The 4th Annual Family Farm Festival in Woodland, California, turned an empty lot into a living diesel history lesson. Antique tractors powered by off-highway diesel gave us a peek at how diesel power was made during the last century. Painted drivetrains are left open to the elements and giant engines with no more than six cylinders are the norm. Like rockcrawling off-road rigs, these machines use low-end torque to pull through obstacles, but they don't mess around with high engine speeds. Only one of these tractors makes peak power above 2,000 rpm.
In addition to the diesel collectibles on display, the Heidrick Ag History Center event included a barley thresher, a blacksmith at work, draft horses and mules, a farm animal petting zoo for the kids, a tractor parade, "popper" gas engine displays, live music, and food. It was also a chance for some farmers to reminisce about the machines they worked with over the years. One gentleman told us about the time when he was 16 years old and started a Caterpillar Thirty, only to have the start lever whip around and break his wrist. Ouch! Guess that's what happens when you mess with a gasoline pony engine.
A thresher is cleaned so the...
A thresher is cleaned so the kids could gather around and watch another batch of grain being processed the old-fashioned way. The thresher was being powered by a steam engine, but its belts could easily be diesel-powered by other tractors on display.
You don't have to wait for the next Family Farm Festival to see some great antique tractors and trucks. The Heidrick Ag History Center has 130,000 square feet full of exhibits devoted to the mechanical marvels of farm tractors and classic work trucks. There is also a play zone for the kids and a picnic area so you can enjoy a meal during your visit to the farmlands of Northern California. For more information visit the Web site at www.aghistory.org. For more information about tractors, be sure to visit www.tractordata.com. That's where we got specifications for the diesel machines we saw at the show.