23 Degrees

Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

2010-05-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

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?"

Red Power Roundup

2010-03-02T08:17:00.001-08:00

They went that'a way!
It's been 11 years since I've been to an IH winter show but but I had better not wait that long again, and neither should you.

It was a sea of red and black in Grand Rapids, MI over the weekend. After arriving at the airport, I caught a hotel shuttle back to the Crown Plaza. The driver asked if I was in town for the IH convention and I said "yes". He leaned over and whispered to me "Don't say John Deere around them." I laughed because it was obvious he had already made that mistake.

I had a nice visit with many of the collectors whom I had never met. And it's always great to visit with Dennis and Sallie of the Red Power magazine as we share thoughts and ideas for providing the best magazines we can to the tractor enthusiasts.

Up until this past year, my literature collection has only consisted of the Meadow Green colors. However, I've had to expand my search for other colors providing a rainbow of flavor to my literature room. This show caused me to rob the ATM machine twice! When it was all said and done, I had acquired 27 pounds of literature that had to be shipped home.

The banquet is the grand finale of the event. Machinery Pete played the role of guest speaker as he talked about auction prices and where he thinks equipment values are at this time. He brought up the subject of tractors from the 60s and 70s and said the interest in that equipment was causing prices to rise and he thought that series of tractors was the wave of the future in collecting. As I sat there smiling, the man sitting next to me leaned over and asked "Did you pay him to say that?" Nope, but I'm sure glad that he validated what I've been saying for the last year. That leaves one direction for Heritage Iron.....UP!

The next issue of HI features the V8 Internationals. While I was in Grand Rapids, I interviewed the engineer who worked in the engine plant for IH. He had quite a few noteworthy comments. Check out the next issue to read all about it.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2009-12-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

Where has the year gone?! 2009 has surely been a memorable one. For me it has been the year that would determine the future of Heritage Iron and thanks to all of you, the future looks great. For the farmers in this area, it will be their most memorable harvest. Just days before Christmas there were still combines in the field trying to gather the 2009 crop before 2010 arrived.

We have quite a few irons in the fire here at Heritage Iron. One of our projects that we're very excited about is a series of Heritage Iron "muscle tractor" toys. We'll have more info available at a later date but at this time, it appears the first toy will be available in September. We're also working on a muscle tractor calendar for 2011 featuring the great photography of Super T. In addition, we've been working on some good stories over the winter months. Just recently I had the great fortune to spend a few days with Jon Kinzenbaw. Look for a Kinze story in the near future.

If you happen to be driving south on I-65, 3 miles before crossing the KY line into Louisville, KY, be sure to take a look at our new billboard advertising Heritage Iron. You don't see a billboard very often with a 5020 or a 1568 tractor on it. We thought it would be a great attention getter for those going to the National Farm Machinery Show in February.

A new year will be here in a few days and we hope that "your" new year is filled with health, wealth, happiness and an earlier harvest than 2009.

Harvest Time

2009-10-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

Things have been busy here at 3-Point Ink headquarters as usual. I finally caved in and hired an assistant to help at the Nokomis office 3 days a week. Erika comes from a farm background and in a short time has already whipped this office into shape. She has permission to give me orders because someone needs to.

Both Oliver Heritage and Heritage Iron are in the mail for the month so we're feeling a little bit of relief but it won't last long. The deadlines creep up quick. Heritage Iron was a fun issue to write this time because it finally has a Meadow Green model on it. It's our 6th issue, which means we have survived the first year. Yeeha! Time for a celebration!

It's harvest time but in the area, it's going to be a very late one. Farmers are chomping at the bit but the late spring and heavy rains in this area have them in the hold mode.

I have to share a little humor. Since I moved the office to the main street in downtown Nokomis, I put up a nice sign out from with a colorful "Brutus" picture and our 3-Point Ink logo. For whatever reason, the locals now thing I'm running a tattoo parlor! Oh the things you can hear sitting close to the coffee drinkers table in a small town.

Heritage Iron is really taking off and after one year, it has passed Oliver Heritage in subscriptions and that magazine is now 6 years old. And much to my surprise, Oliver Heritage still continues to grow. Guess we must be doing something right. I love this job!

Time Flies!

2009-08-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

Where in the world is the summer going?! It's been a busy one and I've been running back and forth between tractor pulls, shows and the office. I haven't even bothered to unhook the camper because I'm in it more than I am my house.

