Husker Harvest Days

[IMCA38]

A while back, I posted a message about Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island NE. For those of us into tractors, machinery, trucks, etc. this is paradise. I went to opening day today and snapped a few pics to share.
This event is held for three days each September at a permanent site about 8 miles west of Grand Island. I'd guess the total site to be about 500 acres including display area, field test plots, and parking. As you pull up, you get into a long line of traffic and approach what looks like a small city in the midst of corn fields.

 

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The main exhibit area is criss-crossed with gravel "roads". The area is two "blocks" east and west and nine "blocks" north and south. The e/w blocks are probably longer than a city block and the n/s a little shorter. There are lots of big tents as well as outdoor displays. There are also a number of permanent building on site. We walked between 4.5 and 5 miles looking at everything.

 

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In addition to the static displays, they have field test plots all around the main exhibit area. This allows the seed companies to show how their products grow and the machinery manufacturers can show how their machines perform under field conditions. Also, they have livestock working contests, a lawn mowing test plot, and other manufacturers can demonstrate things like GPS guidance, etc.
I saw this really big grain cart waiting to take in some of the harvest. I assume it has a 1500 bushel capacity from the model number. The unloading auger is at least 24" in diameter!

 

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As this is primarily an "ag" show, the big equipment is the primary focus. And this combine is really big! We measured the head to be about 45' across.

 

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Lawn mowers are also prominent here. I can recall at least a dozen manufacturers represented, including JD, NH, MF, Dixon, Grasshopper, Hustler, Land Pride, Exmark, Encore, Montana, Marty J, Dixie Chopper, Toro, Snapper, Warrior, Walker and probably a couple of others. We saw commercial riders up to 33hp with a 72" deck. Not big enough you say? Then try this one on for size! It has a 45' (yes that's FOOT) cut and weighs in at over 40,000 lbs! Unfortunately, it might leave some ugly tracks in your neatly manicured lawn!

 

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All of the major ag tractor manufacturers were well represented with large displays and usually one of almost every model. Agco had a large display with Agco, MF and Fendt all sharing the display. Most all of the major players have a large tent with parts displays, toys and apparel to buy and in some cases, on the spot financing. Agco had Roger Welsh, a local "personality" making appearances at their tent. Some of you may remember Roger from "Postcards from Nebraska" on the Sunday morning show that Charles Kauralt used to have on CBS. Roger has also written several humorous books dealing with antique tractors.
Here are the smaller Agco's lined up.

 

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Not to be outdone, NH had a very large display as well.
What do you think of the new "mega" model in the background?

 

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And on the other end of the NH spectrum, we have the mini's, and the sub-mini seen to the left!

 

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Here are the new Montana's.

 

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Here is the small end of the McCormick line. The smallest unit is about 35-40 hp, so kind of to the big end of CUT's.

 

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Conspicous by their absence were Kubota, Kioti, and Mahindra. Probably due to the fact that those companies don't have a really big ag presence. I apologize to the "green" fans in here, the JD factory rep was such a talkative guy, that I walked off without remembering to snap a picture. JD had a huge display complete with tractors, implements, Gators, industrial equipment, etc. I did manage to grab this pic of a JD 3320 (I think) with an aftermarket BH attached at another display.

 

[IMCA38]

There were literally dozens of ATV's and utility vehicles on display. Again, all of the major players (Honda, Suzuki, Polaris, Arctic Cat, Kawasaki, etc.) had factory backed displays. Here are some of Yamaha's offerings.

 

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Here is a Tony Stewart limited edition ATV from Arctic Cat. For some reason, racing and motorsports get major exposure here. Dodge, Toyota, and Ford all had big motorsports displays. There were also some other race cars, pulling tractors, monster trucks, etc at various places.

 

[IMCA38]

Speaking of pulling tractors, check this out...
A 4x4 pulling tractor powered by a stock 16hp Briggs engine. This was designed and built by the ag engineering department and the University of Nebraska. They compete in pulls against other colleges and universities. Supposedly, this thing will pull close to 4,000 lbs which is about five times it's own weight!

 

[RobS]

Good pics, thanks for posting Todd. Looks a lot like the Midwest Farm Progress show I was at last week. I suspect most of the displays were just moved from one to the other. Interesting that Kubota wasn't there. They had a huge display where I was. The only big name CUT manufacturer not at Midwest was Kioti.

Nothing like wandering around the big stuff, eh?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[hobbyfarm]

IMCA38,
I'm sooo jealous. When they have an "Ag Expo" down here, they display like "it was right out of their bank account".
Cheesy 3-4 tractor displays, etc. But, they do display more pickups than that. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not to be outdone, NH had a very large display as well.
What do you think of the new "mega" model in the background? )</font>

Personally, I believe that NH is full of air for that model. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif