What could be more All-American than a tractor show? Coal smoke billowing, flags flying, brats grilling, happy kids in a barrel train: It’s as American as the Fourth of July.
But tractor shows can be All-Portuguese or All-Slovenian, too.
If you’re interested in tractors at all, you’ve heard of European brands like Deutz, Fendt and Fiat. European marques like Belarus, David Brown and Zetor have earned cult followings in certain parts of the country.
But just as we have dozens of now-defunct American brands to study and enjoy, Europe has its own tractor history, one made colorful by varied national traditions. Thanks to YouTube videos, it’s easy to learn about them while taking in a European tractor show from the comfort of your easy chair.
Grab a remote and get comfortable
Farm Collector makes it easy to get started with a collection of 100 representative videos of shows from 24 European countries (visit farmcollector.com/Eurotour). The videos range from strictly homemade to quite professional, but even those filmed using a cell phone can show rare tractors in picturesque settings. Once you’ve sampled a few, you may want to dig deeper.
A few tips – like searching using the local language – will deliver the best results. Search for “Czech tractor shows,” for instance, and you’ll get listings. Search
