The Friends of Ferguson Heritage, an association of enthusiasts from around the world with a common interest in Massey-Harris, Ferguson and Massey Ferguson, has a new calendar for 2016, featuring four farming scenes from Fermanagh captured by Impartial Reporter photographer, John McVitty.
The FoFH now has nearly 5200 members in around 19 countries around the world, believed to be one of the biggest one-make tractor club in the world and in the top five tractor clubs worldwide.
Those who subscribe to the Association will receive the calendar as well as periodical magazines, technical advice, tractor registration and other members’ benefits.
The four local photographs taken by John McVitty feature January’s image of Raymond McVitty with his MF 135 feeding sheep in the snow, February’s image of Alan Wylie on his MF35 cutting and bringing home firewood; September’s image of Robert Kinnear on his MF5465 baling straw near St. Angelo Airport and December’s image of Jack O’Brien driving along a country road near Garvary in the snow on his 1963 MF35 TVO.
In a review of 2015 Friends of Ferguson Heritage (FoFH) reported a busy year as it celebrated its 21st anniversary and as it looks ahead to 2016, it could be an even busier year for the club.
During May 2015 at the three-day Balmoral Show, the FoFH was awarded the ‘Balmoral Show Trade Stand Award’. It was organised by one of the FoFH Directors, Sam Neill and fellow club members. 
The year ‘6’ is littered with many firsts for Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors which means that the year of 2016 will be full of anniversaries and the FoFH will be doing its utmost to celebrate these anniversaries in style.
* 1936 - 80 years of the Ferguson Brown
* 1946 - 70 years of the Ferguson TE-20
* 1956 - 60 years of the Ferguson 35 grey/gold
* 1976 - 40 years of the Massey Ferguson 500 Series
* 1986 - 30 years of the Massey Ferguson 300/3000 Series
Another tractor that is celebrating its 60th anniversary is the American built Ferguson F-40, this was the last production model released to be badged as a Ferguson tractor. 
The F-40 was also badged in the Massey-Harris livery as the M-H 50; these tractors were introduced during the time of dual line production when Massey-Harris-Ferguson maintained separate Ferguson and Massey-Harris assembly lines. 
These tractors were the forerunner to the Massey Ferguson 65.
It is planned that over the coming year, the FoFH will be presenting displays at key shows around the UK and Ireland. 
Look out for the club stand at Tractor Fest at Newby Hall in early June and at the Newark Vintage Tractor Show in the autumn. However it will be the Balmoral Show held from May 11-13 2016 that will feature a big display of classic red tractors.
Sam Neill intends to put on a display marking the 40th anniversary of the Massey Ferguson 500 Series tractors. 
Many of these machines can still be found working hard for a living, whilst many others are now going into preservation making them ideal tractors for road runs and working events.
The club will also be very active at several major events during the year including the World Ploughing Championships to be held in September. 
The FoFH is one of the sponsors for the British Nationals and for this year it will be presenting a ploughing through the ages display and demonstrations using the Ferguson System at the combined British Nationals and World Ploughing Contest to be held at Crockey Hill, near York.
For further details, or if you would like to offer your tractor for display at any of the 2016 celebrations, please contact the FoFH Chairman Jim Nisbet at swscotalnd@fofh.co.uk or telephone 01292 520338 or Sam Neill can be contacted on 07929 550114.