Buckley Report/ Opinion

Well for once I got through the flea market fast enough to have time to see all the exhibits I wanted to see. Usually, wife has to look at all the import junk. I missed the plowing but watched the threshing. The announcer gave a short history lesson with a reaper, grain binder and setting up the threshing machine. I forgot my camera, so I don't have any pictures.

My observations are that they are getting too many buildings that seem to be thrown up haphazard, as far as location, that there's not as much room for tractors. I think they have 21 or 22 buildings. Seems like the numbers were down compared to other years. It also looks like there are too many food venders; it seems two or three in every row. All trying to cash in on large crowds and inflated prices. Most have their own building. I hope they don't go the way of Shipshewana. It's not as much fun any more.

Larry

You can always join us at Oakley on Saturday!

Last time we went we'd been to the U.P. State Fair the day before. By the time we got through the flea market,my feet hurt like heck. We tried to see everything but I'm sure we didn't come close.

I quit going there several years ago. It just got to big and the flea market should have a sign in front of it saying you are entering little China. The last year I went there weren't hardly any tractor parts there. There are several other one in the area up this way that are smaller and seem to have a better assortment of tractor stuff.

Owosso Tractor Parts and Steve Fidler go to Oakley. Along with some guys selling manuals as well as a bunch of loads of assorted parts. Then there's the row of tractors that are for sale.........

Well, Ive been going to Buckley for years. I show some old chainsaws as well as an old garden tractor. This was my sons second year there since he is only 15months old. My parents play music there. This year was nothing but problems since the day we pulled in. The gate gave myself and my friends family a hard time when getting there and were harassed the whole time we were there. It rained a majority of sat morning and his 16y, fiances 14y sons plus another boy and some girls got bored and played in the mud. the female member (heavy set, brown curly hair, glasses, in 50's, worked in soundbooth) called cops over. The cops understood the boys were being boys and told them just to clean up afterthemselves, which they did. Another member was watching them and laughing and routing the kids on. On sunday morning just the boys's familys were asked to leave the premisises and not return. This is the first year we had any problems there. A lot of other exibitors and musicians also had issues with the working staff this year. This show is supposed to be family friendly........???? I got the feeling that if you are not a member there you are nothing and not important. Lets see them try to run a show with just members and no other exibitors. A lot of the vendors there also had issues and a bunch said they would not return for future shows. I was even going to join as a member this year but they can stick it!