Submitted Photo Dave Lebrun, crop coordinator for the Ward County Historical Society, plants the first Pioneer Village crop this past week, consisting of grass and oats. The tractor is a 1953 International “M,” pulling a 12-foot Van Brunt, which is nearly 100 years old. John Deere bought the Van Brunt grain-drill manufacturing plant in 1911. In 1958 the Van Brunt name was no longer on the drills. To operate the drill with no available hydraulics at the time of manufacturing, a mechanical system was made to enable the operator to use pull ropes to engage and disengage the seeding. WCHS is creating a test plot to see if it can provide farming with antique machinery for its visitors. During the summer of 2023, a more leveled ground area had been created at the Pioneer Village at Burlington.