The Farm And Ranch Museum (FARM) at Gering, Neb., was awash with the trademark colors of vibrant yellow and red representing Minneapolis Moline tractors and equipment during The Prairie Gold Rush Winter Convention, held March 6-8. People from 21 states attended, not only to feed their passion for all things Minneapolis-Moline, but to tour the area, see the sights, including businesses and geographic locations.

Prairie Gold Rush (PGR) is an organization for enthusiasts and collectors of Twin City (the precursor to the Minneapolis Moline) and MM farm equipment and tractors. They publish a quarterly magazine The Prairie Gold Rush and are one of the oldest collector organizations devoted to a particular type of equipment and tractors. PGR celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2007.

Organizers and hosts of the event were Jim and Cyndi Neuwirth, themselves, MM collectors. “We had 250 registered participants that were PGR folks with a total of well over 300 including local people,” Jim said. “I had a lot of wonderful help and we had many interesting things lined up to do, beyond just the activities at FARM that were MM related. A bus tour on Friday was filled to maximum with additional transportation to accommodate a total of 61. They had the opportunity to see places of interest in the area including the Kelley Bean operation, Brown Sheep Co. and a winery where they could purchase specially bottled MM labeled wine, called Holy Water with one named
Mighty MINNE.”

An ongoing, on-site activity was the conversion of an MM 2WD tractor to a 4WD. “The tractor was disassembled and all the components laid out for people to see, then put back together. Roughly 80-90 people rotated through to watch the process,” Neuwirth said.

On Saturday an auction was held with an amazing variety of MM related items up for bid, from numerous tractors parts, manuals, hats, lawnmower, pedal tractor and gas pumps to display shelves and toy tractors. “We had a large number of bidders with the ratio of out-of-town to locals being roughly half and half, with most of the buyers from out of town” Jim said.

“There were a number of people on tap who were planning on bringing their tractors for display purposes only, but those from Minnesota and Wisconsin were unable to, due to the weather, so we had fewer here than were planned.”

Many of the people at the convention aren’t farmers; so why the passion for the MM products? Some said their dads had an MM tractor, others had used them while employed by farmers, several were just attracted to the vibrant colors and still others just bought and sold the collectible tractors or salvaged parts as a business. The one common thread was that any who collect the MM tractors, (and we are talking full-size tractors here, not just toys) had numerous models and years. One gentleman has 62; other collectors claimed 14 and 18, while more just said “I have no idea.” One comment was, “until you don’t know how many you have, you don’t have too many!”

Vendors at the trade show, held during the three-day event, highlighted several other segments of the MM mania. Available for sale were shirts, caps, jackets, toys and garden stones, to name a few.

Alan Goodwin a retired school teacher from Platte City, Mo., was there with a comprehensive collection of MM collectible memorabilia for display and some for sale. His display tables gave a graphic idea of how well the Minneapolis Moline people did in showcasing and putting their product in the minds of their consumer. He had men’s ties, alarm clocks, tie tacks, watch fobs, broom holders, jar openers, thimbles, calendars, lighters, knives, wallets and clothespins that proclaimed ‘pin down cost, hang up profit.’ “The rarest item I have here today,” Alan said, “is a mail-out promotion of a Minneapolis Moline punch-out cardboard tractor. It is one of only two samples I know of.” The entire tractor is on an approximately 8”x 12” sheet with a postage amount of three cents. “Another of the rarest items, which I am still looking for, is a retirement pocket watch given out for 50 years of service to the Minneapolis Moline Company.

“I started out collecting toys, I guess it ties me to my younger times. I don’t know how many items I have; too many to dust,” Alan said, “and I now have 35 full-size tractors (not all run) and 17 MM lawnmowers. There is a vast amount of history associated with MM; such as, they were the first to put women on their tractors for advertising.

“The best part of going to these conventions is all the great people we meet. Farmers are the salt of the earth and wonderful people.”

Clint Stamm from Washington, Kan., who farms, has a construction business and an MM salvage yard, as well as his own collection of tractors shared more MM history. “Minneapolis Moline pioneered 4-wheel drive for the sandhills. They were the first to put a cab on tractors, first to make a factory propane powered tractor and first to manufacture a mechanical front wheel drive.” Clint has between 75-100 salvage tractors and 40 rare and restored models.

Another attraction at FARM, was a quilt raffle. The quilt, made by local artisan and FARM volunteer Donna Considine had a number of tractor models on the front, one being a MM with a backing fabric covered entirely with tractors.

Nancy Haney, spokeswoman for FARM said, “We really enjoyed having the PGR event here. We received many nice comments on our new facility and I think it shows our potential for being a multi-purpose facility, which is our desire. I feel that it is really a regional facility. We help tell the agricultural story that is far reaching. It is vital that people learn where their food comes from.”

At the final banquet held Saturday evening, guest speaker, Dr. Roger Hoy, Ag Engineer with the UNL Tractor Testing Laboratory gave a comprehensive history of tractor testing. He spoke about how their testing applied to growers and manufacturers as a national standard in a world-wide program. “I am going to speak mostly to the past,” Hoy said, “You have to know your past, to know where you’re going. When tractors first started to appear in 1908 to replace a horse or horses all sorts of claims were made.

Between 1908 and 1913 the Winnipeg plowing contests were held pitting machines against animals. Tractor testing began due to a bill being passed in 1919 that required it, thereby creating a standard.”

“What set this event apart was our attention to the little things,” Neuwirth concluded. “We have a great facility here, with a setting that is pretty unique. It has great scenery with the backdrop of the Bluffs with no interference of buildings or anything. Many of our attendees have gone to two or three of the other PGR conventions, but none have ever been here before. There were many positive comments, so maybe they will come back again and bring others with them. This was a great event; Minneapolis Moline has the world’s finest tractors and the finest people.”