I hope you're all making your plans to head to the Half Century of Progress show in Rantoul, IL later this month. It's going to be a big one and Heritage Iron will have a "muscle tractor corral" as part of our display. He sure to stop by and say HI. We'll have several "cover" tractors in our corral and a few others you haven't seen yet.

Issue No. 5 is in the mail so you can expect it at any time now. Our next issue is going to feature the Oliver 2255, the last tractor to bare the Oliver nameplate.

Have a safe rest of the season!

Coming soon to a mailbox near you.....

2009-05-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

It's about time for another issue of Heritage Iron to arrive in your mailbox. It is printed and will drop into the deep hole of the USPS by the 1st. If you're not a subscriber to Heritage Iron, it will now be available in Tractor Supply Stores and should arrive there about the middle of the month.

I'm beginning to wonder if it will ever stop raining here. While the farmers are sitting around watching it rain would be a great time to get the magazine, however, it will probably arrive the day it's dry enough to get back in the field. I've seen wet springs before but I've never seen it last quite this long.

Even though you haven't received issue #4 yet, we're at work on issue #5. The cover/centerfold of that issue will be a MM G-1000. The continuing story of M&W will feature the Little Red Wagon. We have a lot planned for future issues and I can't hardly wait to get started on the next one. If you have suggestions for articles or equipment you would like to see us cover, please let us know. We'll be doing quite a bit of traveling this summer and maybe we'll make it to your neighborhood. Have a safe planting season!

Mile High!

2009-04-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

Mile High represents my previous location and also how high my feet have been off the ground the last 2 days. On Sunday I flew out to Denver to attend the Niche Magazine Conference. It was quite a trip and involved unloading from the original plane a couple times due to bad weather, making an emergency landing due to an electrical fire, watching fireman walk up and down the aisles while we had to stay on the plane, waiting for a new plane, missing a connecting flight and on and on. I really wondered if I would ever get there. I tried to cancel the whole trip but they wouldn't give me my luggage back. I rarely make an uneventful trip.

However, the trials and tribulations of the trip all paid off. There are half a dozen awards given out at this conference to niche publishers. One of those is the "Best New Niche Launch" and went to a new publication. In order to qualify, you had to send several copies of your publication along with your business plan, promotional material, etc. We had done that earlier this year just to see how we might fare against the competition.

This conference is attended by over 150 niche magazine publishers and editors. Many of those publications are bridal magazines, lifestyle, business and computing mags and many other high end magazines. Tractor magazines weren't quite "understood" out there. Most comments were "Who collects tractors? How much can you possibly write about a tractor?" They really didn't get it. But in the grand scheme of things, the judges understood.

On the last evening of the conference, the awards are handed out to the lucky recipients. It is the highlight of the event. I had learned earlier that we were a finalist but that's all I knew. I stood in the back of the room not expecting to hear my name and then the words "Heritage Iron" were ringing in my ears. I gasped, jumped in the air and don't have a clue what happened next. The next 5 minutes is a total blur. I don't even know how the trophy got in my hand. I was in complete shock!

Last year I attended this conference with Oliver Heritage. I had someone from the panel judge my magazine and he told me it was HORRIBLE! I went home with my tail between my legs, convinced I didn't have any business in the publishing business. But I took what I learned from that conference, applied it to Heritage Iron and now we're the BEST NEW MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR!!! Woohoo!!!

It has been an unbelievable 48 hours and I'm not sure my feet are on the ground yet. I have talked so much that I've lost my voice. Thank goodness you can still hear me on the keyboard.

I met some great people in the publishing world and although they weren't quite sure about a "tractor girl", I showed them that Heritage iron means business. And we won!!!! Now I have to get busy on the next project because I learned even more this conference. Besides, there are a few more awards that I'd like to set on the shelf next year.

Moving day!

2009-04-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened since my last post. I spent a week in Washington working on a great 71-series GM story for Oliver Heritage and then spent a few days with the retired service manager for Wagner Tractor Co. out of Portland, Oregon. And the big news is that 3-Point Ink bought an office building!

With the second magazine, the walls of my house/office are being pushed to the limits. I'm slowly being pushed out while piles of papers, sales literature and filing cabinets take over. The first day of spring I walked outside wondering where I could build an office building ASAP. Reality sunk in and I realized there was no way I had time to build another building. I had just barely completed the addition to my house and didn't have time for that. When an opportunity presented itself in the form of a new office building just perfect for my needs, I seized it.

