Tractor shows - noobie questions

Robby_H · Mar 10, 2010

I have just purchased a very nicely restored 1947 Farmall "A" for my 11 year old son. His desire is to take it to Tractor shows, etc. We are big into the anituqe car hobby and have been showing cars for the past 20 years but while we have been to a couple of tractor shows, I know nothing about how they work, etc.

In the antique car hobby, there are classes and of course awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each class. Do they do the same at most tractor shows? (In all honesty I kind of hope they don't do this as the competition can take the fun out of it - I have started going to more cruise ins just for that purpose.) Also what other activities to they have at the shows. The car shows get a little boring at times when all you do is sit there and watch people look at your car so unless you know a lot of people, it gets boring quickly. (Yea even I am starting to wonder why we have done this for so many years

). We don't know anyone in the antique tractor hobby so we will be loners - at least at first. Also, I know NOTHING about farming having never been around it but I do know a little about tractors from doing a tremendous amount fo reading about them so at elast I can sort of carry on a conversation about them. I guess my concern is that while my son is excited about it now, I don't want him to lose interst quickly.

So what should we expect? Show season here in the South (Alabama/Tennessee) is about a month away

Thanks much

Robby

MSJ from MN · Mar 10, 2010

The shows that I attend in MN do not have any judging of tractors.

Most shows have a tractor parade each day at a set time.

The other things to do is watch all of the demonstrations people put on. Sawmill,shingle mill, gas engine displays, corn chopping, plowing, horse or oxen farming, old time music, tractor pulls, printing, auctions, plowing, steam engines.

Thats an example of a few of the things that go on.

Have Fun!

DScott · Mar 10, 2010

Robby,
Welcome to the hobby! I don't think any of the shows here in middle Tennessee, southern Kentucky and north Alabama that I attend judge the tractors. I have heard that some of the shows used to judge but quit for the reasons you noted. Some of the shows I attend give trophies for youngest and oldest exhibitor, furtherest traveled, oldest tractor and etc.
Most of the shows have tractor games such as the slow race, barrel race, hand crank race along with a few more and a Parade. At some shows they have a saw mill, baker fan, dyno or other equipment running to watch and/or let you hook up to and run. The bigger shows usually have a tractor pull that anyone can enter.
So you usually have something to do besides swap lies and oogle at tractors.

Gene Dotson · Mar 10, 2010

Robby;
Very few tractor shows in my area have any type of classes or judging. An original tractor out of the field or barn is just as welcome as the nicely restored ones. People are very friendly at all of the shows and very few will be picking at your tractor. Many of the shows have on site camping so you can take your camping unit and stay for the whole show. Lots of socializing in the evenings.

Some activities will include parades, tractor pulling, fun tractor driving games such as barrel rolling, slow races and fast start contests. Exhibitors are free to drive their tractors around the showgrounds and campgrounds within reason.

I have included a link to some Tennessee shows that may interest you. Doesn't show much in Alabama. One of the earlier shows in at Gray, Tenn. and I have heard good reports about this show. I am not familiar with your location or location of the Tenn. shows, but browse the site to find shows that interest you.

Another way to get acquainted with tractor people is to join a local tractor and engine club. Lots of good information from the club members and will certainly make it easier to get to know your way around the hobby.

One word of warning!!!. Once you get started, it is a snowball affect and one or two tractors will not be enough.

Gene
Tennessee Show Schedule

Robby_H · Mar 10, 2010

Well the tractor shows sound like they are actually more fun than car shows - especially since it is more enjoyment and less competition. Plus the activities will be great for both my kids. We do everything as a family so looks as if we will have fun.

Thanks all - looking forward to getting into the old tractor hobby. Thanks for the link to the shows - I will defintiely be making many of those. I plan to join the local tractor club as well - I guess I have been hesitant since I knwo nothing about farming and was afraid most of the folks would be farmers and I would have nothing to talk about with them. I have a black thumb - I can barely grow grass

Goose · Mar 10, 2010

Our local annual Fourth of July celebration includes an antique tractor show, including anyone who wants to driving in the parade later in the day.

Some of the tractors that show up are totally over-restored. I don't believe the factory ever put a $3,000 clear coar paint job on a WD Allis.

I have an H Farmall with a bucket loader on it. The paint is mostly gone off of both, and I use it every day so I don't want it to stand still for even a paint job. I think I'll put it in the show this year with a sign "Earns its keep every day. Doesn't stand still long enough to look pretty".

showcrop · Mar 10, 2010

Take him to a local tractor pull, to see if it looks interesting to the two of you. You see a lot of families doing it together.

