Properties. “There’s a big interest in both of these brands among collectors, and events like the Basket Fest are great ways for people to get involved and learn more about both companies, their products and their people.” In addition to the Longaberger attractions Basket Fest participants could also enjoy the Pavilion’s usual activities. A number of new and vintage John Deere machines are always on display at the facility, and visitors can learn more about Deere, its products and agribusiness around the world through several interactive displays focused on the history and future of farming. Children at the Basket Fest could also explore the Pavilion’s “Kid’s Corner.” This interactive area offers kids a fun way to learn about food and farming. “There was something for every member of the family,” said Higley. A blacksmith demonstrates his craft during the 2008 Hammer In. 2

John Deere’s long line of large row-crop tractors - Part 2 This is the final installment of a two-part article exploring the history of John Deere’s large row-crop tractor line. As John Deere’s tractor line has grown, so have the tractors themselves. In the last 50 years row-crop, diesel models have increased by 286 horsepower and become more efficient and productive than any early tractor designer could have dreamed. The last issue included information about the Model 730 through the 4850. Below you’ll read about recent tractors including the 4955, the 8410 and the new 8345R. the cab and moved the air intake under the hood. In addition to these improvements, Deere’s exclusive rackand-pinion rear axles, introduced in 1952, were brought back by popular demand. John Deere also added more lights for the 60 series to accommodate the many farmers who were working more acres and often longer days.

The John Deere 4955 set horsepower records when it was introduced in 1988. The tractor was the first John Deere row-crop tractor to offer 200 PTO horsepower.

The 4850 was introduced in 1983, offering better fuel efficiency just in time for the farm crisis that hit the United States in the 1980s. At the end of the recession John Deere was the only American agricultural manufacturer that hadn’t closed or merged with another company. Just as John Deere had continued developing machines during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the company was working on the replacement for the 50 series through the farm crisis of the 1980s. The 55 series, introduced in 1988, included the new 4955. With 200 horsepower, the tractor set the record for the highest PTO horsepower at maximum and engine rated speed, PTO and drawbar fuel efficiency and the most drawbar pull in its class. The 18,000-pound 4955 was the first Deere row-crop tractor to reach the 200 PTO horsepower mark. Increased power wasn’t the only advantage of the 4955. The 55 series 3

also featured more electronics inside the cab, including a digital dash and the new IntelliTrak system, a feature that allowed the operator to monitor tractor information. The 4955 handled the needs of row-crop farmers until 1991 when customers began to ask for increased comfort. In response, John Deere introduced the new 60 series tractors. While the largest of that series, the 4960, received the same Nebraska Tractor Test rating as the 4955 the new tractor was different from its predecessors. The 4960 was the first large row-crop tractor to change in appearance since the Generation II tractors were introduced in 1972. The most noticeable update may have been the elimination of the intake and exhaust stacks that had topped the hoods of John Deere tractors since the two-cylinder days. To provide the operator with a clearer view Deere created a new exhaust system that vented near the front, right side of

The next major changes to Deere’s large row-crop tractors came in 1994. The 8000 series brought all new cabs, transmissions, hydraulics, looks and comfort – not to mention Deere’s new 8.1 liter PowerTech diesel engine. The 8400, the largest of the 8000 series, was rated at 225 PTO horsepower. That was 25 more than the 4960, and 10 more than the closest competitor. The 8400 also set a Nebraska Tractor Test record for fuel efficiency. The rear-end housing on the 8000 series tractors had also been updated with heavy duty components to handle the increased power and lift capacity of the three-point hitch, which increased lift capacity from 10,651 pounds on the 4960 up to 15,650 pounds on the 8400. The updates on the 8000 series didn’t end there. The patented chassis design positioned the engine directly over the front axles, and moved the transmission directly behind the engine. These changes allowed the fuel tank to move to the center of the tractor, making it easier for operators to fill, and giving the tractor more fuel carrying capacity. The new chassis configuration gave the 8000 series tractors the tightest turn radius with narrow row settings. According to Christopher Murray, John Deere product support representative, the 8000 series tractors could make a figure eight turn inside a competitor’s turn diameter.

“To say the new 8000 series were popular is an understatement,” said Murray. “Fifteen years after their introduction you can still find these features and designs in current John Deere tractors, and you can find versions of these ideas in all of John Deere’s competitor’s tractors.” In August, 1999 John Deere introduced the new 8000 Ten Series tractors. These machines offered new power and convenience to customers. With 235 PTO horsepower, the 8410 became the most powerful row-crop tractor offered by Deere. The 8410 also offered Implement Management System, a feature that allowed the operator to program the tractor to perform up to twelve functions at the same time with a single button, relieving the operator of having to complete multiple functions at the end of each row. In 2001 John Deere introduced the 8000 Twenty Series, including the new 8520. Rated at 255 PTO horsepower, the 8520 was the largest row-crop tractor to date. The tractor’s PowerTech engine also met the Tier II emission regulations in place at that time. These standards are set by governments to regulate exhaust emissions. And, thanks to John Deere’s new Independent Link Suspension and Active Seat, the increased horsepower didn’t come at the expense of a

Introduced in 2009, the 345-horsepower 8345R is currently the largest row-crop tractor offered by John Deere.

smooth ride. The 8520 also featured AutoTrac, an all-new option that allowed the tractor to steer itself across the field. The feature increased operator productivity by eliminating overlaps and reducing stress. The technology continues to grow in popularity and is still evolving today. The John Deere 8000 Thirty Series tractors were introduced in August, 2005. The largest of the group, the 8530 lead the industry with 275 PTO horsepower, a full 20 horsepower ahead of what most competitors were offering. To power the 8530 and the other 8000 Thirty Series tractors Deere developed the new 9.0 Liter PowerTech Plus engine. The new engine included features that had not yet been used on an off-road diesel engine and met EPA Tier III emission regulations, all while setting fuel efficiency records.

The John Deere 8410’s Implement Management System brought increased simplicity by allowing operators to program the tractor to perform up to twelve functions at the same time with a single button.

Today, the largest row crop tractor John Deere offers is the 8345R. The 8R Series tractors were introduced in August, 2009

and are some of the first to follow John Deere’s new model numbering system. The new system provides more information about the tractor. In the 8345R, the 8 stands for the size of the tractor, the next three numbers indicate the engine horsepower, and the letter represents the capability and price level of the tractor. The new 8R tractors feature the CommandView II cab with increased comfort and productivity and better visibility, storage and convenience. The CommandArm was also updated to include a new color Command Center screen that displays vital tractor functions at the end of the arm rest. The updated tractors also come with more power. Along with 345 engine horsepower, the 8345R can produce 284 PTO horsepower, putting it at the top of the industry for power. This capability is important, said Matt Arnold, senior marketing representative at John Deere. “The significance to today’s farms is that the 8345R will be able to handle larger implements due to the increase in horsepower, thus more productivity,” said Arnold. “Couple that with an all new operator’s station that truly serves as a mobile office, and customers will appreciate the greater productivity and greater comfort of the tractor.”

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From us to you… April flowers and May showers? April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, but I think Mother Nature has it backwards here near Moline, Illinois. We experienced an unusually warm April, but are in the midst of a very cool, very wet May. Farmers in the area have had extremely good planting conditions, some even got into the field a little earlier than expected thanks to the high ground temperatures.

Generation tractors. A banquet also will focus on the New Generation of Power with a keynote program focused on Deere Day in Dallas, the massive new-product show that introduced Deere dealers to the New Generation.

The warm weather also meant that I had to dust off the lawn mower a little earlier than usual. I don’t recall ever mowing before the first of May, but I cut the lawn three times this April, all on warm, sunny afternoons. Now, I’m dodging the rain to get my outdoor chores accomplished. Mowing in coveralls, a stocking cap and gloves is not my idea of fun, but that’s what our Midwestern weather has driven me to this year.

Tours of the John Deere Waterloo Works factory and Cedar Valley TechWorks will also be conducted throughout the event. This will be a rare opportunity for the public to tour Cedar Valley TechWorks, a new project focused on biotechnology. The TechWorks is built on land donated by John Deere to Cedar Valley TechWorks. To learn more, visit www. CedarValleyTechWorks.com.

