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Donahue equipment on display at largest farm show in the world

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Jim Donahue, owner of Donahue Corporation, Durham, has been transporting implements to the California Farm Equipment Show and International Exposition at Tulare, Calif., since 1987.

For the 19th consecutive year, two flatbed loads of Donahue equipment left the plant Thursday morning destined for the show. They were hauled by Mike Stika and Richard Wiebe.

For many years, Jim and his wife Joan traveled to California by car to take in the annual show.

Tulare is in the heart of the agriculturally-rich San Joaquin Valley in central California.

The farm exposition grew from a local show in 1968 to a state show in 1969 and then to an international show in 1972.

In 2001, the show was renamed World Ag Expo. It now is the largest farm show in the world, covering 228 acres with more than 1,600 exhibitors. Previously, the largest show was in Paris, France.

The three-day show began Tuesday. Stika and Wiebe use working models to show people how the equipment works.

"They are amazed at how simple it is," Donahue said.

The exhibit includes unique trailers of his own design.

One of the most popular Donahue designs is the original implement carrier. The heavy duty carrier is uniquely designed to be lowered to ground level for easy loading of equipment of all kinds.

Many of the carriers have been sold in the Midwest, including through John Deere and other companies. They became popular west of the Rockies after 1990, when Donahue started to promote them there. Many were sold in France.

Another unique piece of equipment is an expandable flatbed trailer. It is equipped with a hydraulic pump and cylinders to expand the floor for extra-wide equipment such as tractors with dual wheels.

The Donahue swather carrier has a 69-inch axle track and retracts to legal width when not loaded, for travel day or night.

Donahue stock trailers of various sizes also are on display.

Donahue Corporation has been in business since 1962 and currently employs 25 people.

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