The day after I returned from Washington, I closed on a 2,000 square foot office building located in downtown Nokomis, just a block away from the post office, banks, fire & police department and other businesses. It is perfect for what I'm doing and was ready to move into.

As quickly as I made the decision to do this, I also packed up and moved the magazine headquarters. Over the weekend, my Mom, Dad, sisters, niece and nephew all showed up to help pack up 16 years of accumulated paper. I bought some more file cabinets to help organize everything and now I'm rolling around on the floor amongst boxes of literature and magazines and having a blast. The only problem is, as I'm putting things away, I'm finding items of interest so I have to stop and read a story and I don't seem to be making much headway. But I've got plenty of time to get it put away.

If you're sitting at home wondering when the next issue of Heritage Iron will arrive, wonder no more. It was mailed on April 1 and people are just starting to receive them. So you should have it any day. We will also do a 2nd mailing of this issue on May 1. If you subscribed a little too late, there's a chance you can still get that issue with the next mailing. And if you want to start at the beginning, you can always order the back issues which are available from the subscription office. 1-866-552-6085. We'll continue to offer back issues until we run out.

I have to get back to work now. Literature is waiting!

Spring Forward

2009-03-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

The changing of the clock always brings a shred of hope that Spring is just around the corner. I received my first sunburn for the year while standing at an auction last weekend so Spring has to be close.

This was no ordinary auction. "Come and listen to my story 'bout a man named Wayne, a poor farmin' man barely kept his family fed and then one day he was shootin' at some food and up from the ground came a bubblin' crude. Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea..." If this isn't a Jed Clampett story, I don't know what is. You'll have to read the next issue of Heritage Iron to get all of the details but long story short, Wayne Crooks was a poor farmer trying to make ends meet when oil was found on his property. The oil company bought Wayne a fleet of new farm equipment. That was in 1982 and Wayne barely used any of the equipment. In fact, one of his 4440s had only 47 actual hours on it. It still had the plastic on the seat! It was always taken care of and looked like new.

The other highlight of the auction was the 7720 combine with less than 500 hours on it. He also had a White 5100 12-row planter that had never even been unfolded! And the list could go on and on. It was an unbelieveable auction and a huge crowd came to witness this one-of-a-kind auction.

The auction was held at the Sullivan Auctioneers facility in Hamilton, Illinois. I had never attended a Sullivan auction before but it didn't take long to see that these guys had their act together. The sale was handled professionally and they didn't waste any time. They would get my recommendation to anyone wanting to have a sale.

If you didn't notice, we've updated the website to give it a new look. If you don't like something about it, please let us know. I've had quite a few irons in the fire lately and sometimes I overlook things that are right in front of me. For now I have to get busy and get another issue of Heritage Iron off to the printers.

National Farm Show

2009-02-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

If you've never been to the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY, you don't know what you are missing. I believe it is the largest farm show under roof in the US. Around 300,000 people go through this show every year. I've attended the show every year since 1976 and 2009 was no different. http://www.farmmachineryshow.org

Heritage Iron made its debut in the Oliver Heritage booth and the response was wonderful! It looks like this is the type of magazine that people have been waiting for. It was great to visit with all of you that stopped by and of course my e-mail box runneth over once I returned home. This magazine is going to be a lot of fun and I can't wait for warmer weather so I can start hitting some of the shows.

Two of the writers for Heritage Iron stopped by the booth so a few people had the opportunity to meet Larry Gay and Philip Shaw. Of course I was in the booth 90% of the time as well as my sisters; Debbie (who pulls at Louisville and got 5th this year) and Julie (she's the one with all the energy). My niece, Candice, who I refer to as mini-me was there helping along with her brother, Cody. Of course Dad, Ollie, spent a lot of time there too. Louisville is always a family event and if truth be told, is more important than everyone getting together at Christmas. The only regular missing was my brother and he's pretty busy since he became the manager of the Gateway International Drag Strip in St. Louis.

The booth was VERY busy and attracted a lot of attention. I haven't decided if it was the magazine or our bright yellow uniforms. (Did you like the yellow shoes?!) Regardless, we were thrilled to see everyone that stopped by and said a kind word or two.

For those of you that signed up and haven't yet received your Issue #2 yet, we're getting ready for the second mailing of that issue. This is not something we normally do in the magazine business, but response has been so good that we don't want you to have to wait 2 months to get a magazine. If you were at Louisville, you already picked up issue #2 so you won't get another one. However, for the rest of you, that issue will drop in the mail on March 2. Then on April 1, issue #3 will drop in the mail.

