More than a machine

Dave Hawkins, the owner of more than 100 John Deere tractors, some of which date back to the 1920s, is opening his farm this weekend, for the 25th year in a row, to share his tractor and implement collection with the public. [Click to enlarge]

Now they're full of retired John Deere tractors.

He has more than 100, and they all look practically new.

Hawkins jokingly calls collecting tractors a "terrible habit."

That makes his daughter Bonnie Klein laugh.

"We just grew up with it -- we'd never take the main road," she said. "You never see these sitting along the interstate. They're along the blacktops and back roads."

Klein is home from Ankeny to help Hawkins set up for his 25th annual tractor show this weekend.

The collector invites people to his farm east of Struble every year to take a gander at his greens.

It all started with his father's 1929 model "D" John Deere.

The "D" is one of John Deere's letter series of tractors, made in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

Hawkins and his brother Richard, who has since died, started adding to the collection.

"At the first show we had five or 10 tractors and we put them out back by the silo and invited a few neighbors," Hawkins said. "That was in 1983."

Now his 110-tractor and 100-implement collection draws people from across the United States and as far as Australia.

Why do they come?

To some people, the green and gold machines are just that -- machines. Tools for farming.

But for others, the tractors represent a way of life, Hawkins explained.

"It's stuff people have used in the past," he said.

One woman who visited recently said the show brought back memories of her childhood, growing up on the farm.

Some of Hawkins oldest pieces are the wooden silo cutter and wooden corn sheller that date back to 1919 or 1920.

And on most of his tractor collection is a sign showing the exact date it was made by John Deere, the original price, and how Hawkins got a hold of it.

"Then it means something to people," he said.

The collection spans back to the early 1900s -- and they're all refurbished. Most could be driven today.

They even use one 1935 John Deere "A" every Thanksgiving to plow.

Hawkins' three children and 10 grandchildren come back each summer to help set up for the tractor show.

Everyone in the family has had his or her hand in his collection.

Hawkins' wife Judy puts on the decals. One of his daughters created signs with information about each tractor. Curt, his son, helped paint the tractors. And Hawkins' 20-year-old grandson Alex Popken does a lot of refurbishing work.

"I like to tinker; I like the mechanical part -- learning about each one and how they're different," he said.

Now studying Ag Systems Technologies at South Dakota State University at Brookings, Popken has shared a love for John Deeres with his grandpa for almost as long as he's been alive.

"I liked riding in a tractor with him since I was 2 years old," he said. "From the age of 2 until preschool I pretty much spent my life over here."

And now he's starting his own collection. He owns about half a dozen. He has a ways to go to catch up with his grandfather, though.

For two styles of John Deeres -- As and Bs -- Hawkins has one for every year they were made, from 1934 and 1935 to 1952. But when people talk about the scope of his collection, he's humble.

"John Deere had 500 or more styles and kinds. We've only got 100," he said, humbly.

Hawkins is not finished collecting yet, although it has to be a pretty rare tractor to catch his eye these days.

"Or it has to offer a challenge," he said. "I've got a couple in the 'waiting room' at the shop that are going to offer a challenge. They need lots of renovation."

Reworking a tractor can take anywhere from two weeks to three years, he said.

The tractors he owns come from all over, even as far as Canada. Friends and people who know of his hobby give him tips.

At this weekend's show, visitors will also find a John Deere bicycle-lawnmower and an open engine that shows how John Deeres work on the inside, something he and Popken put together.

And he does have a few Case, Farmall and Oliver tractors in his show.

"They're out there to keep everyone happy," he laughed.

The Hawkins farm is located about three miles east off of Highway 75 on C-12, then 3/4 mile north at 10313 Nature Avenue.

The show runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 3 through Saturday, July 7.

Some of the show areas are handicapped accessible.

Hawkins also shows tractors at the Plymouth County Fair and in area parades. In September, a busload of visitors is scheduled to take a tour. And then there are the visitors who stop by and say, "Do you mind if I show Dad the tractors?"

"I think it's memories and lack of something else to do," Hawkins laughed. "Some people like golf, some people like tractors. Some people are crazy, and some people are really crazy."