Joe P of Albany, Minnesota purchased his Fitch Model D 20-35 from well-known tractor collector Jim Erdle at "The Legendary Jim Erdle Collection" auction in September 2013. 

  Jim of Canandaigua, New York, who owned the vending company Kwik Kafe of the Finger Lakes region before turning it over to his son, said he grew up on a farm on Middle Cheshire Road and moved from there in 1959. He collected his first tractor in 1962 but gave up farming in 1970. Erdle had more than 300 tractors in various stages of restoration. Some of the restored tractors are taken to different shows and expositions throughout the year. Among the other tractors he owns are a 1912 Rumely Oil Pull Tractor, Whitney, Altman-Taylor, Rowley, Hart Parr and Minneapolis-Moline Orchard.

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  Jim Erdle had purchased his Fitch Four Drive Tractor Model D 20-35 #1637 at the Frank Miller Estate auction at LaCrosse, Indiana after Mr. Miller passed away in January 1968. The tractor has been an a barn since its purchase and has never been started. It is rusted and plans are to restore the tractor after disassembly, sandblasting, coating and painting. It features a 4-cylinder Climax KU engine #8333.

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  Joe had purchased a dozen other tractors and farm equipment at the huge auction and had them shipped to his hometown of Albany, which is located about 30 miles west of St. Cloud on I-94. The tractor is under going restoration including carefully sand blasting rusted parts and where needed, manufacturing or acquiring replacement parts for those that are missing or damaged. 

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  Joe's parents John & Lou Ann started Albany Pioneer Days in 1975. The annual event now draws about 22,000 to 26,000 spectators each year and is ran by the Stearns County Pioneer Club. Now in its 43rd year, it is held the 3rd weekend of September at the corner of 360th Street and County Road 10 just northeast of the city center. In addition to vehicles and engines, Pioneer Days showcases historical traditions. The club moved an old schoolhouse, the Arban Church, the old Albany Depot and other buildings from the area to their show grounds. There is even a blacksmith shop where visitors can have their name engraved on a horseshoe. Pioneer Days also gives people a chance to see how a lathe mill, shingle mill and flour mill were run. Live demonstrations include wool spinning, quilting, rug braiding and weaving, grain threshing, lumber sawing, silo filling, and corn shelling, and many more. Throughout the show there are musicians of various genres - old time, bluegrass, country-western and gospel - performed in three buildings. There is also a fiddle contest.