By BOB RIGGS
Indiana Correspondent

BROWNSTOWN, Ind. — Four men from the South Central Indiana area are the driving force behind the first annual Jackson County Antique Machinery Show and Swap Meet. The men are all farmers or old tractor and machinery enthusiasts.

The men expect, if all goes as planned, at this new show, there will be a large display of antique tractors, cars, trucks and gasoline engines. There will be several old-timey farm-related exhibits and demonstrations. The local FFA will sell pork burgers and hot dogs. Also, at the event there will be an all-day swap meet and yard sale.
The show will run from May 7-9. The location will be a large parking lot at the Jackson County Fairgrounds, which is located in Brownstown, Ind. Nearby cities are Crothersville and Seymour, which is on the Interstate-65.

There will be various forms of entertainment throughout each day of the show. Show originator Coonie Barger said by noon on Friday there should be corn grinding, blacksmithing, and jewelry-making demonstrations. Then at 7 p.m. the music will kick off with the popular Deer Creek Bluegrass Band.

On Saturday morning around 8 a.m. there will be a tractor drive that will last about two hours. Barger said there will also the corn grinding, blacksmithing, jewelry-making, plus rope and basket making exhibits and demonstrations. There will be more bluegrass and gospel music, an antique truck and car cruise-in, more swap and yard sale vendors.

Primitive camping sites without electricity or water, will be available for the duration of the show.

For four years Barger ran a show at the Marion Township Community Center in nearby Jennings County, but last year’s event got too big and there was just not enough vendor and parking space. So, he talked to Jackson County Fair Board member Melvin Bishop about holding the event on the fairgrounds there.
Bishop liked the idea of a new show and took it to the rest of the board.

“They were behind it 100 percent,” retired farmer Bishop said.
Gary Needler, of Seymour, who remembers going to antique machinery shows with his parents before most of the county fairs displayed old tractors. His father bought an old Massie Harris 44 Special. The family had a part in the restoration process that year, he said.

Needler helped Barger with the chores and management at the Marion show last year.

“We had a beautiful windy day, said Needler. “There were 33 tractors, 100 engines, and 15 antique cars.”

Kevin Hoevener of Crothersville has farmed on his own for about 20 years. He said he has been collecting farm machinery ever since his two sons, age 8 and 11, were old enough to go to shows with him. Hoevener helped out at the Crothersville Red, White Festival for the past three years, where he parked tractors. He also helped Barger at Marion recently.

Hoevener, who recently bought an old battery box and tractor tires at a swap meet, said people will be able to buy tractor and farm-related items. There will be plenty of old tractor parts and machinery parts he said.

Hoevener said he would like to see 60 to 75 tractors at the show.
All four leaders say they are pleased with the way the volunteers and the community has pitched in to help get this show together in time. For more information, call Barger at 812-523-3594.

Directions to this show are: From the junction of S.R. 50 and S.R. 250 take 250 east for half mile to the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown.