About the Museum
Step into a world where the past meets the present, where the humble tractor becomes a symbol of innovation, perseverance, and the backbone of agricultural progress. Nestled in the heart of Walton County, our museum will act as a tribute to the rich agricultural heritage that has shaped our community and is the largest collection of John Deere tractors in the world.
Our Mission
Dedicated to preserving the history of farming and tractors, we are committed to providing an educational and immersive experience for visitors of all ages. Our approach focuses on showcasing the evolution of agricultural technology and its impact on society. Once funds from the initial campaign are raised to pay for the collection and building, all profits collected from the museum will be donated to the FFA Chapters in Walton County.
Heritage and Legacy
Founded by passionate tractor enthusiast Dr. James Sheppard, the Walton County Tractor Museum stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of farming.
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Retired physician Dr. James Sheppard turned a passion for restoring John Deere tractors into a legacy. Through this passion, he collected and restored more than 150 vintage tractors including just about every John Deere tractor built from the 1918 Waterloo Boy to the end of the two cylinders in 1960 and even a 1920s era Best 60 logging tractor, one of the rarest of the tractors he has collected and restored over a period of 50 plus years.
Originally raised on a small farm near Dothan, Alabama, Dr. Sheppard recalls his first experience with a tractor purchased by his family when he was only 11 years-old. Like other farmers of that time period, Dr. Sheppard says his dad traded in two mules for their first John Deere.
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Most notably, he shares, "I fell in love with the tractor because it was the single instrument that lifted us out of the pits of poverty.”
From sharecroppers to owning the farm they worked on, Dr. Sheppard says the John Deere changed their lives. Over the past 50 years, Dr. Sheppard has visited 42 states and Canada looking for old John Deere and Caterpillar tractors to restore, but says he found more than just farm equipment along the way, he unearthed life's true gift.
Goal For the Collection
Through fundraising efforts, the Walton County FFA Tractor Museum is working to raise $3.5 million. This will be split to pay Dr. Sheppard $1.5 million for the collection and $2 million for a structure to house the collection, consisting of 60,000 sp. ft.
The tractor collection was appraised at $5.25 million. Dr Sheppard agreed to donate $3.75 million to the Walton County FFA Tractor Museum.
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The museum will be located on the Walton County Agriculture Center property in Walton County, FL.
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The 501(c)(3) status was approved by the IRS on December 17, 2024. We welcome any and all donations.
