[AT] Tractor club

[Francis Robinson]

     I have written about this before. I am still planning seriously on forming a local tractor club of a slightly different nature. We do have several good clubs here in surrounding counties (and a few counties without any clubs) but the local club in Shelby County really sucks eggs through a straw. It is comprised mostly of "pullers". Now I have nothing against pullers but here unless you are a puller you are an outsider. The local show has just gone down hill year after year. The pulling guys used to come and line their tractors up then as soon as they had their pull (they do have some nice pulls) they took them home. The last I saw they didn't even participate in the show at all except for pulling and that is away from the show area of the fairgrounds. Back when I was still in it they were complaining about the numbers being down so bad so I hauled a bunch of extra stuff in and lined it up. I had 5 of my better tractors, an Allis Roto-baler and several Gravelys. I didn't just sit it there and leave, I sat with it and answered a lot of questions about it. For my efforts, some made fun of my rusty stuff and it got back to me that a couple complained about it. Those here that have seen my stuff know that most of it isn't fancy or shiny but it isn't junk. I joke about my "Trusty Rusties" and didn't mind them joking at all but the complaints kind of stuck in my craw. As the show continued to go down hill I finally just quit going. I believe the local engine guys still do fairly well and I think the pulling guys still do OK but a lot of the showing tractor guys have quit. They used to pull in maybe 250 to 300 tractors. The last time I went I counted about 45.
     My concept for a club is to be a much more member friendly and have several gatherings a year based more on member interaction and perhaps with workshops more important than showing. Maybe what I am trying to say is that gathering the tractors and implements together would be more for sharing than showing. Kind of like the Cubfests that George Willer originally started have been. Not that we wouldn''t be showing but not the kind of show where you come put a tractor in line and go home...   :-)   
     My concept would also welcome project tractors like non-runners or incomplete tractors so the owner could get a lot of input. The correct police would only be permitted to comment if they could muster a smile first and belittling would be a hanging offence.   :-)
     Between all of my tractors and son Scott's tractors and a few good neighbors, a relative or two and some friends I think we could have a decent starting show or at least a lot of fun... I have room for quite a few campers and that is something the local show never had was camping. Maybe if it had campfire "meetings" instead of one open winter meeting a year at the courthouse it would have done better. Directors are important but input needs to come from everybody.
     I have several things to do first. One is be sure I have my insurance ducks in a row. Another is to be sure I have a good date and lastly I have to spring it all on Diana...   :-)
-
     I saw a brother-in-law get into trouble just last weekend for "thinking without proper supervision".    ;-)



farmer

Francis Robinson
Central Indiana USA
robinson46176 at hotmail.com


_________________________________________________________________
Get ideas on sharing photos from people like you.  Find new ways to share.
http://www.windowslive.com/explore/photogallery/posts?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Photo_Gallery_082008