By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
Crawford County holds a long tradition of agriculture that tends to run in the blood of those gifted with it, and for the Crawford County Antique Farm Machinery Association, that fact is worth celebrating.
Thursday marked the opening of the 15th annual Antique Farm Machinery show, transforming the Crawford County fairgrounds into a showcase of the past. Antique machinery came from all areas of the map, with visitors from Illinois, Florida, Iowa, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and other parts of Ohio coming together to enjoy some long treasured tradition of our area.
The two tractor names featured were Cockshutt and Leader, with this weekend marking their state show and national show, respectively.
Roger Haas, who is a member of the Tractor Club that meets monthly in the museum located on the fairgrounds, remarked that this show was special to him as he is always reminded of his father and a time gone by.
“These tractors are from my era, when I was a kid and lived on a farm,” Haas said, “I’ve got a Farmall Super Seed that was my dad’s and I restored it… I can remember when he bought it in 1952, I remember when he rolled it off the truck.”
Haas and his wife, Dorothy, who serves as treasurer for the club and as the show chairman, feel strongly about the impact that the show can have. Mrs. Haas wasn’t raised on a farm, and really stresses the importance of what is taking place.
“These tractors, unless I had looked them up on the computer, some of them I had never heard of, so for people that don’t have in farming in their background (they) need to come out and look at the way it used to be.”
And surely there is a fine display of what used to be, with over 100 pieces of machinery to view and enjoy, as well as the Antique Farm Machinery Museum, which is home to many examples of what farmers used to use, and is only open during this show, the Crawford County Fair, and by appointment with the tourism bureau.
In addition to the experience of viewing the pieces of machinery, the show boasts many other features. Throughout the duration of the event, there will be vendors and crafters set up for perusal, and the schedule that surrounds one’s experience when not looking for a bargain or watching an antique baler work through some straw.
Thursday evening was the annual pork chop dinner, all of the money from which goes back to the maintenance of the tractor club. On Friday, there will be a Kiddy Pedal Tractor Show followed by an Antique Tractor Pull at 5 in the evening, and Saturday will boast a garden tractor pull at 11:30 in the morning, A parade of the tractors at 2, followed by a truck pull at 5 that evening.
Also on Saturday, there will be a petting zoo, and Cornhole will be set up in and around the Whetstone building for kids and, for the first time, there will be a car show and swap meet on Saturday. Saturday will also feature a square dance. The car show will take place from 9 to 4.
When asked what he thought the show gave back to the community, Crawford Antique Farm Machinery president said it simply: “It gives to the community a chance to come out and see the old farm machinery from years past and fellowship with other farmers in the area.”
The show will continue through Saturday. Entrance is $3 per person before 4 p.m. All are warmly invited and encouraged to attend and get to know Crawford County just a bit better in the process.