TRACTOR SHOWS

It is almost that time of year again. The tractor shows are a great way to teach young people how things got done before everything was prefabricated or manufactured prior to purchase. Homes and barns were built from the trees as they were cleared to create fields for farming.

These old steam tractors were put to multiple uses. They weren't just farm equipment, they were the powerhouse of most hard labor. Here they provide the power to run the old wood saw, cutting large trees into boards.

People worked together to get the job done. You've heard of an old-fashioned Amish barn raising but that is how most farms operated in older times. It was necessary for the survival of the community.

These guys are proud of their old equipment and enjoy displaying them and discussing them. You can wander through these fields of tractors and see the progression of improvements as each make and model go forward in years.

Even earlier construction equipment built by the same manufacturers are on display. This crawler is fun to ride on! Because it is on tracks it turns like a tank. The bucket can be used to dig, haul or lift heavy objects.

For even more fun they can be made 'hot' for extreme pulling. Competitions are held for everything from kids on lawnmowers to these superbuilt tractors to see who can pull the weight the furthest. Of course, the weight is adjusted to the class that is competing.

The shows we attend have many vendors of food, merchandise, flea market stuff. One show has lumberjack competitions while the other features a cider press and apple butter making, both of which are available for purchase and well worth it. It is a great way for the family to spend time in the country, in the sun and learn a few things at the same time. Hope to see you there!