John Deere’s six decades of business in the UK and Ireland will be marked with a special class at this year’s Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show in Nottinghamshire, England. 

Dozens of exhibits from across the UK will compete to catch the eyes of judges who will single out the ‘Best John Deere in Show’ on Saturday, November 7.

Visitors will also get to see the evolution of the brand’s most popular models, with John Deere 4020 from 1966 being shown alongside a modern-day 6 Series, which was launched in June of this year.

The show takes place at the Newark Showground on November 7-8.

Exhibitor entries are open, and the full range of ticketing options – including camping – are on sale. 

Collector

Among those hoping to take home the coveted John Deere title is Lockerbie collector Danny Key, who will travel more than 300 miles with a selection of tractors from his growing collection.

He will be joined by friend and fellow enthusiast David Kerr, whose painstakingly restored John Deere 3120 claimed the Best John Deere in Show award last year.

“A group of us travel down from Scotland every year and stay in the same accommodation and we’re like a family now,” Kerr said.

Key has been collecting John Deere machinery for 14 years and credits his growing collection to a piece of wisdom passed onto him by Kerr.

Key said: “He told me that they don’t make them anymore, so if you see something then try to buy it if you can afford it."

Collection

Key has built a collection over the years, with his number of tractors reaching double figures.

He said: “I like to keep them in their original condition as much as I can.

Some of the machines are being used for farm work.

Key said: “I have 5ac that I put barley into every year, and I do some combining and baling for other people too.

“I own a 1065 John Deere combine and recently bought a 545 round baler, which I’m hoping to bring to Newark.”

The centrepiece of his collection is an 1140 – a classic utility tractor built in the 1980s, and the machine he credits with kick-starting his passion for John Deere.

“I worked on a farm as a young boy while I was still at school and they mainly had Fergusons, but they had one John Deere tractor which was the 1140, and I always liked it better.

“It was the first John Deere I ever drove and I managed to buy that exact one in an auction 100 miles away," he explained.

Key plans to bring his 1020, 2120, and 2140 John Deere tractors to the show.

“The 2120 is special because ‘Key’ is my surname and that happens to be on its original number plate,” he said.

The 3120 is fitted with a rare Sta-Dri cab, was rescued from a wreck in Ashford, Kent, and restored to its former glory by Key in a labour of love that took 14 years to complete.

Milestone

Chris Wiltshire, John Deere’s tactical marketing manager, said: “Our 60^th anniversary in the UK and Ireland is a huge milestone for the business.

The Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show brings together one of the UK’s most diverse collections of working heritage machinery, attracting exhibitors and visitors from across Britain and beyond.

Exhibits include tractors, plant, commercials, horticulture, stationary engines and implements, with expert judges travelling from across the country to award prizes to the best on show.

Entries are open across all classes. Exhibitors must enter by September 16.

Timely submission is encouraged.

The Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show is organised by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, a charity whose main objective it to promote and champion agriculture throughout Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands region.