3 minute read
ANTIQUE TRACTOR PULL
Story by Amy Passaretti Photos by Shannon McDuffie
Randy Bodine announces this economy garden tractor from the late ’60s in the parade
Old tractors and farm equipment that are no longer manufactured were on display at Southern Antique Iron Association’s Annual Tractor Pull and Show in Wetumpka last month.
To raise awareness about the history of agriculture and its methods, the organization hosts this free show to educate spectators.
“It’s a hobby for a lot of us older guys who are tied back to farming and re-living our childhoods,” said Cliff Hornady, member of SAIA. “The show is there to educate the next generation. This old stuff is what made America.”
The group held its show in Elmore for 16 years until the property was sold, and the event could no longer be hosted there. After skipping a year while searching for a new venue, SAIA’s 18th annual tractor show this year was the second time at its new location behind the Wetumpka Sports Complex.
“The City of Wetumpka has been quite gracious and helpful and accommodating to us,” said Wiley Johnson, longtime member of SAIA.
Aside from the nearly 50 tractor models on site, there also were about eight older model trucks – both semis and pickups. Owners had opportunities to participate in a parade to show off their equipment and explain the history behind it.
The traditional tractor pull segment operates by hooking a sled to assorted sized tractors to see how far it could be pulled.
“As you pull the sled, there’s a big weight on top hooked to a gear and chain. The weight comes to the front and makes it harder to pull progressively,” said Johnson.
Whether a tractor is small, mid-sized or large will determine how far it could be pulled – along with whether the unit is modified or in its original condition.
Aside from the tractor pull and parade, there are pedal tractors available for kids to race, a hammer toss for young participants and an iron skillet toss.
“These are just some things to get the crowd involved and pass along something they enjoyed to get more people to come,” said Johnson.
There were a few food and merchandise vendors on site, and sponsorships helped to offset the cost of the event, he said. Participants traveled from as far as South Carolina, Mobile and Florida, with about 700 people passing through that day.
Members of the SAIA travel among half a dozen shows from Elmore County to the Florida line as a way to share their hobbies and get together with like-minded participants.
“I told my daughter-in-law when her oldest son started following in my footsteps, ’One tractor is good, but too many is just right,’” said Hornady.
Clockwise from top left: This International Harvester cub cadet was updated; Wiley Johnson shows off his Super A Farmall; Vendors were on site; Lily rides a 450 Farmall; Six antique semi-trucks were on display; Johnson pulls the sled with a powerful 1952 Farmall Super M; Cliff Hornady’s John Deere B from the ’50s in front of a Farmall C and an earlystyle John Deere A; Kids ages 2 to 11 compete in pedal races; McCormick and Deering merged and produced this 10-20 model around 1920.