MSJ from MN · Mar 10, 2010

I would not worry at all about not knowing anything about farming. I think that may be to your advantage. Alot of people that attend these shows or clubs do it for the chance to teach others about it.

JMS/.MN · Mar 10, 2010

One nice thing about tractor shows is that the exhibitors are so willing to answer any questions that people ask about their exhibit. Being 11, and inexperienced, make sure your son gets some good training and lots of experience before getting into the parade.

DScott · Mar 10, 2010

Robby, Below is a link to a listing of local shows within a reasonable drive of middle Tennessee. We are still working on this list so check back every once in a while.

http://tractorsandtrucks.com/Local Tractor Shows.html

Anonymous-0 · Mar 10, 2010

Most shows require you to join the club so their liability insurance coverage works.

Gerald J.

Robby_H · Mar 10, 2010

So you would have to join every club that had a show you attended??? That would seem to eliminate most participants.

Tom from Ontario · Mar 10, 2010

Goose, I'm with you. I like to see the tractors in their working clothes and hear the stories behind them.

DScott · Mar 10, 2010

(quoted from post at 11:01:58 03/10/10) Most shows require you to join the club so their liability insurance coverage works.

Gerald J.

Gerald,
I have never heard of that and I have never been told that I had to join a club to exhibit. Our local club insurance covers all participants and attendees at a club event. I assumed that it worked that way for everyone. I hope it isn't a new trend.

Mathias NY · Mar 10, 2010

Usually it's a $6-$8 fee that you pay when you show up with your tractor (no charge for additional tractors). It helps the club offset the cost putting on the show and will usually cover your admission to the show for the entire weekend. Generally you also get a little exhibitors plaque.

The more I think about it, I don't know if it is mandatory, but saving on the admission charges would make it worth while.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 10, 2010

That you displayed a tractor at. Not that you visited, though Rollag requires membership to camp. And has second rate camp grounds for visitors compared to the camp grounds for workers.

Gerald J.

DScott · Mar 10, 2010

I have never been charged to display a tractor but I have heard of some that do. A couple of shows around here feed you lunch if you are an exhibitor (2 meal tickets per exhibitor) at no charge. I think it would cut down on exhibitors if the shows start charging to show. I know some shows were having trouble getting people to bring their tractors a couple of years ago when fuel hit $4+ per gallon.

alabamafrog · Mar 10, 2010

I have been showing in North Alabama and South TN for 2 years now. I have never been asked to pay a cent and never been told I could not show. In fact I have always been meet with enthusiasm and appreciation for showing up and adding to the show. I guess folks around here figure if you spend all the time and money to restore a tractor and haul it to a show then the least they can do is not charge you anything and appreciate you.
Usually most shows have door prizes or other treats. One show I went to I won $200 cash and got 2 nice wood plaques for my 2 tractors I brought. Most of the shows have a few competitors and ribbons or trophies they give to the winning participants but little to no judging.

I plan to attend at least 10-15 shows this year, I probably made about 12 last year and about 10 the year before.

If I go to a show and they ask for money from me I will promptly leave and make sure I never go back near there again, plus I will be very angry about the wasted time and diesel fuel I spent on them.

The biggest problem I have with shows is not knowing about them, seems that the tractor show community is internet and computer inept, communications are very limited, even the club show lists are different from club to club and incomplete.

I will try and see if I can get a pic of my excel local tractor show sheet to post up;

alabamafrog · Mar 10, 2010

John M · Mar 10, 2010

"In the antique car hobby, there are classes and of course awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each class. Do they do the same at most tractor shows? (In all honesty I kind of hope they don't do this as the competition can take the fun out of it - I have started going to more cruise ins just for that purpose.)"

I wont display at a show that does that....

"The car shows get a little boring at times when all you do is sit there and watch people look at your car so unless you know a lot of people, it gets boring quickly."

Happens at tractor shows too....

