Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Have you ever visited a facility and thought to yourself "why don't more people visit this place?" I am at one of those hidden treasures right now. Located at the Nebraska University is a very important facility that has had an impact on every farm equipment manufacturer in the US and even overseas. The Nebraska Tractor Test Lab opened in 1919 and has been testing tractors ever since.

The Lester Larson Tractor Museum is housed in the original building where the first tests were held. Lester was the manager of the facility from 1946 to 1975. Every tractor that was tested has a file at this museum. Included in each file is the actual test, manuals and sales literature that had to be provided by the company submitting the tractor for testing. Every instrument that was used in early testing is on display at this museum as well as several tractors.

This weekend the museum held an open house to celebrate 90 years of tractor testing. There was a tractor parade, food, ice cream churned from a JD stationary engine, the test units were on display, a turbine powered pulling tractor and of course the museum was open. The weather was fantastic and the hospitality was fantastic.

I'll be spending another day doing research for upcoming stories and spending time with some of the workers and retirees. There is a treasure trove of information sitting in a block building in the middle of campus and I really have to wonder "will they let me have an office here?"