'Big Bud' goes on display in Independence

"Big Bud," the largest  farm tractor in the world, went on display in Eastern Iowa this morning. It'll be at the Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence through the end of July.

"It's going to be huge for visitors to our ag museum and for tourism in Iowa," said Mike McGill, the center's marketing director.

Built in 1977, the tractor the largest of more than 500 Big Bud tractors produced by the Northern Manufacturing Co. in Havre, Mont.

Specifically designed to deep-plow California cotton fields, Big Bud measures 27 feet long, 14 feet tall and 20 feet wide and weighs more than 130,000 pounds when fully fueled and rigged with ballast.

Its 16-cylinder Detroit Diesel engine can deliver more than 900 horsepower to its eight gigantic drive wheels, enabling it to plow an acre a minute at an 8 mph clip.

Though Big Bud's owners, Robert and Randy Williams, still farm with it in Chouteau County, Mont., its prowess will not be demonstrated during its Independence stay, McGill said.

Heartland Acres visitors will be able to inspect it and photograph each other with it from Monday through July 31 -- the longest tour stop the tractor has ever made.

For museum hours and admission fees, see

www.heartlandacresusa.com And for more on the tractor, check out

www.williamsbigbud.com