Antique tractor display help

elijahearnestfarmall · Mar 5, 2019

Recently I’ve had the idea of starting an antique tractor *group* at our county fair. There are absolutely no older tractors at our fair. Just some new Holland’s the local dealership is trying to sell. I believe my generation should see how their ancestors kept a farm operational.
Before I make a proposition such as this to our fair board, I wanted to gain as much info as I possibly could. Has anyone ever set up a program such as this?
Our fair has limited space so if we were to keep the tractors indoors, we couldn’t keep more than 6 for the week most likely. I would keep them outside, but I’d be worried about people vandalizing them.
Thanks ahead of time for any help!

Loren in Iowa · Mar 5, 2019

At the Freeborn County Fair, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, they have a large tractor display,
every year. They are parked outside, in a fenced in area, and some of the organizers stay
in their campers, among the tractors, through the entire fair.

Philip d · Mar 5, 2019

It sounds like a great idea,my only advice is if they?re going to
be inside I?d make sure they?re all leak free tractors or have
cardboard under turf or something. If one of them drips
anything onto a floor surface they might not be welcome back.

kcm.MN · Mar 5, 2019

I have no such experience, but seems to me a good compromise might be to have a large, thorough "inside" display, maybe with one tractor. Then have some others outdoors for demonstration purposes.

I would think there would be an issue with security, possibly insurance for whatever is at the fair?

On the "inside" display, you could cover tractors not only from a historically Ag perspective, but also show how tractors have been used during war and in building our country; roads and buildings. Lots and lots of local history concerning tractors, then fill in with history from nearby areas if needed.

44 massey · Mar 5, 2019

We started an antique tractor show at our county fair about 10+ years ago!! I think we had about 20-25 tractors at
our first show and last couple years we have had 50-55 tractors!! We are a small rural Nebraska community!!! They
start bringing tractors in on Thursday or whenever they want or are able to and tractors are to be removed Sunday!!
Saturday afternoon we have a tractor parade thru town where we tour an income assisted housing area (mostly
elderly people), an assisted living center , the nursing home and hospital then back to the park (fair grounds) where
we finish up!! We don?t have a club or member ship it?s open to anyone who wants to come and bring their tractor
and put it on display!! We have a good time, there?s no admission to the fair so have pretty good attendance! Look
forward to it every year!!!

44 massey · Mar 5, 2019

If u have any questions would gladly help u out!!! It?s not really that difficult at all and quite rewarding!!

elijahearnestfarmall · Mar 5, 2019

What do you professionals do to take safety precautions? The only thing I can think of is to remove the battery and/or keys (if it even has a key lol. And If there’s a highlift, keep it raised in the air.

JOCCO · Mar 5, 2019

I will tell you insurance (either through the fair or a tractor club) would be wize. If you are doing demonstrations or events, like a cordwood saw, MAKE SURE THERE IS a safety program.

44 massey · Mar 5, 2019

Actually we leave it up to the owners, most remove the keys or just remove the battery or a cable!! We haven?t had
one issue or problem!! The tractors are all displayed outside at the fair grounds!!! I suppose if they were on hilly or
unlevel grounds one might use blocks!!!

Steve A W · Mar 5, 2019

At our county fair they have a large tent, aprox. 75'x100'.
As far as I know it's individuals showing,no club.

crooked rows · Mar 5, 2019

Our club has an antique tractor display at the local fair....the tractors are displayed outdoors and we parade through the fair grounds a couple of times......

jCarroll · Mar 5, 2019

NW central Ohio. We have a county tractor club - meet monthly.
One of our activities is to "offer" the fair committee an antique tractor display at the county fair.
Usually 6-8 tractors, outdoors.
No issues of vandalism, safety.
We do not perform "action" work - sawing, threshing, or belt work.

Hard to judge what degree of interest the public has in our exhibit.

elijahearnestfarmall · Mar 5, 2019

Oh man. To have a thresher or a hammer mill running would be amazing (we actually have an old hammer mill doing nothing in the barn.) Maybe I could start small with a plow and discs haha.

