By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

RANTOUL, Ill. — “Big Bud” 747 was built in Havre, Mont., in 1977 by Ron Harmon of the Northern Manufacturing Co., for the cost of $300,000.

“This was 30 miles from where my brother (Randy) and I grew up,” Robert Williams, one of the giant tractor’s owners, said.
The tractor was originally built for the Rossi Brothers cotton farm in Bakersfield, Calif. “The brothers said, ‘We want to build the biggest tractor in the world’ – and now it is in the Guinness Book of World Records,” Williams stated.

Although the two Williams brothers own this biggest of the Big Buds, there were smaller models built, as well. TractorData.com shared: “Big Bud Tractors, Inc. was born out of the Wagner tractor dealership in Havre, Mont., in 1961. The company’s goal was to build heavy-duty high horsepower tractors. The tractors used industrial engines fitted to custom built frames.

“The company developed a number of innovations for heavy duty tractors, including tilt cabs and a skid system for engine removal.”
Eventually the tractor was sold to someone in Florida; that is where the brothers purchased it, for $95,000, to use on their Montana farm.

“We bought it in Florida and restored it and we have farmed with it for 11 years,” Williams said. “We use it to cultivate. It will work about 1,000 acres a day and pull an 80-foot cultivator. The tractor will burn three-quarters of a gallon per acre, the equivalent of most tractors of that day.”

The Williams brothers have approximately 12,000 acres, but with allowing some ground to lie fallow, farm around 7,000. These fifth-generation farmers grow small grains such as barley and wheat.
“We are in the Golden Triangle of Montana,” Williams said, explaining the area is prime wheat ground. “We bought the tractor to become more efficient. Big Bud eliminated two tractors and one person. My brother and I and his son do the farming.”

The big surprise for the brothers after purchasing the tractor was that visitors come to see it. “We have about 400 to 500 visitors come to Montana each year to see the Big Bud. Most are from Europe,” Williams said.

With the advancement of technology, they are no-tilling more of their ground and the Big Bud was free to come to the Midwest so more people could enjoy seeing it. “We though if all those people are psyched to see it, we will bring it,” he said.

Plans to bring the Big Bud to Rantoul have been under way since 2005, when Darius Harms – who heads up the planning committee responsible for securing the tractor – contacted the brothers.
The tractor and tires traveled 1,440 miles to arrive at Rantoul just in time to be part of the Historic Farm Days in Penfield, Ill., then will participate in the Half Century of Progress show Aug. 27-30. To learn more about that show, visit www.halfcenturyofprogress.org