Tractors
The first tractors were steam-powered machines that came into use on farms around 1850. In 1892, John Froelich invented and built the first gasoline-powered tractor in Clayton County, Iowa. Tractors have revolutionized farming in much of the world.
While you visit the Forest Home Farm make sure to take some time out to visit the tractor exhibit and see and important part of agricultural history.
If you are interested in more detailed information about tractors in general, and the tractors we have at Forest Home Farm please download this PDF put together for us by Tony Hurt, Forest Home Farms volunteer for many years before his passing.
Take a look at a walk-through of a full tractor restoration here.
Farm Equipment
Forest Home Farms has a small collection of hit-and-miss and throttle-governed farm engines, most located in the tractor museum. These engines range from 3/4 to 6 horsepower. These antique, hit-and- miss and throttle-governed engines are typically made of cast iron, generally have one cylinder, two large flywheels, and look very much like the steam engines they replaced.
Come visit us at Forest Home Farms on Saturdays when we’re having an event and open to the public, giving tours and tractor rides, generally from 10:00AM – 2:00PM. Check the events page on our website for those upcoming events. We’ll be happy to show you these engines in operation, up close and personal.
For more information please download our booklet put together by Ron Frye, Forest Home Farms volunteer, to read more about the specifics of the engines we have available to see.