Open letter about NY JD Expo

NY 986

Well-known Member
I offer the following opinion to the organizers and those who like to attend the event. I honestly believe the weather had a lot to do with attendance if it is true that it was down considerably. I think the people that run the grounds do a good job given the resources that they have to work with I am sure that they would like to do more to improve the grounds in the event of a long wet spell. Everybody who attends the Expo or the Pageant on a regular basis knows the conditions of the grounds and it has been wet for quite a while this year in the Finger Lakes. Further, having a tough year last year and looking tough again this year has made people pick and choose what they will do for recreation whereas normally they would not have to do so. Also, I know quite a bit of hay got made last week when guys decided they would not wait and made baleage. Some many not agree with my opinion but I wanted to offer support and encouragement as these events find it increasingly difficult to get money and manpower for. I think better weather and better attitude will have more coming for the next expo
 
I don't know about that show. But this is what stopped me from ever going to a show.
Staff was rude to people coming to the show. Yelling and cussing about people parking. When there were no clear signs where to park.
Over priced food.
Not enough bathrooms on site.
Staff on golf carts running around.No offers to help the elderly get around
Too many sellers of none show related items mixed in with the real sellers. They should have their own section.

Weather I can understand. No matter how much you plan. Things can always go wrong.
 
Obviously, everybody's experience is their own.


I've never had a problem with rude staff. Now rude exhibitors are a different story. A bunch of years ago parking was kind of willy-nilly but not in recent times.


Food prices are on par with other summertime festivals. Yes, they have gone up substantially as have other events. 10 bucks for BBQ chicken, salt potato, half cob of corn, milk, etc. is typical.


There should be more restrooms and probably would be if the money was there.


This might not go over well and I will be affected at some point but it is up to the attendee to make their arrangements as to getting around. They do shuttle along the main driveway to and from the entrance.


Yep, I am not a fan of the trinket sellers but most likely they are there because they pay a fee that the organizers need pretty bad. It's better than it was in terms of dividing up tractor related sellers from others. A new building was recently put up and for the Oliver show last year the Oliver vendors were concentrated there.


The weather if bad for a spell affects the grounds there and everybody knows it.
 
Well NY986: I have never been to the show your talking about. I do know it seems like the attendance at many tractor shows is down in my opinion. The few shows I have gone to this year were not heavily attended. Truthfully the holier than thou attitude that some JD collectors have has turned a bunch of people "off" JD collecting. I have not shown anything in over ten years now. I got tired of hearing how this and that was not "original. Like a $5000 dollar automotive paint job is "factory" LOL
 
I agree on some of the exhibitors. I have seen some that shouldn't have even shown up. As for as the staff on carts goes.I know it is not there job to do so. But it wouldn't hurt to help out the elderly that need help. I think better planning would also help.It seems that most don't understand that how a show is run. Will tell if it lives are dies.

While on the road I went to a show in west Texas. Nice little small town show.Parking was clearly marked. People were friendly and helpful. Food prices were about normal. Most of the money went to local 4H,FFA,VFD and others.
 
Snooty JD collectors from what I have seen are not that plentiful. I would like to get a JD 630 and have wanted to for a long time but with times that dream seems to be slipping away. So I will probably never get to know the simple pleasure of arguing with the correct police. If I had the money a few jerks would not stand in the way of collecting the things that I like. In some ways the IHC crowd has its share of jerks as well. I grew up with IH silo filling equipment and while it may not have been as good as Gehl products I don't recall dad wrenching on his equipment everyday. Yet, there are people who say in a hushed tone you don't want to do that as it was not IH's best effort. Stick to Super M's, 806's, or a 1066. I've got as good a chance of joining the area IHC club as I do the area 2 cylinder club which is a pretty poor chance. N series Ford guys can be just as snooty and I should know as I waited on a bunch while working for Central Tractor many years ago. The worst guy I ever dealt with had a 6XX Ford WORKMASTER which he emphasized every time he came in even though he never had any poor service from me.
 
