Classic Green Draws Global Audience to West Bend and Beyond

Last week, the Classic Green Reunion rolled into Washington County and left a lasting impression on West Bend and the surrounding area.

From June 12–14, the Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center became a hub for more than 10000 John Deere collectors, enthusiasts, vendors, and spectators. Over 1,000 tractors were on display, as well as exhibits of engines, toys, memorabilia, and other John Deere equipment.

But the event was more than just a showcase of green and yellow. It was a celebration of heritage, community, and connection that stretched far beyond city lines.

“This event is really about the people it brings together,” said West Bend-area John Deere collector Travis Krueger, who also served as Co-Chair of the event’s Field Demonstrations. “That’s why it’s called a reunion.”

A Global Crowd, A Local Spotlight

This marked the first time Wisconsin hosted the Classic Green Reunion. Previous reunions took place in Lebanon, Tennessee; Columbus, Ohio; and Grand Island, Nebraska. With the City of West Bend’s proximity to the Washington County fairgrounds (just 10 minutes north), the 2025 event also allowed participants from across the globe to experience all that the City has to offer. Exhibitors came from all over the nation (from Florida to Washington and Oregon) and even beyond — including Sweden — to enjoy the camaraderie and displays, and to take in a little of West Bend on the side.

For Krueger and others in the area, it was a point of pride to be able to showcase West Bend to a global audience. Krueger lives on a farm near Kohlsville but has a West Bend address. His family has lived and farmed in Washington County for seven generations.

“People were seeing West Bend and the surrounding area probably for the first time ever, and we’re proud to have them be part of the community,” said Krueger.

With thousands of visitors filling hotels, restaurants, and local shops in the area, the Classic Green Reunion delivered a noticeable boost to the local economy. It also gave West Bend a chance to showcase its best: a vibrant downtown and riverwalk, endless acres of pristine parks, and a thriving shopping, arts, restaurant, and culture scene.

Generations in Gear

For many, including Krueger, the Classic Green Reunion was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Krueger owns a small collection: six tractors. By comparison, some who attended own collections in the hundreds. Still, the hobby is equally rewarding for him and his family.

Krueger got “the bug” when he was young and his neighbors would take him to tractor shows. He then introduced the hobby to his children — two sons and a daughter — when they were little. Each now in their teens, Krueger’s children already own their own tractors. Vivian, his youngest who is in seventh grade, was gifted her tractor when she entered fifth grade and can operate it flawlessly.

“She started driving a John Deere Gator at age 7. It’s a progression from the Gator to the tractor,” Krueger said with a laugh. “The kids want to be part of the show just like anybody else. They have pride in owning their own tractors, and we like to encourage that.”

Vivian left her tractor at home for the Classic Green but instead exhibited a neighbor’s Model B, even driving it in the parade on Friday. The tractor was originally shipped to Jackson, WI in 1941 and has never left Washington County. Krueger’s high school-aged sons, meanwhile, exhibited their “sibling” 1940 John Deere  Model A’s at the event (the serial numbers are only six numbers apart, which means they were built on the same day).

Points of Pride

And as a perfect capstone to the weekend, Krueger experienced a memorable moment with a truly historic machine. He connected in person with a fellow collector from Minnesota—someone he’d only previously known through the Classic Green online discussion board. The Minnesotan lent his niche expertise to help Krueger fire up his neighbor’s long-silent Model D John Deere, which hadn’t run in 25 years. Originally shipped to the West Bend area in the fall of 1926, the tractor has remained on the same farm ever since and may be the oldest John Deere tractor in all of Washington County.

“It was thrilling to get it started,” said Krueger. “It just shows what a global community this is. I’m proud to have been part of the show, and proud to help share West Bend and Washington County with the rest of the world.”