One hundred years ago, the first production-model Temple farm tractor was fired up, put in gear and driven through a nearby field.
The Prairie Queen was born, and its owners hoped the powerful gas-powered tractor would plow under the competition.
That didnât happen.
While John Deere, Ford, Farmall, Cat and others made thousands of tractors, Prairie Queen Manufacturing Co. made considerably fewer. Like five. Six if you count the prototype.
According to an article in the Temple Daily Telegram, the Prairie Queen company was formed in January 1920 by three
Temple residents â John Zoop, J. Walter Pane and W.A. Harrell. Harrell was advertising manager of the Telegram at the time.