Grand Ridge tractor ride pays tribute to James “Buddy” Naughton

James “Buddy” Naughton loved tractors.

Just days away from the Grand Ridge Community Festival’s annual tractor show and ride set for Saturday morning, Naughton’s widow Blanche knows Buddy would be spending his time washing and preparing his tractor for the ride.

To honor his enthusiasm and dedication to the event, this year’s ride will be in Buddy’s memory, said organizer Karen Ranger.

“He’s been going to it ever since it started,” Blanche said. “These were like vacation days for him. He’d take time away from his farm to go on the ride and spend hours with all the tractors in the show.”

Buddy, who farmed in rural Grand Ridge, died Oct. 14, 2019. Last year’s show was scheduled to be in his honor, but it was canceled because of the pandemic.

Buddy’s favorite tractor, a John Deere 4230 he bought brand new, will be part of the ride from Grand Ridge, to the Utica and Tonica areas, and back.

He started collecting tractors about 30 years ago, beginning with a Allis Chalmers WD45, noted as the first tractor with power steering. He had about a dozen antique tractors, Blanche said.

“He collected Allis Chalmers tractors, other than his John Deere, those were his favorites,” Blanche said.

Along with regularly attending the Grand Ridge Community Festival, he also would visit the Thresherman’s Reunion in Pontiac and participated in an antique tractor club.

Buddy worked at Owens-Illinois in Streator for a short time, but he farmed his whole life, Blanche said. He grew up on a farm about 1/2 mile from his home before he died.

“Farming was his life,” Blanche said.

Along with the tractor ride Saturday, tractors will be shown along Burlington Street in Grand Ridge on Friday and Sunday, and participate in the parade at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Registration for the tractor ride begins at 7 a.m. and the ride is scheduled from 8 a.m. to about 1 p.m. rain or shine. Lunch will be served. There will be a stop at Carey Memorial Park in Utica. The fee to enter is $20.

More than 100 tractors registered in 2019 for the roughly 40-mile ride, Ranger said. She will have her own restored 1947 Farmall tractor on display, she said. The tractor was painted purple in honor of her being a cancer survivor and gifted to her by her husband for her birthday.

Ranger said paying tribute to Buddy was an easy call, knowing he’d be there Saturday if he could.

“He spent a whole lot of time on these rides,” Ranger said. “He loved them.”

For more information call 815-488-6263 or 815-252-3406.