I first learned to drive on a Johnny Popper, as my grandfather used to call ours. When I was small I would sit on my father’s lap and he would let me pretend to drive. I have wonderful memories of being out in the orchard among the walnut trees building “checks” to get ready for irrigation. Years later, he taught me how to shift gears. My brother learned the same way I did, but either he was more adventuresome, or more careless. One day, my father turned around and my brother was about to attempt to climb a tree while seated and driving our John Deere tractor. I watched as my father sprinted to the tractor, jumped and somehow got the tractor out of the tree. A few minutes more and my brother might have flipped the tractor and be crushed under it. My father did not use cuss words often, but I learned a few that day. My brother was not allowed to drive the tractor for quite a while.

I’ve always been fascinated by John Deere Tractors, but never really looked into their history. I have painted a few old ones over the years. I one above is not in use anymore, but beautifies a farm not too far from Winters. California. I was in a Plein Air paintout and when I saw these, I knew I wanted to paint it. It was the second full day of the event, so I was a little tired and had completed a landscape scene earlier in the day. A couple other artists were painting the tractor, so I decided to join in. It was a warm day and I got a good start, but did not finish in time to turn it in. Actually I finished it in my studio today.

At the event, both the Artist’s Choice and the People’s Choice were paintings of this tractor! I think people like tractors. I decided to do a little research on the history of the John Deere Tractor:

The history of the company began in 1837 when John Deere, a blacksmith, invented a steel plow that was successful in the sticky soil of the American Midwest. In 1843, he formed a partnership with Leonard Andrus, to produce more plows to meet the increasing demand for them. The company eventually expanded to include tractors, harvesting equipment and other farming tools. Deere & Company incorporated in 1868.

In the 1910’s the company expanded, entering the tractor and harvesting equipment business and acquired other companies to build a “full line” of farm equipment. In 1912 Deere preferred stock debut on the New York Stock Exchange. In the 1950’s to 1960’s Deere & Company became a global sales leader in agriculture and industrial equipment, focusing on innovation and expansion. They continued to grow, focusing on larger-scale farming equipment and expanding into construction, forestry and turf care. To this they remain a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment, while continuing to innovate and expand product offerings.

John Deere’s mission statement, “We Run So Life Can Leap Forward”, focuses on creating intelligent, connected machines and applications that help revolutionize agriculture and construction, enabling life to leap forward. This mission is supported by eheir core values of Integrity, Quality, Commitment, and Innovation. They strive to sustain lives and livelihoods everywhere, deliver purpose-driven technology, and run with nature, while prioritizing sustainability and ethical business practices.

I love their tagline: “Nothing Runs Like a Deere”.

John Deere’s first tractor was the WaterLoo Boy, introduced in 1918. This tractor, initially designed for large farms, was a result of Deere & Company’s acquisition of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company. The first tractor to bear the “John Deere” name and be built, marketed, and named by John Deere was the Model D, introduced in 1923. 

John Deere has come a long ways since this first tractor.

Our John Deere Tractor on the farm in Colusa, California was more like the one pictured below. I don’t know whatever happened to our farm Johnny, but assume it was sold when my father died at age 53. My mother sold the farm, and bought her first ever new car, and cute little house in a new housing development not far from town. I left that year to go to college and only go back for an occasion class picnic and now as I have grown older go back for more “Celebrations of Life”, (funerals) than anything else.

Not that it has much to do with this post, but the next car I learned to drive was our 1956 Willy Jeep in bright yellow. It had no cover, so when not being used on the farm I would drive it to High School. Lots of great memories.

Share your John Deere memories!