By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The second day of the 16th Annual Crawford County Antique Farm Machinery Show had numerous activities on Friday; however, it was the antique tractor pull that highlighted the day.
Tractors from a bygone era lined the infield of the grandstands on Friday evening to see if their machine had the strength to pull the sled down the straightaway.
Branden Nagel, who was competing in his first pull, explained that finding his grandfather’s 1956 Massey Harris 444 tractor influenced him into getting into pulling.
“My grandpa used to pull in the 60’s and 70’s with this tractor, and it sat for probably 35 years in the barn, and I decided to get it out this year,” Nagel said. “My buddy helped fix it up, and get back into it.”
Willard native Fred Herner was also pulling at the tractor pull for the first time. Herner, who was driving a 1947 WCL tractor, explained what got him into pulling tractor.
“I was born and raised on the farm in the 40’s and 50’s, and drove all of these (tractors) around the farm. I started on garden tractor, and started pulling these about a year ago,” Herner said. “I usually pull up in Gibsonburg, Ohio. This is my first time pulling down here.”
Watching her husband Barry Fluty pull the sled with his tractors, Michelle Fluty watched the pulls with vested interest.
“It is something fun to do, and it is not as dangerous as when he raced cars, so we really enjoy it,” Fluty said.
The tractor pulls weren’t the only event taking place Friday, as a flea market and craft show took over the merchant buildings on the fairgrounds. For those wanting to escape antique tractors for a minute and ride the rails, the railroad building was open for attendees to view the Bucyrus Model Rail Road Association’s current model setup.
Members of the Crawford County Antique Farm Machinery Association Ron and Anna Pollack explained what brought them out to the show.
“Farming is my background and I have a tractor on display here, I also do some engine work for the club, and I help make some of the ice cream. I made three vanilla, chocolate, and peach today,” Ron explained.
“We enjoy all of the show really, just getting to be with other club members and seeing all the people coming in, we enjoy that too,” added Anna
Saturday will close out the 16th Annual Crawford County Antique Farm Machinery Show.
Related content: 2016 Crawford Farm Machinery Show
Saturday’s schedule:
Marshall & Chase Paw Patrol All Day
8:00 a.m.- Gates Open $3.00 per person, 10 yrs & older
9:00 a.m.- Car Show (1972 & older)
9:00 a.m.- Cushman Scooters
10:00 a.m.- Kiddy Pedal Tractor Pull – Free, 4 Different Classes
TBA – Grain Bin Rescue Extraction (Headed by Holmes Volunteer Fire Department)
11:30 a.m.- Garden Tractor Pull Registration
12:00 Noon – Garden Tractor Pull
12:00 Noon – Back Gate $10.00 per person, 10 yrs & older
2:00 p.m.- Kiddy Tractor Pull
4:00 p.m.- Front Gate Prices changes change to $10.00 per Person, 10 & under free
6:00 p.m.- Truck Pull