visitors each year to their rural Montana farm. That draw prompted Darius Harms of the Half Century of Progress to contact the Williams brothers about bringing the tractor to the Midwest.

The Half Century of Progress is much more than just a chance to see the Big Bud. The Big Foot Monster truck will also be on display at the tractor pull arena, along with the largest flying American Flag in the world.

Like the 2007 show that featured the Class of 1957, this year the stars of the show will be the Class of 1959, celebrating the past 50 years of farming. The show will include field demonstrations of plowing, planting, tillage, tractor / horse pulls and hand corn shucking, hay baling, chopping and threshing on the more than 400 acres of farmland. For the latest news, log onto http://www.halfcenturyofprogress.org.

This event precedes the , Sept. 1-3 in Decatur. This is like a state fair for farmers or those interested in the latest and greatest in farming. Fondly called “tent city” the show is educational as well as great fun. Check out details online at http://www.farmprogressshow.com.

Or choose a local antique tractor show that often combines arts, crafts and flea markets to offer a family friendly event. Labor Day weekend there is a huge flea market and laid-back tractor show under the trees at the near Macomb. And Sept. 3-7 at , is one of the biggest and oldest steam shows in the nation.

This show also offers great country music acts for the price of admission. Check out http://www.oldthreshers.org. The same weekend is the in Pontiac, which features a big steam show. A little closer to home, Witt, Ill., always has a Labor Day celebration as well, http://www.wittillinois.com/contact.htm.

Sept. 11-13, will be held in Highland, Ill., at the 40-acre Louis Latzer estate. See www.highlandilhistory.org. Sept. 19 and 20, the , in conjunction with the Macoupin County Historical Society, is hosting the . This show is featuring Massey Harrison-Ferguson and Ford Fordson Tractors. The next week, Sept. 25-27, the will be having its Steam Show and Fall Festival Days, featuring Oliver tractors.

Cindy Ladage is a freelance writer who writes for several antique tractor publications, Senior News & Times and is a columnist for Farm World. Contact her at [email protected].