John Deere heritage runs deep on Missouri farm
Russ Alexander, fourth generation farmer in Ralls County, Mo., collects John Deere tractors like others might collect coins or stamps.
There’s the rusted Deere that had been outside since 1980, which he bought three weeks ago from a woman at his church. The caveat: He had to pick it up by 3 o’clock, before her husband got home.
“Everybody had tried to buy it,” Russ said. The good news: The woman and her husband are still speaking to each other.
Russ bought one of his Deeres from his preacher, Dan Peters. And then there’s the 1960 two-cylinder 435 with a GM diesel engine.
“It’s as rare as hen’s teeth,” said Russ.
Tucked in the back of his oversized garage is a 1947 Model D tractor.
“It was built more years than any John Deere,” Russ said, from 1923 to 1953.
“I’ve collected them all my adult life,” he said.
His original goal was to get one each of the 20 and 30 series. Once he reached that goal, he collected more. Some models, he has two, three or even four of. He has purchased tractors from Florida, Wisconsin, Montana, Mississippi and Indiana. Some he purchased at auctions, some he found from ads in Green Magazine, and other he’s obtained directly from individuals.