By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent GEORGETOWN, Ohio — As if southern Ohio wasn’t green enough already, the landscape in Georgetown, in Brown County, was a bit greener two weekends ago when John Deere antique machinery highlighted the 37th annual Ohio Valley Antique Machinery Show.
“Our show has been increasing in size and attendance the past 10 years,” club president Jeff Smith said. “Most of those engaging in the antique farm implements seem to be farmers, and there are young and old getting involved in the restoration process. We’re noticing that some people just love antiques.”
There are many antique machinery clubs in southwestern Ohio and several shows during the summer months, but none bigger than the annual gathering each August near Georgetown.
“These shows are quite popular, and this one attracts hobbyists from Vermont, Texas, Arizona and Florida,” Smith said. “We have 1,000 members in this club and one lives in Italy. Just amazing.”
This year’s attendance eclipsed the 10,000 mark for the four-day event. There were 400 tractors of all types on the premises, with a sprinkling of small machines, demonstrations and food booths.
This year’s featured machinery was anything made by John Deere, though there were plenty of Massey-Fergusons and others covering the 100-acre grounds.
Next season, the theme will be Steam and Iron Wheel tractors.
“It’s amazing when you talk with the exhibitors, most will tell you they find the machinery rusting away in fields and old sheds,” Smith said. “It’s a hobby with many just to restore them and get them running.”
This farm news was published in the Aug. 22, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