Now that I'm back in the office, there is plenty to do. Unfortunately some of the work will have to wait because I'm heading to the Mark Twain Toy Show this weekend. Maybe I'll see some of you there.

Ready for Spring!

2009-01-27T15:07:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy month here at 3-Point Ink headquarters. Last week I was in Texas running around and getting a few stories. I spent one day on a rice farm with a family that farms with 5 John Deere Wagner tractors. It was quite an operation and I may just have to go back in the fall to take part in the rice harvest operation.

You will be pleased to learn that the next issue of Heritage Iron dropped in the mail yesterday, a week ahead of schedule. By the time the USPS delivers it to you, I'll be half done with the next issue.

If you make it to the Gateway Toy Show this weekend, stop by the booth and take a sneak peak at the new issue. If you don't make it there, we'll have a booth set up at the Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY. The booth is under the name Oliver Heritage but we're located in the West Hall in booth 661. Please stop by and say Hi.

If you are concerned that you missed an issue, we have only printed 2. Issue #1 has two 1206s on the cover. Issue#2 has a JD 8020 on it. Any pictures of other covers are simply mock-ups of future issues. I've had quite a few people call trying to order the issue with the AC 220 on it. It doesn't exist yet but hang in there and it will.

We missed most of the ice here in Nokomis but we did get a dusting of snow. Between that and the cold temperatures, I'm ready for spring. Even the truck didn't want to start this morning and go out in the cold. One Interstate battery later, all is well again. I am so ready for spring but I fear I have a long wait yet. Until then, I'll just sit here in front of the fire.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-29T18:25:00.000-08:00

While standing in the Amtrak station waiting for another train, I saw the following quote: "Due to budget cuts, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off." And I believe it! The more I do, the further behind I get.

If you were lucky enough to get your first issue of Heritage Iron, congratulations! Hope you liked it. If you're still waiting on it, thank the budget cuts of the USPS. Earlier this month I sent a box with over 1,000 subscriptions in it to the subscription office. It was sent priority mail WITH a tracking number. This was not a small box and it was a genuine priority mail box. Not too easy to overlook. But somehow, the USPS still managed to lose it! I have worn a path in the floor wondering how to recover from a setback like this. The tracking number showed exactly where it landed but for 7 days, no one could find it. FINALLY, they found it today. No explanation was provided as to where it was hiding but at this point, I didn't care. As long as they had it I could breathe again.

Because of this setback in entering subscriptions, we have delayed the last mailing of Issue #1 until we can get all the subs entered. At this time, we are planning to mail again around January 9th. So if you haven't received that first issue yet and you sent in your subscription, hang in there. We're going to get you one mailed...just a little later than expected.

For those of you that sent Christmas cards....THANK YOU! I save every one of them. Due to the "light at the end of the tunnel" issue discussed earlier, I didn't have time to mail out a single card. So don't feel left out if you didn't get one. No one did. Two magazines can sure keep a gal busy.

Today I ordered t-shirts that should be available the end of the month. I think they're going to be sharp! I'll have them at the Heritage Iron/Oliver Heritage booth at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY if you want one. We're also going to have a contest to name our "muscle tractor" image. More details will follow after I get this next issue done. I personally like Brutus or Hoss but I've heard a few other good ones. Put your thinking cap it. It could win you a free subscription, t-shirt and more.

See ya next year!!!

Who turned off the heat?

2008-12-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

Brrrrrrr. It is 22 below zero here in Havre, Montana. If it wasn't for all the excitement over at Big Bud headquarters today, you wouldn't get me out the door. However, it has been a unbelievable weekend and I've been surrounded by the pioneers of the 4WD tractor industry. The cold weather prevented several of the scheduled celebrities from attending but those that were there were: Doug Steiger, Big Bud Nelson, Bill McNabb (Wagner) and of course Ron Harmon, who orchestrated this wonderful get together to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Big Bud. I have lots of stories to tell but those will be shared in future issues of Heritage Iron. For now, I'll share a picture taken of Big Bud Nelson, the man for whom the tractor was named. It was an honor to be in his presence along with all of the rest.

Thank you Ron Harmon for getting everyone together and helping to preserve history. It's a weekend I won't soon forget.

All Aboard!!!

2008-12-13T06:16:00.000-08:00

If you have never taken a train ride, you have GOT to do it. I just jumped off the Amtrak train at Havre, Montana (Home of Big Bud) and I am having the time of my life!

