Published: July 05, 2008 09:36 pm         

Mower dancing

Tractor show offers music, tractor games and square dancers

WALTON — Eight blue zero-turn lawn mowers circled one another as the Rupley-Dixon Square Dancers listened to dance caller and accordion player Elaine Felger.

The mowers moved smoothly and quickly as the square dancers showed off their talent during the Tip Wa Antique Tractor and Engine Club’s fifth annual tractor show Saturday morning.

Dean McCloskey, one of the event organizers, said he was pleased the group had been able to return for a second year.

“Everyone who saw them last year wanted to see them again,” he said.

Most of the Rupley-Dixon Square Dancers are from Fort Wayne and practice once a week for two to three hours starting in May. The group — created nine years ago by Kenny and Barb Rupley — attends 12 to 15 events throughout the summer.

The 10 current dancers have been participating an average of four years. Jody Richardson, one of the dancers, said for many of the dancers it’s a family reunion.

“We’re all related,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

The group has traveled to many different events.

“You name it, we go,” said Richardson.

The group even has a fan club that follows the dancers to the different events.

Kenny said it takes a good group of people to put on a show.

“You don’t have to be crazy to do this,” he laughed. “It just helps.”

McCloskey said the tractor show had a little bit of something for everyone who stopped by.

Saturday’s event opened with games for the children. A tractor poker run, which consisted of tractors driving through Walton for a total of five playing cards, allowed drivers a chance at a prize for the best poker hand. Several tractor games were held for club members who owned one of the 140 antique tractors lined up for display.

A tractor pull for fun only was followed by a pitch-in dinner for exhibitors and members of the club. Each club member took along a dish to share. After dinner, two different music groups offered a break from tractor events.

“It’s become bigger every year,” said McCloskey. “We have a bigger and better display.”

Twenty garden tractors, two combines and a couple of dozen gas engines were also on display.

This year’s show offered some old tractors and some newly restored antique tractors.

The show also featured several antique “hit-n-miss” engines that were used for a multitude of tasks, including a concrete mixer.

McCloskey said the events are chosen based on the show’s schedule and what could be squeezed in. He said there were a variety of things to choose from, with some ideas even coming from other antique tractor clubs.

The event is always held on the Fourth of July weekend.

“The town of Walton always has activities,” McCloskey explained. “We wanted to help support that. It helps the town out, and it helps us out.”

Another member, Larry Weaver, allows the club to use his land on U.S. 35 to hold the event each year.

Lonnie and Myra Miller had tractors in the show. The two enjoyed the square dancing demonstration.

“It was good,” Lonnie said. “I couldn’t do it. That’s for sure.”

The show went on this year without the club’s founder, the late Glenn Adair.

Even though Adair couldn’t be there himself, he still had his recently finished 1954 Farmall 200 on display. The tractor is now owned by his children, Beth Hook and Chuck Adair.

Chuck completed the tractor for his father and parked it next to the table where his dad always sat. Chuck said the project was a way for him to heal.

“I kept the promise that it would be painted for this year’s show,” he said.

Denise Massie can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or via e-mail at denise.massie@pharostribune.com