Take a tip from Dorothy: There’s no place like
home. That Kansas farm girl, of course, was talking about a safe
haven. But home is where you find it, and if you’re a fan of
antique farm equipment, you can find it at a dizzying array of
sites all over the country this summer.
Whether you’re in your own backyard or travel a thousand miles
ground, and like the gang at Cheers, it’s as if everybody knows
your name, and you know theirs. There are no strangers at shows:
Just folks you haven’t met yet.
Perhaps the best part of hitting shows all over creation is that
while the scene is familiar, the specifics vary. Regional
differences add flavor: Go to a show near Chesapeake Bay, and
discover marine engines … go to a show in the south, and watch a
cotton gin in operation … hit a show in Iowa, and check out the hog
oilers … head way out west, and learn about tractors on tracks.
One thing’s universal: People really respond to exhibits that
add meaning. Hook up a gas engine to a pump or a sheller or a
washing machine, and it has twice the appeal of a static engine.
Belt a tractor to a saw, or a steamer to a shingle mill, or put a
plow to work, and you have an instant audience … and a huge
opportunity to educate. And that’s what it’s all about.
Preserving antique farm machinery and equipment means more than
rebuilding engines and painting sheet metal. When exhibitors tell
the story of how the machine worked, what it was used for, and
when, and where, and why, they ensure that a fine chapter of
American agricultural history endures.
And don’t forget to spread the good word. If every person who
went to a show this summer took along one first-timer as a guest,
think of the explosion of interest in this hobby! From the tractor
parades to the engine displays to the working demonstrations to
crafts and flea markets, there is literally something for everyone
at an antique farm show. Chances are, your guest will spend the day
grinning from ear to ear. As Dorothy said, there really is no place
like home.
Leslie McManus, Editor
lmcmanus@ogdenpubs.com