The trip started out a little bumpy. The train was late due to an earlier derailment this week. Then I realized that I had left my wireless card at home. That was a MAJOR problem. I can not possibly be out of touch for a week. So I called my wonderful travel agent and explained my situation. Within an hour she had everything set up so that I could walk 3 blocks from the train station in Chicago and they would have a new card waiting. What a relief! You don't get that kind of service with Travelocity. Use a travel agent and keep good people employed!

Things were a little pushed getting to the ATT store and back to the train in a short amount of time. Did I mention I was dragging 200 pounds of luggage with me the whole time? When I finally got on the train, I was whipped. My wonderful Porter, Gary, led me to my sleeper car then gave me a bottle of champagne. He said "You look like you need this." When you have a sleeper car, they really take care of you. Another one of the porters, Chris, was awesome too! Great job guys! They make your bed, bring you warm cookies, wake you up when it's time to get off the train....it's a whole different world and much more laid back than airport travel.

Anyway, the train ride was great! They have chefs on board preparing the meals and if you have a sleeper car, food is free AND good!! You are required to have dinner reservations because of limited seating and they always sit you with different passengers. At one of my meals I sat next to a Catholic priest. Naturally I started talking tractors. Before we were done, he wanted to see a copy of Heritage Iron. I gave him one and before the ride was over he told me I had opened up a whole new world for him. Wow! I converted a Catholic priest! That's powerful - but that's what Heritage Iron is all about.....more power....not a higher power but more power!

I was walking through one of the cars with an issue in my hand when a lady grabbed me and said "Where did you get that magazine?!" "Out of my suitcase" wasn't the answer she was looking for :) but she informed me that she knew people that would love to have the magazine so she managed to talk me out of it before I left the car.

It was just an awesome trip and the 25 hours went WAY to fast. Luckily I'll get to do it again in a few days. I'm here in Havre, Montana in the dead of winter for one reason.....the Big Bug reunion. There are supposed to be 250-300 people here consisting of employees, engineers, dealers, owner...etc. Even John Harvey from Classic Tractors is flying out here...providing the plane can land. Did I mention we're having a blizzard out here?! I had better get going because I need to be within walking distance of a tractor during a blizzard and not stuck in a motel. My job is soooo cool! Literally....it's supposed to be 14 below tomorrow. Brrrrrrr.

It's in the mail!

2008-12-03T04:58:00.000-08:00

Don't start running to the mailbox yet, but I have confirmation from the printer that the first issue of Heritage Iron dropped into the deep, dark hole of the United States Postal System on Monday. How long it will take for you to receive it anyone's guess but I expect some folks will have it later this week. Even though I know what is inside it, I can't wait to see the first issue!

Once you get the magazine, I really would like to hear what you think of it. Let me know what else you would like to see in there and feel free to contribute by sending a letter to our Blowing Smoke section.

It looks like winter had set in and I'm not happy about it. Later this month I'll be traveling to Montana to do a "big" story on a "Big" tractor. I didn't pick a good time to head that far north but there is a special event going on and I just can't miss it. You'll get to read all about it in an upcoming issue of Heritage Iron.

Time to sharpen the pencil and get ready for issue #2! Enjoy the first one and let me know what you think.

Houston - We have lift off!

2008-11-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

What a week this has been! Two magazines, two deadlines and both are at the same time. (Whose idea what that?!) Earlier this week I went over to the publishing office where I had 2 magazines to look over. I bounced back and forth from one designer to the next. Suzanne has been laying out Oliver Heritage for a while so she's got the hang of it. I wasn't too worried about her, but Heritage Iron is a different story. It's brand new and we had to completely build the magazine. My page designer, Jason, did a phenomenal job. He understood exactly what look I was trying to convey with this magazine and he nailed it! We had a blast!

The magazine has been uploaded to the printers and is now out of our hands. All we can do is pace the floor until the USPS gets their hands on it December 1.

It's that time of the year again. That means if I'm going outside to run or do anything, I had better be wearing a bright orange vest or I'll be taking my life into my own hands. I have a big picture window in my living room and it looks out over my pond. There has been a big buck running around out there every day this week. I expect he'll be hiding tomorrow though.

Next week is the big antique tractor auction in Taylorville, IL. Since that's only 20 miles from me, it's a "must". If you've never been to this auction, you really should go at least once. But be forewarned - dress for the cold! Maybe I'll see you there.

