Published: September 08, 2009 08:26 am      

Antique tractor show highlights Cooke County's agricultural history

The Antique Tractor and Farm Machinery Show taking place in Lindsay today gives an interesting history of farming and agriculture.

The event opens at 9 a.m. and the show starts at 11 a.m.

Show events include wheat threshing, hay baling, small engine displays, corn grinding in grist mill, horse-drawn equipment, tractor games, corn shelling, corn picking, steam tractors, tractor races, old-time plowing, kiddie pedal tractor pull, tractor parade and arts and crafts.

The show also brought out a large number of people, many of whom said they came to the event for a variety of reasons.

Don Schad, who collects antique tractors and farm machinery was busy placing the pieces he and his brothers, Danny and Schad own together during Saturday morning.

“We’ve been doing it since grade school,” said Schad. Together they own about 20 pieces.

Schad said that they got into the collecting mode probably by following in their uncles footsteps. “Our uncles were doing it before we were.”

E. J. Shad of Valley View was pulling a large wagon, which looked somewhat like a smaller buckboard wagon, into place on the grounds.

Shad said he bought the wagon after it sat in a barn in Era for a long time and had the wheels restored by the Amish people in Clarita, Okla.

He said that he wasn’t sure what type of wagon it really was or the year it was made but said that he just likes it.

Shad said he has been a member of the Cooke County Antique Tractor and Farm Machinery Club, which is sponsoring the event, since it started. “I have a love of antiques and the old way of life.”

Lane and Marie Taylor of Rhome were busy walking through the rows of tractors and machinery and said they have come out to the show for the last five years. Lane was a farmer for a living and said that he comes up here to look and remember.

Retired farmer J.C. Newberry said that he has attended the show several years and says that seeing all of the tractors and machinery brings back many memories.

The Cox family stands next to a shiny red tractor that has been passed down through the generations. The 1942 Farmall B belonged to Melanie’s great-uncles and grandfathers.

Cooke County Antique Tractor and Farm Machinery Club Treasurer Willie Matthews said, “curiosity brings me out here.”

He said he has been involved with the club since it started 24 years ago. “It’s just a group of people that have similar interests. Many of them have been farmers.

“About 110 people are in the club and come from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana,” Matthews added. “The club does not have regular meetings. “We meet when we think we need to.”

“We’re always glad to have new members interested in old farm equipment,” he added.

For more information about the club call 940-668-786.