Preserving North Carolina’s IH Legacy Through Social Media The Stories, People, and Dealerships That Built It
From July/August 2026
By Farmall51
Hello Red Power Fans, Farmall51 here and Happy 250th Birthday AMERICA!!!! This is an exciting time in our Nation’s History celebrating 250 years of Freedom. In 1976, International Harvester made a pretty big deal with the “Spirit of 76” themed Scout and Cub Cadet 76 mower.
I’d like to share with you a little project I have been working on for the last few years. At this year’s IHC Winter Convention in Clemmons, North Carolina, I was able to share some of my research on North Carolina IH dealerships. For the past three years or more, I have been gathering information, photographs, conducting interviews, and tracking down former North Carolina IH employees to document their stories. Most of the men and women who worked at IH from the 1960s through the merger are now in their 70s and 80s, and I believe it is important that we preserve as much of their knowledge and experience as possible before that valuable source of information is gone forever. I still regret missing the opportunity to interview several members of our IH chapter who have passed away in recent years.
Their memories and experiences have given a direct connection to an important part of our agricultural history here in North Carolina. Throughout this project, I have relied on many sources, including old newspaper archives, North Carolina historical records available online, and the IH Dealerships of the Past website.