A book that looks at the 20-year business battle to develop and introduce the tractor in the U.S. is getting another honor. “Tractor Wars,” written by Neil Dahlstrom is one of the must-read books by the Illinois Reads program.
Illinois Reads is a statewide initiative launched by the Illinois Center for the Book and the Illinois Reading Council. It promotes literacy for all Illinois residents by selecting annual lists of books by Illinois authors across six age groups. It culminates with a statewide Family Reading Night to encourage reading and author engagement.
“Tractor Wars” is one of the honored books in the adult section of Illinois Reads.
In his book, Mr. Dahlstrom – a local researcher, historian and writer and John Deere archivist – looks at how the tractor many farmers know today got its start. It looks at how Deere, Ford and International Harvester were major players in an almost-forgotten battle to bring power machinery to the farm.
“It’s an honor to be recognized with so many Illinois authors. And I’m thrilled that ‘Tractor Wars,’ which features an important era of Quad Cities history, continues to reach a broader audience,” Mr. Dahlstrom told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal.
“Saturday night I was nervous for the first time in a long time. I’ve never been comfortable with recognition, and Saturday was a meet-and-greet for the 2026 Illinois Reads … ‘Tractor Wars’ is honored as a 2026 pick,” Mr. Dahlstrom wrote on LinkedIn on Monday, Dec. 8.
This is the latest honor for the local author’s tractor history book. Last year, a documentary based on a book by best-selling author Mr. Dahlstrom was aired as part of Iowa Public Television’s Festival 2024.
Mr. Dahlstrom’s other books include “The John Deere Story: A Biography of Plowmakers John and Charles Deere” and “Lincoln’s Wrath: Fierce Mobs, Brilliant Scoundrels, and a President’s Mission to Destroy the Press.”
