By ANN ALLEN
Indiana Correspondent ROCHESTER, Ind. — In addition to their usual fare of antique tractors, hit-and-miss engines and equipment, organizers of the June 17-19 Fulton County Historical Power Show will host members of Chapter 33 International Harvester Collectors Club.
In extending the invitation, they challenged club members to provide 56 tractors from the 56 series, which include gold demonstrators.
Gold demonstrators, specially painted 544, 656, 826 and 1456 IH tractors, were introduced in 1970 to draw attention to the company’s tractor line. Dealers were to use them for on-farm demonstrations to boost sales. According to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Hydrostatic tractors were especially favored.
Forty-one years later, all models of gold demonstrators are considered collectible.
Carl Overmyer of Rochester is president of Chapter 33 as well as vice president of the Fulton County Historical Power Assoc. He and fellow members will be in a tent in Center Field to sell and renew memberships. They also will have souvenir caps and other items.
The featured business this year will be Jim Berry and Sons of Kewanna, Ind. In addition to an exhibit tent in center field, it will put special focus on the 50th anniversary of the Cub Cadet.
David Bradley lawn tractors will be highlighted, along with garden tractors built by IH, Allis-Chalmers, John Deere, Case, Minneapolis-Moline, Massey Harris, Oliver, Cockshutt, McCormick- Deering and others.
Also on tap are an antique tractor pull at 5 p.m. this Friday, Tater Creek Bluegrass Band at 7 p.m. Friday and powder puff and steam tractor pulls at 1 p.m. Saturday, plus hay baling and corn grinding demonstrations.
The show is located on the Fulton County Historical Society grounds four miles north of Rochester, on U.S. Highway 31. Admission is $5 for adults (age 12 and over) and free for children 11 and under. Free parking and tram rides will be available. The grounds are handicapped-accessible.
A schedule of events and times may be obtained by emailing Melinda Clinger at melinda@rtcol.com or by going to webpage www.fultoncountyhistory.org |
