Big Bud, in the real world

A reader asked, in my comment section, "I am just a bit curious about what role Big Bud might actually have in the real world, like on a farm or something. I mean, can you see it pulling a harrow in a field of corn? Feeling a big cross this morning (3 am cat fights, raccoons galloping on the roof, that sort of thing)"

Well, you can click HERE to read the entire story of Big Bud and see that this was, indeed, a work tractor in the "real world".

"It was originally designed for the Rossi Brothers, cotton farmers in Bakersfield, California. The Rossi Brothers used the tractor for deep ripping. They owned and operated the 16-V747 for 11 years."

"After leaving the cotton farm of the Rossi Brothers the Big Bud found its way to Indlantic, Florida. The second owners, Willowbrook Farms, also used the tractor for deep ripping purposes. Willowbrook Farms retired the Big Bud and left it to rest.

In 1997 the Big Bud found its way back home to Montana, only 60 miles from where it was built. The Williams Brothers of Big Sandy, Montana purchased the tractor and brought it to their farm in Chouteau County. The Williams Brothers use the tractor for cultivation purposes, pulling an 80 foot cultivator. The tractor can work more than one acre per minute, at speeds up to 8 mph. Except its new paint job, chrome stacks, and a whopping 900 plus horsepower - the Big Bud looks like it did when it rolled out of the Northern Manufacturing Company building back in 1977."

So there you have it: Big Bud was custom-built for work on a big Montana ranch. He's retired now, and gets to show off to the "real world". He's earned it, I'd say.