The Countdown

2008-11-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

It's getting closer.....only 20 days left until the first issue of Heritage Iron goes in the mail. The magazine is complete and it goes to the printer next week. We printed off the proof on Friday and it looks great! I can't wait until every else gets to take a look at it. If you're wondering what's inside, here are a few of the topics: IH 1206, White Mighty-Tow 4-115, JD Buyer's Guides, Ertel toys of 1970, Rome 4WDs, M&W Gear and much more. I know I might be a little biased but I think it's a great issue with a bit of something for everyone.

No sooner did I have the proof in my hands when I decided to get out of the office for a few days and hit the National Farm Toy Show in Dyersville, IA. I had never been to this show before. It seems like every year I have something else to do but this year I was going to make time. So I threw some clothes in the car and headed north.

If you have never been to the toy show, you should make plans to go sometime and experience it at least once. I have never seen so many toys in one place in my life! The entire town gets ready for this event. The Beckmann school cleans out all of their classrooms, covers the gym floor with protective paper and then turns the entire school over to the toy vendors. There were hundreds of them! And when there wasn't room left inside, there were tents and trailers set up outside everywhere. It didn't seem to matter to anyone that it was below freezing. It was unbelievable!

Unfortunately my little office vacation was short-lived. It's back to work getting the next issue of Oliver Heritage off to the press too. My work is never done....but oh what fun.

New York - New York

2008-10-30T20:20:00.000-07:00

You are NOT going to believe what I was up to last week! I just returned from a 2750 mile excursion that led me to a great old dealership in Harrisonburg, VA called Whitesel Brothers. They've been in business since 1880! Talk about some great history. From there I worked my way up to Pennsylvania to visit the corporate headquarters of Zimmerman Oliver Cletrac. I didn't get to stay as long as I wanted to because I had to be west of Albany, New York the next day.

This was the highlight and main reason for the trip - I found a 1967 model tractor with only 70 original hours. Yes, that was s-e-v-e-n-t-y hours and she was a beauty. It was like driving a brand new old tractor. I can't tell you much more about it or I'll spoil the surprise. You'll just have to read the rest in the next issue of Oliver Heritage. It was a long trip home but looking in the rear view mirror and seeing that checkerboard grill staring at me helped keep me awake.

Now it's back to the real world of deadlines and typing until late into the evenings. Life on the road is interesting but it's always good to be back home.

Welcome!

2008-10-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Heritage Iron blog! For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Sherry Schaefer, the weary editor of two tractor magazines: Oliver Heritage and my newest creation - Heritage Iron. Tractors are in my blood. I know it’s not a normal girl thing but I have always said that I’m my father’s oldest son. My grandpa and Dad were tractor dealers so I’ve always been around it to some extent. Then there was the tractor pulling era of my life. For 20 years, all we did was go tractor pulling all over the US. But if you had told me 15 years ago that I’d be writing about tractors, I would have laughed at you. The path of life sure does have some twists in it.

Last weekend I decided to take a break from typing and venture out of the office. Aumann Auctions was holding a very interesting auction just 30 miles from the house so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get out and mingle with some tractor folks and see what prices were bringing. Let me just say – The economy has NOT affected the price of tractors. Wow! The first tractor brought $150,000!!! And it wasn’t even John Deere Green!

There were collectors from all over at that auction and I happened to notice a couple fellas from “across the pond”. Later that afternoon while driving around the booming metropolis of Nokomis, IL, I noticed two of the English chaps looking at a tractor in Aumann’s lot. I stopped to visit with them and for some odd reason, they thought I was security coming to chase them off. We had a great visit and ended up going out for supper afterwards to talk tractors.

On Sunday, Aumanns had a customer appreciation day at the auction center. Collectors were invited to plow and disk AFTER we hand-picked and shucked 6 acres of corn. I took my 770 and my disk up to make a few laps around the field. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and everyone was having a blast!

After the day was done, my newfound English collector buddies followed me home to scour through my literature collection. We laughed and shared stories just like we’d known each other forever. It really doesn’t matter where you’re from or what color you collect – there’s a common bond among all who have a soft spot for a big toy we call “a tractor”.

So that was the weekend in a nutshell. Now it’s back to the grindstone to pump out the premier issue of Heritage Iron. We are so excited about this! We hope you are too. And if you want to get your picture (or your tractor’s) in the first issue of Heritage Iron, drop us a line. We’ll be glad to use it in our Blowing Smoke section. Until next time…..Sherry