Farmall 560 owned by Jerry Mez
Farmall 826 owned by Jerry Mez
Farmall 504 owned by Jerry Mez
This Farmall 1140 owned by Jerry Mez handles the grass-cutting duites at Farmall-Land USA.
Farmall-Land USA at dawn.
1-1 Farmall-Land USA is a museum in Avoca, Iowa that contains more than 150 International Harvester tractors and thousands of pieces of memorabilia.
1-2 This elevated tractor stands just outside the museum, and is visible from the road in front of the museum. Farmall-Land USA is located in far western Iowa, just a few hundred yards off of Interstate 80.
1-3 The facility is a 26,500 square-foot metal building that is heated and air conditioned. Farmall-Land USA is open Tuesday through Sunday during the summer, and available for visits by advance appointment in the winter.
1-4 Farmall-Land USA is owned by Jerry and Joyce Mez, who ran two area implement dealers for many years. The couple maintains the museum with help from 14 locals who staff the building and keep the tractors spotless. The museum gets about 5,000 visitors each year, and has had people travel from around the world to see the collection.
1-5 This super high-crop is a custom machine that Mez purchased for the collection.
1-6 The museum is packed with collectibles, and Jerry continues to find new items. “Every time he comes back from Red Power,” said museum staffer Jackie Jensen, “We never know what surprise he’s going to bring home.”
1-7 The collection of machines was amassed during Mez’ 40-year career managing Avoca Implement. He bought machines that seemed interesting, and had his crew at the shop do the mechanical restoration during downtime.
1-8 The collection of memorabilia is broad and interesting, and includes a large selection of die-casts. Mez is always on the hunt for something new. “He brought home a motorcycle and we have that on display,” museum staff member Jackie Jensen said. “His eye just catches things that he thinks would be an asset to the museum.”
1-9 Mez has a large number of machines from the 1960s and 1970s, including these V-8-powered machines, a 1468 and 1568.
1-10 Mez’ father, Max, started Avoca Implement in 1943. The family has been in the area since that time, and also operated another dealership in Greenfield, Iowa.
1-11 The scope and quantity of the machines in this collection are nearly unrivaled in the world of IHC tractor collecting. Serious enthusiasts can spend several days in the facility.
1-12 The 4100 and 1962 4300 are two rare machines in the collection. The 4300 is one of 36 built, and is powered by an 817-cubic-inch 200-horsepower engine.
1-13 The 4300 is particularly rare because most of the machines were used hard by construction companies. Very few survive today.
1-14 The collection is mainly farm tractors, but a few IH trucks are included as well.
1-15 The main portion of the museum was built in 2005, and an addition was added in 2009.
1-16 The collection has several 1206s, including a 1966 model that was originally sold by Max Mez at Avoca Implement. Jerry bought it back from the original owner in 1988.
