Heritage Tractor’s Traveling Tractor to Donate $1,000 to Galesburg FFA Chapter

Heritage Tractor, a local John Deere dealership with 40 locations in Illinois, Eastern Kansas, Western Missouri, and Northern Arkansas, plans to donate to 20 different charitable organizations during their summer Traveling Tractor Tour. The Heritage Tractor team will gather on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, to present a check for $1,000 to Galesburg FFA Chapter.

The Traveling Tractor started in Roanoke, Illinois earlier this summer, and will travel across Illinois—more than 600 miles—stopping to donate to 20 charities along the way. Employees from each location voted for a charitable organization in their community earlier this year. The Galesburg team tallied the votes and Galesburg FFA Chapter came out on top.

The Galesburg FFA Chapter is an intra-curricular youth organization at Galesburg High School that prepares students for leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. By combining classroom instruction with hands-on learning experiences and competitive events, the chapter equips its members with real-world skills. From developing sustainable Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) to engaging in local community development initiatives, Galesburg FFA actively empowers the next generation of leaders, advocates, and agricultural professionals.

The John Deere 8R tractor dons two flags: an American flag and a 250 tribute flag to symbolize the fact that our communities, filled with hardworking Americans, are what make up the fabric of the nation. As an American company that sells American-made equipment, Heritage Tractor prides themselves on being part of these communities.

The company has a simplistic focus statement that they call the “Heart of Heritage.” Their heart as a business is centered around three things: their coworkers, their customers, and their communities. This idea is not a new one, but rather something that the founder placed in the highest regard and instilled in both coworkers and fellow owners.

“Our devotion to people stretches far outside the walls of our stores. Yes, we place a high value on providing high-quality equipment and expert service, but it’s more than that,” says Derek Dummermuth, owner, and CEO. “We also want to see our people succeed—our employees, our customers, and the communities they all call home. This initiative is just a small nod to that.”

The company continues to support many other local organizations throughout the year including area schools, FFAs and fairs. The Traveling Tractor donations are an increase over the current annual giving to local events.

About Heritage Tractor Heritage Tractor is a full-service John Deere dealership that provides agricultural and outdoor equipment as well as OEM parts and certified service. Our company was founded in 1998 and today is a leading John Deere dealer worldwide focused on our coworkers, customers, and the communities they serve. Today, Heritage Tractor employs more than 1,000 employees across 40 locations in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.