The Farm Tractor and Machinery Show in Hills will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13.
The show will feature 10 of the 20 Series John Deere tractors, which are row crop tractors from 1968 to 1975 and are owned by brothers Gene “Pucky” and Mike Sandager.
The brothers restored the tractors with the assistance of Lee Westphal and Albi Van Dam.
“Two tractors are missing from the series, the 6030 which John Deere only made 100 of its kind and the 8020,” Pucky said. His brother Mike did present him with a miniature 8020 for his birthday.
The Sandagers purchased the tractors for their hay operation, which has grown over the years. The tractors were purchased at auctions in Kansas, Illinois, Waterloo, Iowa, and Rochester, Minnesota. One tractor, the 4020, was purchased from Greg Metzger, son of Mark and Audrey Metzger of Larchwood, Iowa.
Greg won the tractor at the National FFA Convention and decided to sell the tractor and use the proceeds for his college education.
The brothers opted to purchase used tractors instead of buying new ones.
“Three old tractors can be restored for the price of a new one,” Pucky said. “Older models are cheaper to run and become collector items. All of the tractors in the series we use in our farm operation.”
About preserving history, he said, “If you don’t know the past or where you’ve been, you can’t figure out where you’re going.”
Those who attend the tractor show will have the opportunity to choose “the Fan’s Favorite” tractor and the winner will be announced during the afternoon parade.
A wrench set donated by Rock County Implement will be awarded to the participant who can identify the differences, for example, between a 4020 and a 4000.