About This Issue
By Jason Hasert

July is a time to celebrate red, white and blue. Being born in 1976 started a pattern of events that have transpired in my life surrounding patriotism. Not only was I born during our country's bicentennial, but also I share my birth date, January, 17 with one of our outstanding founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin. Growing up in Western New York, I was surrounded by many farmers and I saw how they embodied the American spirit with their hard work. I grew to love tractors by watching farmers working in the fields. I even learned my colors by seeing red Internationals, white CASES and blue Fords working on neighbor's farms.

From New York, my career took me to Washington D.C. to work in the United States capitol and onto Kentucky where I met the love of my life. Stefanie and I were married on July 2nd in our hometown of Hopkinsville, Kentucky with a patriotic wedding theme that once again followed the patriotic trend. The sparks were flying as we celebrated in an All-American fashion. Our joyful day included a few red, white and blue tractors. As the owners of the Toy Tractor Times, we, of course, had a few tractors on hand at the wedding.

It just so happens that this year's Toy Tractor Times anniversary tractor will have another connection to the patriotic pattern in my life. Another hint as to the identity of the 2005 Toy Tractor Times anniversary model is that this tractor manufacturer not only produced tractors, but was also a pioneer in the manufacturing of cars in the early 1900's.

With my patriotic birthday, I have always been interested in bicentennial tractors and have made a special place in my collection for red, white and blue machines. I have wanted to feature 1976 tractors in the Toy Tractor Times for several years. With a July 4th weekend wedding, it was a good time to pull out some of my favorite tractors. As you can see on this month's cover of the Toy Tractor Times, Oliver, Massey Ferguson, CASE and Steiger all celebrated the American spirit with unique paint schemes on their tractors during the 1970's. This month we will take a closer look at these special tractors.

Traditionally, July has been a time to celebrate the "amber waves of grain" and the machines that bring in bountiful wheat harvests. This year we continue on with the tradition in a big way with live action videos of toy combines and the real McCoy. Look for this month's mini movie which features ERTL's new 1/64 John Deere 7720 harvesting wheat plus bonus video of the Young family farm in Herndon, KY as they harvest wheat and bale straw. We also have a feature on Garnett Farms of Hopkinsville, KY as they bring in 5500 acres of wheat and drill in soy beans right behind. If you like big John Deere Combines and Four Wheel Drives, be sure to check out this article. Another interesting combine article comes from Gordy Shultz this month on the development of the White rotary combine and its transition to the Massey Ferguson line and into a modern AGCO machine.

Not only are we are celebrating all-American tractors and harvesting in the magazine this month, but also Stefanie and I announcing the ground breaking of the new headquarters for the Toy Tractor Times. Bulldozing began this month of the new home of the Toy Tractor Times on a wooded lot just south of Hopkinsville. The lot is a part of Stefanie's great-grandparent's farm making this a sacred place for a farm related business. We look forward to many years of celebration of our hobby at the new headquarters where we plan to hold an annual Toy Tractor Times Anniversary Tractor Picnic. This will be a great time for friends and collectors to get together for fun "Times."

Until the Next Times..............

Jay