Tractor Show Crowds

Seems like the shows here in Greenville and Altamont, Illinois have low attendance as for visitors and exhibitors this year. Are any of the others shows experiencing this?

I notice most crowds are folks over 40 , only kids around are grandfathered into the hobby i.e. dad left them old tractors.

Our local show seemed to be bigger than ever! Camp Creek Threshermen, Waverly Nebraska!

There used to be a local show here that would draw crowds from hundreds of miles away. They stopped doing it because all the volunteers have died off.

I am 30, used to haul tractors around to different shows in the area and was heavily involved with my local club. Fuel prices kept going up and the expense of hauling and hotels got the best of me. With my local club I burnt myself out. The old timers are about gone that started the club, there were more dying then coming in.

On weekends there never seems to be enough time to do anything. Now I am married and other things are making it so i just don't have the time to go. I think what we will see in the next 10-15 years are the smaller clubs will fade away and the larger shows will remain.

Same thing with me. I have two show cars out in the shed. One of them has pulled first at every show in the 4 state area. They haven't been to shows in quite a few years. Every year the farm seems to take a little more and I get a little older. I realized the other day that I haven't spent more than a day off the farm in over two years.

I hate to run those cars down the dirt road to the grocery store, but that's what they were made for. At least I have backup vehicles!

The percentage of the population that used to be somehow involved with agriculture has steadily declined every decade since the 1940's. Back then the majority of the population was farmers and now just a very small percentage is. As the older generation dies off there are simply fewer interested people to replace them as it has never been a part of their lives.

I too believe the small shows will eventually go away and only the bigger shows will remain but even the ones that survive will not be as prosperous as before. High costs to transport will only increase as shows get further way from individuals.

I certainly hope I am wrong on this one....but only time will tell....

Hi up here in Manitoba we have a local show thats heading south pretty quick. The old guys ran the show and young guys did the work. it got stale as they would not change anything. 500 people through the gate in 2 days this year, and center row of tractors missing.

Our local agricultural museum 2 weeks later cram packed full for 3 days out of 4, day 1 it rained hard. loads of younger guys involved with all groups of vehicles/ driving what the museum owns/ older guys own stuff, and a lot working to keep the show and museum going.
I think it depends a lot on the show and who runs it.

The costs are getting stupid I wanted to haul 2 semi loads of Fordsons to a show near here for a ford year parade. by the time I was home again guy wanted $3500 plus. so I never did it it would of cost more doing it my self 1 or 2 at a time.

The old guys are dyeing round here and the stuffs making nothing unless it's rare. I can buy tractors for what the new tires are worth and then put the tires on my fordsons.
The only guys getting ahead with restoring this stuff/ showing it now, are machine shops and parts suppliers,and the gas and insurance companys from what I see. A lot of Guys are too busy working to keep a roof over the familys heads instead of spending on projects.
It will only get worse with tax hikes and other rising costs sadly.
Regards Robert

As Ive stated before, its an aging dying hobby, a simple matter of demographics and Ive noticed it (decline) over my past 20+ years of attendance and exhibiting at both national and local/regional shows. The dudes now, us baby boomers, EITHER had one of those tractors or Dad or Grandpa did but those days and generations are passing grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Dont get me wrong, I have enjoyed it and will continue, but as the Greatest Generation WWII Vets and now us baby boomers start to croak, attendace and interest will also fade away into the sunset.......

Lifes not really that short, its just that youre gonna be dead for such a long time

John T Perhaps gettin a bit cynical nowadays??
and like the old gentleman in the song "...Writing his memoirs, loosin his hearing, but he dont care what most people say"

My personal belief is there is too many shows. In my area, there is at least 4 shows within a 40 mile radius. Our show this year had an exemptional attendance. Maybe some clubs should unite with another. Just my thoughts.

I think you're right. Here at least there would be a tractor or two for sale at our show. This year with less tractors total there was at least eight for sale

The first two days at our Albert City, Ia show have been good. Friday was about average but yesterday was huge. We had .65" of rain last night but that shouldn't hurt today's crowd much. Jim

I went to a pull yesterday where there was a pretty good crowd watching all day, and a good number of pullers too. It was the third year for this one at a local fair. The prior two years the weather was poor, this year it was great.

After you have been to a couple of antique tractor shows you aren't going to see much that's different at the next one.