Much has changed in the past year; much hasn’t. For me, this is the time of year I began to get antsy. Some of that is plain old spring fever, but a big part of it is what I’m going to call show fever and at this point in this year, it’s enough to make global warming look like greasy kid stuff.
I desperately need the jolt of electricity that courses through my body every time I drop in on a show, especially one I’ve never previously attended. During those first steps onto the showgrounds, as I try to get the lay of the land, all of my senses are on full alert. The sights, sounds and smells of a show are at once overwhelming and irresistible.
Even if you attend the same show every year, it’s not the same show every year. The core remains, but you never know what’s going to pop up in the displays. What quiet little gem is waiting for its moment in the sun this year? Almost like Cinderella, some random piece will inevitably be pulled from the darkest corner of the shed and get its minute to shine.
If I seem a bit crazed about getting to a show, I think it’s a safe bet that I’m not the only one. I made it to exactly one show last summer, but that’s one more than a lot of folks. Even now, when I look at the photos I took, I am dazzled by the scenes of equipment in the summer sun.
If you’re feeling similarly deprived, this issue of Farm Collector should perk you up. In this issue, we cover two great shows from the 2020 season. The only thing that could heighten the experience would be a scratch-and-sniff patch of coal smoke, but the publisher hasn’t popped for that yet.
If you do venture out this summer, don’t leave home without the 2021 Farm Collector Show Directory. Packed with more than 1,000 events in the U.S. and Canada, the show directory is your most comprehensive resource when planning show visits. Now more than ever, it’s important to touch base with the show hosts before leaving home. When you hit the road, keep us in mind: Maybe we’ll see you at the show! FC
