to be an inspiration for agriculture.” The museum is home to the Heidrick Tractor Collection, a celebrated assemblage of more than 60 machines that Fred and Joe Heidrick began curating in the early 1900s. The brothers would invent and restore tractors and farming equipment, from the 1890 Deering Reaper—one of the first mechanical pieces of equipment used in grain harvest—to dozens of Holts, John Deeres, Caterpillars, Allis Chalmers and beyond. Heidrick’s granddaughter, remembering her childhood playing among those tractors, said she never realized the machines were rare or special. To her, they were just the rustic playground she was able to climb on and over as a kid. “Grandpa never told us to get off the machines, or to stay out of the barns,” she recalled, in a quote on the museum’s website. “We climbed all over, breathing in the greasy smell of the barns and shop as if it were a fine floral bouquet.” From plows to progress That collection of tractors became the marquee attraction of the Heidrick Ag History Center, which opened in the late ’90s and was run by the Heidrick Museum Foundation. In 2015, the Heidrick Ag History Center expanded to become the California Agriculture Museum, which recently became a nonprofit organization and began offering free admission to everyone. The equipment in the museum follows the progression of farming, from hand plowing to horse- drawn to diesel-powered to ethanol-infused. Beyond tractors, the museum is committed to telling the story of the water cycle and soil as well as the entire farming process, from planting to harvesting to distribution. “One of our big things is restoration. We like to not only look at history, but restore it and preserve it and continue it on,” Gonzalez said. “We have a group of volunteers who are retired and they’re all mechanics and engineers or farmers and they will restore the tractors and bring them to new.” From a historical perspective, the equipment offers a valuable window into the hard work undertaken and the progress that was made by previous generations of farmers. However, agriculture is not purely history in the Sacramento area. Sacramento and Woodland, the town where the museum is located, remain leaders in agricultural production. Woodland was founded with a vision
that the town would become a bustling agricultural trade center as one of the most nutrient-rich areas in the country. And farms in the greater Sacramento area—producing rice, tomatoes, grapes, olives, peaches, pears, almonds, walnuts and more—have placed the region among the top 20 areas in the country for commodity production. And it is within the walls of the 45,000-square- foot museum, in between combines and crawlers and wheels that once helped cultivate soils, that visitors are reminded of its importance.
More than a museum Of course, the folks at the California Agriculture Museum value play as
“One of our big things is restoration. We like to not only look at history, but restore it and preserve it and continue it on.” Cecilia Gonzalez Executive Director, California Agriculture Museum
much as hard work, which is why they invite the public to utilize the space for
special occasions. From quinceanera celebrations to youth birthday parties to wedding receptions and ceremonies, the space offers a fun backdrop for special, celebratory moments. In addition to offering space for special events, the museum hosts its
own. During the Christmas holiday season, tractors are decorated with festive lights and Santa makes a visit. And in the fall, the museum hosts a family- friendly fundraiser complete with bounce houses, face painting, brews and, of course, tractors. For those everyday visits, when locals plan to explore the area’s past or visitors exit Interstate 5 for a pit stop, the museum offers memorabilia, light snacks and drinks in its gift shop. And on weekends, it pops up complimentary popcorn for visitors. “That’s a hit with parents and kids,” Gonzalez said.
Learn more about the California Agriculture Museum, including hours
and location, at californiaagmuseum.org .
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