I have had that problem with rude staff. And then every one of the member left the grounds while there should have been people there to help with problems. If a deputy sherif had not shown up while patroling after the show had shut down for the night my wife and I would have been stuck on grounds all night in a non running car. Our local show there is someone on the grounds at all time to take care of problems.
 
I like to see the modifications on tractors to make them better able to do the work. Like a unstyled John Deere A with starter that was not avaible from factory when new.
 
Where did you have problems with rude staff? You should say where if somebody affiliated with that show is reading this then they will know that they have a problem. I think that with at least the local show quite a bit of the manpower is volunteer and hard to get so you have to take what you can get. Again, no problems encountered by me. Sure, I would like to park where I want but so do a couple thousand other attendees which would make for a mess if we all did our own thing. I think in recent years you can request a special parking pass to be near the gate if done ahead of time.
 

I was there Tuesday to Saturday. The grounds have been updated with gravel roadways. Nobody was rude, friendly and helpful instead. Food was at or below show and event prices. Those people who think Deere collectors and dealers are snooty and just upset that their pappy's favourite tractor brand was bankrupt and merged. Even with the 4-1/2" of rain in three days onto of the previous rain storms. The entire site was accessible to someone in work boots. Running shoes required some cautious steps until a couple of hours after each rain. We plan on attending in 2019 Lord willing.
 
Did you see the news on channel 3 this morning? They told about all the money that has been spent on the State Fair grounds over the last 2 years.
 
(quoted from post at 12:53:59 07/22/17) Did you see the news on channel 3 this morning? They told about all the money that has been spent on the State Fair grounds over the last 2 years.

How would I see the channel 3 news this morning ?
 
Channel 3 is out of Syracuse so I don't know how far away that makes you. They make reception equipment that will allow you to pull 150 miles from your home. I need to get busy and get mine hooked up as the satellite service only offers Syracuse local channels where I have a greater need for Rochester news based on family and other things.
 
I just live with the fact I may need boots in a year like this and let it go at that. Younger people may not and quite a few younger women have no common sense when it comes to dressing for a show. She may want to show off in 3 inch heeled boots but those boots have no place at a tractor show. Take a show with any theme and I have the knack for finding the jerks at it. Food prices have gone up in the last five years as they have for all other summer events.

As far as the clubs go the JD clubs are no worse than the others. At least they make their issue with the reason for having a club. There are tractor clubs out there that have no place for somebody who is not gentrified or a pillar in their community. Or has a certain degree of wealth. As bad as I would like to be a part of a club I don't see one that would take me as a member. I wanted to do something with corn pickers as I don't have 20,000 dollars to dump into a tractor restoration but there is no interest locally. I guess I will have to start my own "junky old tractor club."
 
I should also state that money was an issue for me in terms of going this year. I have to pick and choose so I will go to the Steam Pageant next month where I know some of the exhibitors.
 
(quoted from post at 13:11:44 07/22/17) Channel 3 is out of Syracuse so I don't know how far away that makes you. They make reception equipment that will allow you to pull 150 miles from your home. I need to get busy and get mine hooked up as the satellite service only offers Syracuse local channels where I have a greater need for Rochester news based on family and other things.

Is this it ? http://cnycentral.com/news/local/gov-andrew-cuomo-to-make-an-announcement-at-the-nys-fairgrounds

Odds of receiving Syracuse from 280 miles away with an over the air antenna are slim. The UHF band doesn't not carry like channels 2 through 6.
WSTM-DT (Digital)

Channel: 24 (3.1)
Network: NBC
Maximum ERP: 210.000 kW
Coordinates: 42.945010 -76.118424
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSTM-TV
 
It is difficult to get a reliable signal over 80-100 miles. In the right weather/ air conditions sure you can get 150 and more for a short time. The curve of the earth makes that distance about where you can get line of sight, any trees or buildings or strong power flinders in the way, sun angle, it gets tough....

It is so hard to put on those once a year weekend events, weather is gonna catch you every now and then, and so much prep and volinteer work and expenses go into it, can be so tough.

