“We are proud to host Ford, New Holland and Versatile. This is the 75th anniversary of the 9N Ford Tractor,” John Frederickson, president of the I&I Antique Tractor  & Gas Engine Club, wrote in the introduction of the show book for the 2014 Historic Farm Days, held in the small town of Penfield, Ill., July 10-13.

Fords shared the stage with tractors featured over the years on John Harvey’s Classic Farm Tractor Calendar, some of which, of course, were Fords. This year’s show also celebrated the 75th anniversary of the 9N Ford Tractor.

The Historic Day’s show book offered up some Ford facts, such as: Henry Ford and his son, Edsel, took their first tractor prototype to Europe in 1916, although the elder Ford had been building tractors some 10 years prior to this date.

While the company was originally formed to sell tractors under the name of Henry Ford & Son, the show book added the name was later shortened to Fordson by the public.

Information about New Holland and Versatile, which were both purchased by Ford & Son in 1987, was also included. While the New Holland Co. was bought by Ford down the line, the beginning of the company harks back to Abram Zimmerman, a handyman from New Holland, Pa., who started the company in his blacksmith shop in 1895. Zimmerman’s claim to fame was the production of a hit-and-miss engine the show book reports “was freeze-proof and ran on gasoline.”

Versatile came into its own in 1963 after being incorporated from the Hydraulic Engineering Co. of Toronto, Ontario, in Canada. In 1964 it began producing swathers out of its plant in Fort Garry, Winnipeg. It was 1966 when Versatile articulated four-wheel drive tractors came into play.

The show opened on a Thursday with the raising of the flag and playing of the national anthem. The Ford building was set up with memorabilia that included items like Ford oil cans, buttons, literature and more. Also inside the building was Dwight Emstrom’s beautiful and rare 9N Ford – the earliest N series tractor known to exist. This 9N has a serial number of only 16.

The Ford/Fordson Collectors Assoc. offered a raffle tractor, a Ford 9600, with a second prize of $200 cash and a third prize of $100. Only 250 tickets were sold, so those who entered the raffle had a decent chance to win that Sunday at the drawing.

Fords were everywhere. There was an LP Model 900 and one cool steel-wheel 1942 War Model that was part of the Hardesty collection. Sometimes the beauty of the Ford tractors are in the details, like the grill on the one sitting outside the Ford building with the words “Ford Farming” emblazoned on it.

Some Fords were eye-catching because of their attachments, such as the Ford with the Jackson Trans-Planter hooked to it. On the side the words “Jackson Trans-Planter” had the location of Lebanon, Tenn., below.

Literature the owner provided said it could be attached easily in five minutes with only two bolts and two keys. Hook on, and you were setting plants quickly and easily!

One collector went so far as to have a beautiful old Ford truck they used to haul their golf cart and Ford tractor. There was no doubt where this collector’s brand loyalty lay.  Another much older mode of transportation/farming was the Doodlebug that sat outside the Ford Collectors building. That Saturday there were also a bevy of Model T Fords that lined up outside the building, and later paraded.

Another unique Ford sighting was the 1920 Austin/Fordson Pup roller, which was the first pup-sized roller on the market.

There were new Fords, old Fords, implements and construction Fords – it was like the “Old MacDonald” song, only substitute: “Here a Ford, There a Ford, Everywhere a Ford, Ford!” It was a beautiful sight for collectors from everywhere.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.