Fields & Fenders | Issue 07
Welcome to the September Edition of Fields & Fenders!
There’s something about September that naturally makes us pause and reflect on the season behind us while planning for the year ahead. From vintage tractors gathering in the autumn light to classic trucks rolling down country roads, the sights of fall remind us why we capture and preserve this history. This month, we’re excited to share a personal throwback from our design , give you an exclusive preview of our 2027 calendar collection, and remind you to get those final photo contest entries in before the deadline!
— The Fields & Fenders Team
Back by popular demand! Upgrade Your Collection & Score a Free Pocket Knife!
Whether you're looking for your next deep-dive read, filling gaps in your back issue collection, or picking out a detailed diecast model for your display shelf, now is the perfect time to explore everything our store has to offer. Use code KNIFE at checkout
This September, we’re featuring our full lineup of gift shop merchandise—from our extensive book collection covering rail, buses, wildland fire apparatus, and classic machinery, to rare back issues and diecast models in our collectibles section. Whatever you need for your workbench, display shelf, or coffee table, there's plenty to choose from.
Special Fields & Fenders Offer: To thank our readers, we’re including a FREE pocket knife with any gift shop order over $50 (before shipping)! It’s a handy, reliable tool to keep in your pocket, shop, or glovebox—and it will be added to your order at no extra cost when you reach $50. Use code KNIFE at checkout.
Head over to our GIFT SHOP today to explore the selection and claim your free gift while supplies last!
Note: Offer applies to all gift shop merchandise (books, back issues, diecast models, and calendar) on orders over $50 before shipping. Magazine subscriptions are excluded from this promotion.
Contributor’s corner
Memories from the Field: A Look Back with Antique Power Designer Michael Adkins
I didn't grow up on a farm or around heavy machinery, but tractors still managed to shape my childhood. When my parents bought our home in 1990 (I was 12 years old), the previous owners left behind a 1948 Case VAC equipped with a Woods belly mower—a scene captured in this photo, which graced the back cover of Antique Power magazine in the September/October 2018 issue (Vol. 30: No. 6). In the picture, the Case rests in the field while my collie, Ranger, surveys the area.
Taking care of six acres with that machine felt like an absolute eternity, routinely taking four to five hours just to finish the job. The brakes were sketchy at best, which made parking a bit of a nail-biter. We stored it in the basement of our barn, and every single time I rolled it down that slight incline toward the entrance, I held my breath hoping I wouldn't hit anything. Thankfully, I never did.
Mowing all those hours meant finding ways to pass the time, which led to one of my favorite memories. Out in the middle of the field, thinking no one could hear me over the roar of the engine, I’d belt out enthusiastically loud renditions of the national anthem. I know I can't sing, but I put my heart into it anyway—until the day I looked over and realized my dad had quietly driven up beside me in his sandrail, watching the whole performance. We had a great laugh about it then, and it still makes me smile today.
photo Michael Adkins
Looking back at this picture of our old Case, Ranger, and the home I grew up in reminds me that behind every piece of vintage iron is a story worth keeping. With Antique Power’s annual photo contest coming to a close at the end of this month, I want to encourage everyone to keep snapping photos. Capturing these moments preserves our shared history and keeps our best memories alive for years to come.
Got a photo and a memory of your own? We’d love to see it! Be sure to submit your entries to the photo contest before the end of the month, or send us your vintage tractor or truck stories and photos to be featured in an upcoming issue of the magazine or on our social media pages.
Behind the Lens: Inside the 2027 Truck Calendar
As the photographer and photography editor for our third annual Vintage Pickups and Classic Trucks calendar, I have a great time taking the pictures you see on each page, and I must admit that choosing the trucks from my archives is a lot of fun, too. The only hard part is deciding which trucks to feature and which to put aside for later consideration.
I use the same formula for the calendar that we try to apply to every issue of Vintage Truck magazine itself. The Big Three must be represented, of course, so the 2027 edition features a solid mix of some beautiful Fords (a 1967 F-350 dump truck, 1977 Bronco, and 1987 F-250 with super-rare Bigfoot package), GMs (a 1958 Chevrolet Suburban NAPCO 4X4 and 1969 GMC Fenderside), and Dodges (a 1938 RE-31 and 1967 D-100 CSS).
What look at American truck history would be complete without some models from International Harvester (a 1924 Red Baby and 1962 Scout 80 Pickup)? The Independents (a 1941 Diamond T and 1959 Jeep FC-150) haven’t been forgotten, either!
If you’ve been keeping count until now, you’ll notice that leaves one slot to fill from one of my favorite categories, the “oddball.” This year’s “what the heck is that?” entry is a 1964 Volkswagen Type 2—an extremely rare and beautifully restored example of the dropside pickup that was taxed out of existence in the United States to prevent the German manufacturer from hurting domestic light-duty truck brands.
What favorite makes and models would you like to see in our future editions of the Vintage Pickups and Classic Trucks calendars? Let us know in the comments section of “Your Voice” below.
Ordering Details & Tractor Edition
Vintage Pickups & Classic Trucks 2027 Wall Calendar ($17.95 | Item: VTCAL27): 16-month wall calendar (12x12 inches, opens to 12x24) featuring photography directly from Vintage Truck's own Brad Bowling.
Classic Tractors 2027 Wall Calendar ($17.95 | Item: APCAL27): Produced by Willow Creek Press, featuring 12 months of restored classics including John Deere, International Harvester, Farmall, Allis-Chalmers, and Case. Printed on FSC-certified paper with soy inks.
Collector’s Deal: Pick up remaining copies of the 2026 Classic Tractors Calendar for just $4.95 each (+ S&H) while supplies last.
Shop Both 2027 Calendars Here
Photo Contest Update & Deadlines
Vintage Truck Updates: Keep an eye on your mailbox this October! Coverage for Vintage Truck’s Drive Your Old Truck Day (DYOTD) and annual photo contest will be featured in the upcoming November/December 2026 issue.
Antique Power Deadline Approaching: Time is running out to enter Antique Power’s annual photo contest! The final deadline to submit your photos is September 27, 2026. Visit antiquepower.com/photo-contest for full details and submission rules.
Show off your favorites on your screens!
Ever look at a gorgeous feature photo in Antique Power or Vintage Truck and wish you could frame it? Now you can carry it with you everywhere. We are thrilled to launch our brand-new collection of high-resolution digital wallpapers! Curated by our team, these packs feature stunning, fan-favorite photography captured right from the field by our Editor and Photographer, Brad Bowling.
We will be rolling out fresh digital wallpaper packs every single month, and they are completely free to download! Head over to www.ertelgiftshop.com/digital-wallpapers to grab your favorite truck or tractor shot and give your phone or desktop a vintage upgrade.
📰 A Note to Our Readers: Our heart and soul will always belong to ink and paper. The magazines you love aren't going anywhere—they will always be a premium print product arriving in your mailbox.
We simply want to offer a few extra digital options for those looking to enjoy our community in new ways—whether that’s showing off classic iron on your devices with these new wallpapers, or browsing our digital PDF archives to catch up on long-sold-out back issues.
Visit the gift shop today to see what the team has lined up for your screen this month! Once you've taken a look, scroll down to the survey at the bottom of this newsletter and leave us a comment letting us know which truck or tractor feature you want to see as a digital wallpaper next!
Is your magazine subscription up to date? Don't miss an issue—renew today! Call the fine folks in our Circulation Department at 888-760-8108. Outside the U.S. call 937-610-0229
Your Voice
Every installment of Fields & Fenders will feature a poll or survey to give us helpful feedback for future content.
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