John Deere Evolution: The Design and Engineering of an American Icon

As seen in the Wall Street Journal! The story includes a surprising amount of intrigue. --Peter Saenger, WSJ, March 12, 2022.

John Deere Evolution is a gold winner for the 2022 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award in both History and Cover Design - Large Format.

The most powerful green tractors on earth take center stage in this stunningly crafted book that shines a spotlight on the modern machines that feed our planet. These fascinating machines get treated as objects of art, and are photographed and lovingly lit in custom-built studios, dark barns and sheds, or bathed in sunlight. The gorgeous images are accompanied with concept drawings, archival photography, and text explaining how the machines were designed and built. This encyclopedic work contains examples of every model line built by John Deere since 1919.

Never-before-published drawings and images of secret prototypes as well as production tractors are accompanied by entertaining stories from the engineers and industrial designers who created the machines. Within these pages you will find the story of the rotary engine Deere, top secret combines, and the tractor spy who got caught at one of the most important product launches in green tractor history.

This beautiful book offers fresh insight into the evolution and design of an American icon, from the original two-cylinders to the modern muscle tractors.

Lee Klancher's career encompasses more than 30 years of publishing great stories. As an editor and publisher, he has overseen the development of some of the most-respected and best-selling books in the transportation niche. A prolific author and photographer, Lee has contributed words and images to more than 30 books as well as dozens of national magazines including Men's Journal, Draft, and Motorcyclist.

A book junkie and an obsessive student of his craft, Lee has also taught writing and photography at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He is best known for his award-winning books and calendars covering farm tractors, including Red Tractors and Red 4WD Tractors. He has rented an abandoned air force base to create a book cover, and built a custom 20x40-foot studio to photograph 30 of the most valuable John Deeres in private hands. He and his camera have climbed the Julian Alps, explored breweries on four continents, and ridden backcountry motorcycle routes in the Bolivian Amazon, the Australian Outback, and on the island of Hokkaido, Japan.

When not working on a book or a photo shoot, Lee busies himself biking, reading, and enjoying good food and craft beer. Lee lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Joan as well as their dog, Red.