Paul
 
I kinda like your post. I am now retired and don't even own a tractor any more. I used to go to shows all over, Like Mt. Pleasant, Rolag, Portland and so on as I drove truck all over and could get to many shows. I was never treated badly by staff of any show I ever went too. I don't care if a guy spends 5000 dollars to paint his tractor. If I like it I will look at it. Heck I would really enjoy walking around Sweetfeet's old Regular on a Sunday afternoon and would most likely really enjoy it. My biggest gripe at the shows is the kids running wild with hoped up lawn tractors and golf carts . The old woman darn near got mowed down and just barely jumped clear of a stupid kid going like 60 and he laughed at her. And as she jumped clear of that one another one came along and splashed her as she stepped aside and he laughed at her. She has not been to another show. and I don't go very much any more. So that's my big gripe. Yes I was a kid once many years ago and I ran the tar out of the old mans pick up every time he wasn't looking and every time he caught me I wished I had not done it. And I didn't splash old ladies and try to run them down.
 
Inconsiderate people will cause the demise of these shows as much as the lack of money by the general public will. I did not enjoy Christmas shopping last December in part due to inconsiderate people. But still it is a pretty stupid excuse not to go or leave early because you did not have sensible clothing or footwear to be there.
 
I don't see ATV's used at the Canandaigua grounds and never looked into why. It's either golf carts or old lawn tractors. Probably good that ATV's are not present as they sometimes bring out the worst in people. I would generally view the crowd there as well mannered. The biggest problem I see is some people come unprepared to walk around for a few hours.
 
Steam Pageant has a size limitation on carts. Lanes
are not big enough to allow larger UTVs. The Association
rents golf carts for those who can't walk the show.
As for young women wearing inappropriate clothing who
encounter inclement weather, they make my day everywhere
I see them !
 
The issue with attendance is just about universal. Just a handful of shows are heavily attended. Reason are two fold I can attend a show almost every week end June 1 through Aug 31 and never drive over 2 hours. Reason 1? too many shows, it is thinning down but has a ways to go IMO. Other reason is boredom with rows of shiney tractors. I have 3 differant shows BEGGING me to bring our portable sheller and shredder so they have something going on besides static displays of shiney tractors. But nobody will donate the corn, they wont help to cut corn, no help to haul machinery. No $$ help with fuel, nutten. Somebody spoke of work and spending for food. Set up a good working demo like I have and haul it all both ways plus cutting and storing the corn and you will find out about cost and work. It attracts a crowd at our show and I enjoy doing it but once a year is plenty enough. I have attended the Pagent of Stem several times, sorry to hear they are having issues with attandance, it's a nice show.
 
All I will say is it was a large popular show in northern Ohio and it was about noon when went to move the car to unload display connected to feature tractor and when got it unloaded they put it in a hidden room that no body even knew was there, and car would not start, turns out the fuel pump went out. Quite a ways from home and knew now one there and did not have a local phone book so could even find a garage to call. It was about 8 that evening when the officer showed up patroling the grounds, and called a garage, about 8:30 when got it towed in and was able to rent a car to get home. None of the club officers even would try to call help, even from patrol. And we had no way to call anybody. The reason we went was our brand tractor club had picked that show to have a meeting at because it was the feature and none of my clob members were from area to know where anything was. If the club would have just called oe patrol even to get us help would be different than saying you just have to find the help yourself. And then everybody that belonged to club putting on the show left the grounds at 6 that evening to go to their own meeting.
 
(quoted from post at 09:52:54 07/22/17)
Those people who think Deere collectors and dealers are snooty and just upset that their pappy's favourite tractor brand was bankrupt and merged. .


LOL what have you been smoking? A friend of mine farms with fairly new JD equipment. Everything he owns with an engine designed for farm work is JD as is a good deal of his implements. He's been JD for at least 40 years. He will tell you how snooty JD collectors are. He loves to tell JD collectors that the only thing a "JD 2 cylinder block is good for is set with the bores facing up is a planter in the yard for his wife's flowers"! He says he's been threatened with physical violence by JD collectors for that comment that were extremely angry. That doesn't mean the IHC guys are not just as bad as are the AC/Ford/Oliver/Case guys too.

I was a member for a few years of a club. I dropped my membership because of "snooty" attitudes that knew no boundaries as far as brands went.

Rick
 

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