John Deere’s 60-year history in the UK and Ireland will take centre stage at this year’s Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show, with collectors from across the UK competing for the title of Best John Deere in Show.
Dozens of John Deere tractors will contest the special class at Newark Showground on Saturday, November 7, while visitors will be able to see how the marque has evolved from the 1960s to the present day.
Among the highlights will be John Deere’s own 1966 4020, alongside a new 6 Series tractor, launched in June.
For Lockerbie collector Danny Key, the event will mean a journey of more than 300 miles south with some of his growing collection. He will be joined by friend and fellow enthusiast David Kerr, whose painstakingly restored John Deere 3120 won Best John Deere in Show last year.
“A group of us travel down from Scotland every year, stay in the same accommodation and we’re like a family now,” Danny said.
He has collected John Deere machinery for 14 years, after taking advice from David that has become something of a collecting philosophy.
“He told me that they don’t make them anymore, so if you see something, then try to buy it if you can afford it,” he said.
Danny now has more than 10 tractors and aims to keep them as original as possible.
“I like to keep them in their original condition as much as I can. I’m a joiner and my plan is to build a workshop just for the tractors.
“I still work them too. I have five acres, which I put into barley every year, and I do some combining and baling for other people too. I own a 1065 John Deere combine and recently bought a 545 round baler, which I’m hoping to take to Newark.”
The machine that started his John Deere obsession was an 1140, a utility tractor built in the 1980s.
“I worked on a farm as a boy while I was still at school and they mainly had Fergusons, but they had one John Deere tractor which was the 1140, and I always liked it better.
“It was the first John Deere I ever drove and I managed to buy that exact one at an auction 100 miles away.”
More News
-
John Deere raises profit forecast despite farm machinery downturn
-
John Deere wins Royal Welsh innovation award for Weave Automation
-
John Deere named leading UK employer of armed forces veterans
Danny plans to take his 1020, 2120 and 2140 to Newark, with the 2120 holding particular significance.
“The 2120 is special because ‘Key’ is my surname and that happens to be on its original number plate,” he said.
David hopes to bring his 1020, 2120, 3120 and 4240. His 3120, fitted with a rare Sta-Dri cab, was rescued from a wreck in Ashford, Kent, and took 14 years to restore.
John Deere tactical marketing manager Chris Wiltshire said: “Our 60th anniversary in the UK and Ireland is a huge milestone for the business. So much has changed in agriculture over that time, so Newark will be a perfect place to bring all that history together.”
The Newark show takes place on November 7 and 8 and features more than 49 classes covering agricultural and industrial heritage, including tractors, plant, commercial vehicles, horticulture, stationary engines and implements.
Share