It is the time of year when each night offers up a sweet summer symphony performed by crickets and pond frogs. For the Farm Collector crew, though, the sounds of summer also include a lively rhythm of suitcases snapping shut, fresh batteries popping into cameras and maps unfolding. It’s show season, and we’re hitting the road!
Some of our outings are spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment trips. A copy of the Farm Collector Show Directory is always at hand: You never know when good fortune will put you within range of a show. Others are planned well in advance. This season, for instance, Farm Collector will have booths set up at the Tri-State Gas Engine & Tractor Assn. show, Portland, Ind., and at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. We’re also planning a visit to the Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club show at Baraboo, Wis. It’s barely past the Fourth of July as I write this, but as a friend recently noted, “things begin moving quickly now.”
Our cast of characters gets shuffled a bit, so there’s some overlap from show to show. At Portland (Aug. 20-24), you’ll be greeted by Bob and Linda Crowell from Batesville, Ind. Bob and Linda have been associated with Farm Collector from the beginning and are as good a pair of ambassadors as we could hope to find. They’ll be joined by Terri Keitel (advertising) and Christian Williams (associate editor, Gas Engine Magazine).
At Mt. Pleasant (Aug. 28-Sept. 1) the Crowells will be manning the tent, assisted by myself, Terri, Christian and Jeannine Snyder (coordinating editor for Farm Collector). We’ll also have a special guest for a couple days this year: Hank Will. Hank was a mainstay at Farm Collector for more than four years, covering everything from early wire fence-making machines to industrial equipment. He’s also the author of books on International Harvester construction equipment and Cub Cadet garden tractors. I know you’ll enjoy meeting him!
If you find yourself at these shows, please stop by and say hello. We love the opportunity to get out of the office and see the shows, but mostly we look forward to getting acquainted with you all. Have a story suggestion? A question about an article? Looking for a back issue? Or maybe you just need a break from the sun. Come on over and sit a spell. We can’t wait to see you!
Leslie McManus, Editor
lmcmanus@ogdenpubs.com
