Reliving the old ways

November 04, 2007 01:49 am

— WALTON — More than 28 antique tractors plowed the 125 acres in Walton on Saturday.
The Tip Wa Antique Tractor and Engine Club joined together for the annual Plow Day. The event has taken place since the club was organized nearly five years ago by Glenn Adair.
The event has grown since it first started with a 14-acre field. The second year nearly tripled the amount of land and it again doubled the following year to 100 acres. This year’s 80 acres was a comfortable amount to complete in one afternoon.
From young to old, many participated in the day’s event.
“A few (children) are on tractors with parents,” said Dean McCloskey, a club member and event organizer. “They are young and it’s their first time on a tractor or first time plowing. Some guys are in their 80s, so we cover a large span. It’s a pretty diverse group of people.”
Most of the tractors were at least 60 years old and ranged from a one-plow bottom to a four-plow bottom. The oldest tractor was from 1936 and consisted of just one plow.
There was a variety of styles and brands at the show, including John Deere, International, Oliver and Ford. Each tractor varied from the next. One tractor had a two-way plow, a few had steel wheels on the back and another was classified as a crawler having unique wheels.
McCloskey said John Deere owners and International owners keep things interesting as they argue about which brand is better.
“It’s like Ford and Chevy guys,” he said. “This is just the ag version of it.”
The club is not limited to just farmers and holds monthly meetings.
“We welcome anyone with an interest in vintage farm equipment,” said McCloskey.
Plow Day is just one of the many events the group participates in and it also provides a service to the farmers.
Dan Kitchel who attended last year’s event, participated for the first time this year with one of his three restored tractors. Kitchel said the 1942 Oliver 70 Row Crop was the tractor he first started farming with back in the 50s.
“I just like to get old tractors out to plow like they used to in the old days,” he explained. “It makes you appreciate what time and development has done for tractors. The new ones have temperature control in them. These, you have to sit in the open dust and cold air.”
The event offered totally different perspectives to the farmers involved and the spectators viewing it for the first time.
For McCloskey, these tractors and plows were part of his family life as a child.
“My dad actually started collecting antique tractors before I was even born,” he said. “I grew up around it. I didn’t know any better and I thought it was something that everyone did.”
Denise Forsberg can be reached at (574) 732-5113 via e-mail at denise.forsberg@pharostribune.com

Photos

Several antique tractor enthusiasts showed up to participate in the annual Plow Day event on Saturday. This year’s event was held in Walton and consisted of a variety of tractors dating back to 1936.

Kobe Hicks, 7, sits on a 1942 Oliver 70 Row Crop tractor owned by Dan Kitchel during Plow Day.

Raymond Roach, Logansport, stirs the pot of ham and beans that was being prepared for the participants of Plow Day. The event started early and lasted into the afternoon.