Modern-Day Service Schools

Have any of you ever attended our green-loving friend's "Gathering of the Green" event held in Moline, Illinois, every other March? It is a 4-day event in which John Deere enthusiasts gather and attend several 1.5 hour seminars on various topics related to the mechanical workings and restoration of the older JD tractors. The seminars are taught by those most qualified to do so, those men who spent years working in the shops at local implement dealers making the repairs. I have attended the last two of these "Gatherings", as my son is a JD enthusiast, and have found them to be absolutely invaluable to the process of learning about these older tractors. Last February, there was a 2-day John Deere Service School held in Waterloo, Iowa. Attendees sat for two days while a JD restorer completely disassembled an old JD tractor, explaining along the way how he was doing things..... another valuable experience.

So, my question is: Why haven't MM collectors & enthusiasts done something similar? The men who worked on these things are getting up there in years now and have our utmost respect. They have so much knowledge gleaned from those years and years of experience in the factories and implements, it would be an absolute waste to not tap their valuable brains. Our young people need to learn these things now, before our respected elders are all gone, in order to carry-on the MM interests. I know alot of this does occur on an individual basis, but why not organize a planned event, once a year or so, when we all could attend a MM Service School? Now, I know there are going to be some of you who say, "Go ahead and plan the event, smart guy.", and maybe I will some day, but for now, I would like to get some feedback from those of you who share this interest with me.

I would love to hear what your thoughts are on this. Thanks for listening.

Paul