"Also, I know NOTHING about farming having never been around it"

Youre not any different than half the people who collect tractors, so dont worry aboutthat....

ncpapaul · Mar 10, 2010

Man Alabamafrog, you have all sorts of things to go to, you live right in the middle of lots of choices from the looks of the frog miles. There is not much at all that I have found in north Mississippi. Paul

BarryfromIA · Mar 10, 2010

At Albert City Iowa they have the Old Threshermen's Reunion and it is free to exhibitors and free parking and register online. So no hassle. Bring your own plow. After all would there be a show if you did not bring your tractor.

alabamafrog · Mar 10, 2010

(quoted from post at 16:10:44 03/10/10) Man Alabamafrog, you have all sorts of things to go to, you live right in the middle of lots of choices from the looks of the frog miles. There is not much at all that I have found in north Mississippi. Paul

I haven’t looked around that area but I know there are some in the Florence and muscle shoals area and I think there are a few in Al near the MS line. That’s a little too many frog miles for me. I can go to a show just about every weekend without traveling over about 60 miles. I got no idea how other areas of the country are like.

You may be surprised at how many shows there are and you just don’t know about them. Even with my list I still hear about a show on the radio or see a small sign for one every now and then. It seems like communication is the biggest issue with tractor shows.

I guess about all you can do is join every local club you can find and hope at least one of them knows what’s going on around you.
So far I have joined 2 clubs, one sends me a very long list of area shows every year and the list usually only misses a few shows and only has a couple mistakes or wrong dates but they have no website that I can find. The other club I’m in costs twice as much and has about 1/10th the info on there list if you can even get a list from them and there website still hasn’t been updated for 2009 yet, never mind 2010. Going to shows is kinda a crap shoot for a new guy who isn’t “in the know”.

JICase · Mar 10, 2010

Expect to have fun.
Expect to see all kinds of people, and make new friends.
With that in mind, don't be offended if someone who doesn't know better lets their child crawl all over your tractor.
99% know better or will ask if a child can sit on the seat for a picture but if the one person who lets their kids run wild and unattended bothers you then leave the tractor home or you will find yourself babysitting the tractor all weekend and won't enjoy anything.
Take the key, turn off the gas, unhook the coil wire or whatever for safetys sake, then you've done all you can do in case someone gets on and pushes buttons and pulls levers. Go have fun and just know if you come back in a few hours and find a scratch on the fuel tank, that its all part of the game. Don't be upset, just know your appreciated by the other 99% of the attendes. If you can't take that chance, then leave the tractor home. I hope you never do.
As far as judging tractors, most people in this hobby want only to share their machines with others and don't want ANY competition or someone else judging their family heirloom or Grandads pride and joy over paint jobs or matching tires etc. You will find machines from total rust to better than factory paint. To each their own but appreciated by all is the common thought at most shows. Those with tractor judging don't seem to keep people bringing their tractors back the next year. My 2 cents.

JMS/.MN · Mar 10, 2010

Our show asks for a 3-4 dollar donation to offset insurance cost for you and your tractor(s) while on the grounds. That also covers your admission, which is higher for a non-exhibitor. Insurance, like everything else, is not free. Our bill depends on the number of exhibitors. Where else can you see so much for $4 and be a part of it? Exhibitors also get token memorabilia for that year.

Paul from MI · Mar 10, 2010

The shows I go to don't judge anything, and I'm glad it's that way. When they start awarding prizes for restorations pretty quick you are just rewarding money. It's more important that the young person with little money can participate equally with an inexpensive tractor. We need all of that we can get to keep our hobby going. There's a lot of things going on at most shows and they are usually looking for someone to help out. That's how you meet people and have fun. Many shows do require you to be member to show for insurance purposes, but dues are very reasonable, around $10 as a rule. Many of us belong to three or four clubs for this reason. The important thing is to have fun with your tractor. You'll soon see some that are well done and some that aren't. You can decide for yourself how far down that path you want to go, and you can enjoy the hobby however you want to.
Welcome,
Paul

504 · Mar 10, 2010

Red Power Round UP is in LaPorte IN this year In June. There will be more Red tractors than you thought possible.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 11, 2010

WE ARE HAVING A PLOW DAY APRIL 10, IN DYERSBURG, TN. LOTS OF PEOPLE BRING TRACTORS TO SHOW, NO AWARDS, JUST SHOW, WE HAVE SEVERAL TRACTOR GAMES.
WE HAD ABOUT 80 TRACTORS LAST YEAR, AND THE BEST WE COULD FIGURE AROUND 1000 SPECTATORS. WE ARE 90 MILES NORTH OF MEMPHIS.

Robby_H · Mar 11, 2010

I might make it to the Dyersburg show. Very familar with Dyersburg as my mom grew up there - it is about a 4 hour trip one way but I could visit some family while there so it would be worth the journey.

Robby

Two Banger · Mar 11, 2010

It is a GREAT hobby!!! neither you or your son will get bored.

Tractor shows - noobie questions

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