Organizers of the Antique Power Days at the Marion County Fair Grounds were pleased with their four day event, even though it came to an early end due to the misty chilly weather on Sunday.
Southern Illinois Power Club President Derrick Brandt says Thursday and Friday were great days.
“We had a real busy weekend. Thursday we started with our consignment sale and had about 98 different consigners and I would say had about 450 different buyers on Thursday. Friday we took a trip to Hawthorn and Franklin Park and 400-500 kids at Hawthorn and another 500 at Franklin Park sit out there. And it’s a joy for us to hear the kids say they want a ride on the tractor or they were coming to see us. It’s a lot of fun for us guys seeing what kind of smiles we put on their face.”
Paid attendance for a Friday night tractor pull totaled about 200 people.
Brandt says a large crowd estimated at nearly 3,000 including those with displays enjoyed what turned out to be a nice Saturday.
“We had the antique weighted tractor pull and had about 132 hooks, it went on all day. Thinking it was going to rain we put off our exhibitor tractor pull and ended up pulling the sled back out and anyone who exhibited could do that. Sunday we had some bad weather so closed early, but it was a free gate.”
Brandt says a toy auction on Saturday also went well.
Attention now turns to next year when the featured tractor will be John Deere. Brandt is also encouraging anyone with an interest in antique tractors, even if they currently have no knowledge, to consider joining the club. He notes as the membership grows older, they’d like to bring in younger people.
Antique tractor pull at Antique Power Days on Saturday.
Some of the old time appliances on display at the Antique Power Days Museum at the Fairgrounds.
