Great weather meant a big crowd for Antique Power Days over the weekend.
The President of the sponsoring Southern Illinois Antique Power Club Sean Earle says activity started on Thursday with a six hour long consignment auction that is instrumental in raising money for the annual event.
“It was fantastic. We had great weather, a lot of people here on the fair4grounds all weekend. Our crowd for the tractor pull Friday night was really well attended. We had tons of people out here waiting on food vendors. The Marion County Farm Bureau Young Leaders helped sponsor our pedal tractor pull this year. They did a fantastic job with that getting it organized and buying several prizes to give away. We had a bounce house for the kids this year which was a John Deere grain cart and tractor.”
The weight tractor pull on Saturday attracted 110 hooks from those with tractors on display. He estimates 300 to 400 tractors and pieces of farm machinery were brought to the show. Earle notes the farm toy vendors filled the exhibit building. He says they will try and add more flea market vendors next year.
Earle says next year’s show will be bringing some additional displays to town.
“Next year we are going to be featuring Ford and Fordson tractors. And we’ve been contacted by the Ford Collectors Association and they want to have an Illinois and Indiana Chapter show here. Most of the time it’s held up north but it will give guys from southern Illinois not to have to travel so far. And they are expected to bring 40 some tractors to our show which will be a great addition as well.”
Earle says those interested in old farm machinery are invited to join the Antique Power Club whether they own a tractor or not. The group meets on the third Monday of each month at the Marion County Fair office at 7 p.m.
Demonstrating household appliances before modern technology. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Tractors on display at Antique Power Days. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Antique Farm Equipment in operation. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
The Marion County Fair Exhibit Building filled with farm toys. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Part of the Antique Power Days Flea Market. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
A tractor bounce house made its debut at this year’s Antique Power Days. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
