By the turn of the 20th century, America was changing fast. The frontier was settled, cities were growing, and horsepower was about to mean something entirely new. For decades, John Deere’s steel plows had transformed the soil. Now, the question was: what would pull them?

The answer roared to life in 1918, when Deere & Company purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company, maker of the Waterloo Boy tractor. It was Deere’s bold leap from blacksmith shop to machine shop — from muscle to motor. At a time when most farmers still relied on horses or steam, this gasoline-powered machine could plow four acres in the time it took a team of horses to cover one. The future had arrived on four iron wheels.

Through the 1920s and ’30s, Deere refined its tractors — adding power, reliability, and comfort. Models like the Model D and Model A became staples of American farms. The distinctive green and yellow color scheme became more than paint — it became a promise: that no matter the season, a Deere could handle the work.

As agriculture modernized, so did the company. Factories grew. Engineering teams expanded. And while horsepower replaced horse teams, the original spirit of problem-solving stayed the same — building machines that worked as hard as the people who ran them.