Our fair is dying slowly for sure. Im hoping our fair board will be willing to do this, give a jump start to the enthusiasm maybe. I think at the tractor pulls last year, there was only one older tractor (Farmall M). what a shame

Oregon Tractor Jack · Mar 5, 2019

In the past some of us local tractor guys would take tractors to the county fair. Just kind of a word of mouth kind of thing. Did okay for a few years until there was damage to our tractors. Seems the fair people just let the kids run wild on our displayed tractors like they were playground equipment. The next year no one that I know took their tractor to the county fair. If you do this make sure that you have a roped off area and one of your club members are on duty to watch the equipment. When I am at the Great Oregon Steam Up I become the tractor police. If I see some out of control children playing on someones tractor I tell them to get off. Usually the "parents" are just standing there letting their brats just run wild...

OTJ

Paul from MI · Mar 5, 2019

We have a display of old tractors at our county fair. Started small only 15 or so. Now we have about 40-45 each year. The fair board added it to the events at the fair so each is judged and a small premium is paid. I'm not big on judging tractors, I just think you start rewarding money, not enthusiasm. But that's the price we pay to have the whole thing operate under the auspices of the fair board. We display outside and someone stays in a camper in the area all the time. No vandalism problems so far. Kids playing is the biggest issue, but one of us is usually around if thing get out of hand. Quality of restorations has steadily increased, now a lot of them are expo quality.

grandpa Love · Mar 5, 2019

What state are you in?

elijahearnestfarmall · Mar 5, 2019

Southwest PA. Greene county fair

showcrop · Mar 5, 2019

Our display at the states largest fair is the main fundraiser for a club that I belong to. We have around a half acre of ground where we have around 50 tractors on display, a stationary hay baler, and a shingle mill that run off and on, a display of one lungers and various tractor implements. The fair provides us with a large tent and we put up three others. Vandalism has not been a concern. There is the need however to chase a kid off from a tractor now and then. This is a must see for most people attending the fair, along with the fairs rural life museum next to us. Your local fair needs you to get this set up for them and save their fair.

BarryfromIA · Mar 5, 2019

Here at the Woodbury County Fair We get paid $10 for the first one and somewhat less for the next and on down. You have to buy a season ticket to display. Sometimes get 75 to a 100 tractors. The display area is around the old town part of the fair. Everything is outside, and it usually rains at least once so it is worthwhile.

Rich'sToys · Mar 5, 2019

Our county Fair (Waseca County, Minnesota) has had one for many years. The first couple years they were parked inside, but now they are outside in a roped off area. They are not judged or anything. They give dash plaques and a free parking pass to the owners. To my knowledge there has never been any problems. I think the fairgrounds is fairly well patrolled. I try and take a couple of mine over every year.

Madisonbob · Mar 5, 2019

Would be good to check with your insurance company. What happens if a youngster falls off a tractor after getting his picture taken and gets hurt? Insurance has
become a large issue for any venue involving the public. It is one of the very large expenses for our Tractor Club which has put on a show for 50 years.

johnlobb · Mar 6, 2019

Is that the Fowlerville fair, Claude?

redforlife · Mar 6, 2019

Local guy put a tractor cruise together. About a 15 Mile drive
one way and back. Down country roads. Had pretty good turn outs
the first 2 or 3 times. Then people kind of got bored with it.
Started not participating. The whole thing was kind of short
lived and he quit having it.

I always wanted to have a antique tractor plow day on my farm.
But then I watched an old gentleman just about kill himself
loading an antique car at a car show. He forgot to lock the ball
on his trailer, and trailor went all funky when he tried to drive
car on. His friend, another old guy, tried to help him straighten
it all out. And it even got nastier. Car rolled backwards off
trailor and just about killed the guy who was laying underneath
trying to straighten out the ramps. No one got hurt to bad I
don't think, but seeing it was a horrible site, and it could of
turned out very badly. That kind of ended my idea of having a
plow day that would be open to the public to participate. Because
of the liability of it.

crooked rows · Mar 6, 2019

Shiawassee county fair in Corunna.....

bjb in TX from Ne · Mar 6, 2019

I believe the Platte Valley Antique Machinery Association and one other group run the antique tractor display at the Nebraska State Fair. They might be able to help.
PVAMA

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