While I make the best of the current weather I’m looking forward to sunnier days filled with parades, fairs and tractor shows. Summer is always a great time to enjoy some vintage tractors. Our local fair includes a small display, and there’s always a tractor or two in the parade that comes with our small town’s summer festival. I look forward to each of those every year and am excited to add a new event to my calendar this year.

The John Deere Fall Festival will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the New Generation of Power with a set of limited edition toys. Each of these Ertl-made toys is a Waterloo Fall Festival exclusive.

In September I’ll head up to Waterloo, Iowa, for the John Deere Fall Festival. The celebration of the 50th anniversary of John Deere’s New Generation of Power will feature a chance to meet employees who helped create the revolutionary tractor line, plus a tractor ride, and a tractor show, as well as tractor and memorabilia auctions - all featuring John Deere machines from all eras. For more information on this event, see page 1.

The following tractors are being created just for the event. You can get yours at the Fall Festival or in advance at www.JohnDeere.com.

I, too, got my small-scale farming operation started ahead of schedule. Most of my sweet corn can already be seen peaking through the ground, and we’ve already started harvesting our radish crop.

I hope I’m able to leave the coveralls and stocking cap at home when I head to Waterloo. I also hope to see you there. Until then, Keep your hand on the throttle and your plow in the ground, Brian

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Fall Festival from Page 1

• 1/16 Scale 4010 Standard Green and Yellow Deco Tractor - $54.99 (USD) • 1/16 Scale 4010 Gold Chrome Deco Tractor - $286.99 (USD) • 1/64 Scale Two-Piece Gold Chrome 4010 and Standard Green and Yellow Deco 8RT Tractor Set $19.99 (USD)

THE PLOWSHARE JOHN DEERE One John Deere Place, Moline, Illinois 61265 [email protected] www.JohnDeere.com You have received this publication due to your relationship with John Deere. The Plowshare is free and is distributed quarterly. If you don’t want to receive future issues, please contact Katie Baustian at One John Deere Place, Moline, IL 61265, and ask to have your name removed from The Plowshare mailing list. We will then stop sending you The Plowshare, but you may continue to receive information about merchandise and upcoming events from John Deere.

John Deere Fall Festival The John Deere Fall Festival will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of John Deere’s New Generation of Power with auctions, a tractor ride, tractor show, factory tours and much more. Kids Craft Days set at Pavilion The John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Illinois, will hold themed Kids Craft Days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on: • June 19: cow puppets • July 17: a variety of agricultural activities will be part of the Pavilion’s Third Annual Ag Education Day event • Aug. 21: bug jar Information: 309-765-1000 Blossoms at Butterworth A garden party featuring family-oriented activities will be held in the lush gardens of the Butterworth Center, the home built for John Deere’s granddaughter and her husband. Enjoy the gardens and other outdoor activities from noon to 5 p.m. on June 27 at Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, 6

Moline, Illinois. Details: www.ButterworthCenter.com. Free Family Concert James Coffey will perform at a free family concert on the lawn of the Deere-Wiman House, the lavish home built by John Deere’s son, Charles Deere. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. on June 14. The Deere-Wiman House is at 817 11th Avenue, Moline, Illinois. Details:www.ButterworthCenter.com. Hammer In 2010 Blacksmiths from around the region will demonstrate their craft at the fourth Hammer In at the John Deere Historic Site in Grand Detour, Illinois. Information: See page 2 or visit www. JohnDeereAttractions.com

The event is scheduled for Sept. 9-11 in Waterloo, Iowa, where the New Generation tractors were created. Information: See page 1 or email [email protected]

In this issue

Event marks 50th anniversary of New Generation of Power – p. 1 Longaberger Basket Fest Returns to the John Deere Pavilion – p. 2 Hammer In to celebrate blacksmiths – p. 2 Deere’s long line of row-crop tractors, part 2 - p. 3 From us to you – p. 5

Unless otherwise noted, all capitalized names of products and services are trademarks or service marks of Deere & Company.