Tractor Fest at Tates

on 24th September 2022 at Tates Garden Centre in Ripon, North Yorkshire

Report by Mark Nicholson

How it all began!

In September 2020, in a short break between covid lockdowns, it was decided to celebrate National Vintage Tractor & Engine Club (NVTEC) West Yorkshire Group Chairman Mark Nicholson’s Birthday, and an attempt by the Group to escape the months of imposed house arrest that we had all suffered, there should be a short informal vintage tractor road run with a mid-way lunch stop.

West Yorkshire Group member, Dennis Boot, offered to use his home in Killinghall as a starting point and would kindly lend some of his collection of ten classic tractors. The escape from lockdown blues was on.

On 16th September 2020, five of Dennis’s tractors set off from Killinghall through the villages of Hampsthwaite, Birstwith, Clint, Burnt Yates, Shaw Mills, Bishop Thornton, Fountains Abbey and then to lunch at the newly opened Olive Tree Restaurant at Tates Garden Centre before returning home.

The five tractors arrived at a large modern garden centre, with not only ample parking but a spacious, beautifully maintained and mowed field overlooking a very well stocked outdoor sales area.

Lunch at the Olive Tree was very enjoyable, made even more welcoming by the very enthusiastic greeting by Managing Director Tom Tate. The thought was inevitably fantastic catering, clean modern toilets, large field with a car park, keen and willing host. The thought was inevitable - What a place for a show!

During the covid delays, discussions took place between Tom Tate and Mark Nicholson, and the idea of an end of lockdown informal show became a reality.

The date was set for 25th September 2021. Ripon Farm Services in Ripon were asked for their support, and they agreed to supply one of their show units and send along a modern John Deere and some of their heritage John Deere fleet. The event was publicised through Tates social media and posters, the West Yorkshire group’s newsletters and Mark Nicholson having an interview with Radio York. The big question was ‘what will the weather do’ and ‘will anyone turn up’?

It was a lovely fine and warm day, and they came! Tractor

owners and NVTEC members were just happy to be out again, to meet up with friends they had not seen for nearly two years.

East Yorkshire Group of the NVTEC travelled long distances to give a great display of engines, whilst tractor owners came from all over the area to join in the fun. The response from the public was fantastic. Young and old sat on, looked at and talked about tractors and watched the stationary engines running, whilst learning just how much these engines helped with early mechanization of agriculture and industry. They also visited the Garden Centre and enjoyed the delights of the Olive Tree restaurant whose exhausted manager at the end of the day was heard to say, “I didn’t think you tractor fellas ate so much”.

At the close of this very successful show, we all wondered if we should do it again next year. Very shortly afterwards the day for 2022 was set for 24th September, and it was decided to make the show an annual event and raise money for a different charity each year.

In the meantime, Tom Tate joined the ranks of classic tractor enthusiast by becoming the proud owner of a Ferguson Grey Gold.

As Tom and his partner Sarah have a very young son, Freddy, who recently needed treatment at the children’s ward, in the Leeds General Infirmary for a very serious heart condition he was born with, this was the cause we chose to support this year.

In addition to the tractors and engines there was a raffle, tombola, face painting and a display of birds of prey and exotic pets, making the event a real family day.

On the day of the event the weather remained fine, and even more exhibitors than last year turned up. Once again, Ripon Farm Services gave their support bringing a lot more of their heritage fleet of John Deere tractors and once again a very modern John Deere. East Yorkshire Group NVTEC members arrived with their engines showing some very interesting and rare ones.

Peter Wright, TVs Yorkshire Vet, arrived driving a classic Ford Tractor, one of a group belonging to Steven Dresser, a collector near Thirsk. We had tractors ranging from a tiny Bolens garden tractor, to a huge Claas towing a massive Sumo Quadtrac cultivator and all sizes in between. Some immaculately restored to Concours standard and others still in original condition, some with implements attached looking like they have just arrived after a days work on the farm.

Adding to the attraction we had some classic cars making it a very interesting day for the vintage enthusiasts.

Young Freddy Tate was around all day showing a very early indication that he will inherit his father’s interest in classic tractors, whilst enjoying the attention he was getting from his grandmother, aunts and every one he met with a lovely endearing smile.

The public response was even better than 2021 with people showing there is still a huge interest in vintage and classic tractors, cars and stationary engines. The result was Tom and Sarah went to the Leeds General Infirmary with a cheque for £4,000 raised on the day, thanks to the generosity of the public and all the exhibitors who helped to make this an amazing day.

This only goes to show that NVTEC members not only have fun with their tractors and engines, but other worthwhile causes benefit. What could be better?