Rollie Moore is excited. This year is recognized as the 100th year of the Farmall tractor, and the Illinois farmer is helping his Central Illinois IH Collectors group, Chapter 10, plan big celebrations.

The first is at the Half Century of Progress Show on Aug. 24-27 in Rantoul, Ill. Then, during a red-only tractor drive on Aug. 28 before the Farm Progress Show, up to 70 tractors will drive to special parking spots at the Decatur, Ill., show site, where visitors can see the tractors all three days of the show.

“Owners who participated in the Century of Farmalls lineup at the Half Century Show have priority on securing one of the 70 spots for the tractor drive and exhibition at the Farm Progress Show,” Moore says. “Our goal was to have a tractor made in every year at the Rantoul show.”

That means 99 possible tractors, starting with a 1924 Farmall, at Rantoul. “There was only a limited number of tractors produced in 1923, and they weren’t sold to the public,” Moore explains. “The first commercial Farmall rolled out in 1924.”

Once at the show, head to 12th Street, just west of Central Avenue. Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress national events director, says you will find 70 tractors that completed the tractor drive to honor Farmall’s 100th anniversary.

“We landed on 70 because it’s the 70th anniversary of the Farm Progress Show,” he adds.

“We’ve allocated a big space for this event because we know there is a lot of excitement around it,” Jungmann says. “It will be a great opportunity to relive history, plus see some tractors from the more modern era. We hope our guests take advantage of this opportunity.”

The display area will approach the size of a standard football field. Moore expects that several of the people who own tractors will be on-site to talk about their tractors during the show.

To learn more, visit the Central Illinois IH Collectors, Chapter 10, website.

The 2023 Farm Progress Show is Aug. 29-31. Learn more at FarmProgressShow.com, and check out the digital edition of the official program.