Big Bud is scheduled to leave the Heartland Museum in Clarion — the place it has called home for eight years — on Monday.

It will be returning to its owners, the Williams Brothers in Montana.

Originally, Big Bud was only supposed to stay in Clarion for a short time of three months or so, but due to the deterioration of the tires, it has remained in place all of this time.

In July, Big Bud received a new set of shoes, thanks to Titan Tire. It is ready to head back west.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Braylynn Gregor, 8 of Kilkenny, Minnesota, sits in the rim of the tire of Big Bud at the Heartland Museum in Clarion. Melody Lager, president of the board of directors for Heartland Museum, said sitting inside the tractor’s 8-foot diameter tire is a favorite for kids to do.

“The tires were shot, it could not go anywhere,” said Melody Lager, president of the board of directors for Heartland Museum. “There is nobody that builds them. A conversation started and new tires were built.”

According to information found on Big Bud’s website, Paul Beckstrand, a visitor to the Heartland Museum, noticed there was a split tire he thought he could repair. Beckstrand contacted Big Bud’s caretaker, Larry Maasdam, who then contacted the owners.

After permission was given for Beckstrand, an employee of Janesville Tire Service in Minnesota, to repair the tire, he went to work. He removed the tire and after closer examination, the tire was deemed unrepairable.

It was then that Beckstrand suggested to the Williams Brothers that possibly Titan International in Des Moines could be of assistance.

After a meeting with Scott Sloan at Titan Tire, a plan was made that Titan International, Inc., manufacturer of Titan Tires, Titan Wheels and Goodyear Farm Tires, would build Big Bud new tires. The Williams Brothers would pay for rims, inserts and spacers; Wold Rim and Wheel would build the inserts and spacers and the Janesville Tire Team would put on the tires.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Justin Gregor, Bralynn Gregor and Autumn Havlick, all of Kilkenny, Minnesota, made the climb up to Big Bud’s cab while seeing the tractor before it leaves its current home in Clarion at the Heartland Museum to Montana.

The largest ag tractor in the world is now outfitted with eight of the largest ag tires in the world — the first-ever dual configuration with Goodyear Optitrac LSW1400/30R46 tires.

“What a relief it was to Paul, Scott, Robert and Randy when everything went so smoothly,” the family said on their website. “It was awesome to see them take the world’s largest farm tractor for a drive down the street in Clarion with the world’s largest ag tires. It took a lot of coordination and we appreciate everyone involved in making this happen. Maybe we’ll have to bring it out of retirement.”

Big Bud took up three and a half lanes on Iowa Highway 3 during the quick drive.

Big Bud has been one of Heartland Museum’s most popular exhibits these past eight years.

“We were very happy to have him here all these years,” said Lager. “We’ve tried to convince them to leave it here, but we do understand it can go back in the field. It is going back home, we will miss it.”

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Justin Gregor of Kilkenny, Minnesota, looks over the world’s largest tractor, Big Bud. Gregor said he has seen Big Bud once before, but wanted to get one last look before the tractor is sent back to Montana.

Lager said the tractor has brought in over 2,000 visitors in August since the announcement was made it would be leaving.

With that type of traffic, Lager is hopeful word will get out about the museum’s extensive collection of other tractors and farm equipment on display so those people will want to return and tell others to come and visit.

“He has been, really the star of our show and the big draw,” she said. “We are hoping that now, more people realize we are more than Big Bud, with other tractors, horse buggies and more. There is something for everybody.”

Justin Gregor of Kilkenny, Minnesota, made the trip to Clarion to get a last chance look at Big Bud.

“I seen Big Bud in Independence before, I wanted to come to Clarion to see him before he leaves,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Melody Lager, president of the board of directors for Heartland Museum, helps to commemorate Justin Gregor, Autumn Havlick and Bralynn Gregor’s trip to the museum by taking their photo in front of the world’s largest tractor, Big Bud. Big Bud is expected to leave Clarion on Monday.

About Big Bud

The Big Bud 16V 747 tractor was built in 1977 in Havre, Montana, to produce 760 horsepower using a 16-cylinder Detroit Diesel engine.

Big Bud measures 27-feet long, 20-feet wide and is 14 feet tall and sits on 8-foot diameter tires.

When the 1,000 gallon fuel tank is full, Big Bud weighs over 100,000 pounds.

The tractor was originally designed for the Rossi Brothers who were cotton farmers in Bakersfield, California, where they used Big Bud for deep ripping for 11 years.

Big Bud then moved to Indlantic, Florida, to Willowbrook Farms for deep ripping purposes as well.

In 1997, Big Bud made his way back to Montana, only 60 miles from where it was built and was purchased by the Williams Brothers where they used it for cultivation purposes — pulling an 80-foot cultivator.

For the last 20 years, Big Bud has toured many farms and museums.

The Heartland Museum is open Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the last admission at 2 p.m. Or by appointment.