A RECAP OF OUR 2011 SHOW

Friday was a wet one, AGAIN. There was plenty of rain to settle the dust and turn it into mud, but by dark, the skies had cleared and the future looked bright for Saturday. All Friday events were cancelled and the show was deemed a washout. Saturday dawned sunny and breezy, which helped dry up the mud. Saturday, as usual, started off with the Fulton Fall Folk Festival parade. There were 6 steam engines, 166 tractors, 38 Allis Chalmers feature tractors in the parade along with our local high school bands, 2 marching units, 1 equestrian group, 10 antique cars and 15 floats. Our GSR float carried the Fulton Co. Fair Queen, the runner up and the Little Miss. The parade went very well, a little breezy, but nice.

The show went on without a hitch Saturday with a great crowd. It was windy, but that, and a couple of loads of stone helped dry up the mud left over from Friday. Sunday was a beautiful day with a good crowd as well.
We rolled back the clock with the return of a $2.00 admission charge. The children’s pedal pull, that had been absent for a number of years, was back in the Saturday schedule, and due to popular demand was held again on Sunday. Up on machinery hill, the guys expanded our demonstrations by bringing out several of our stored pieces. We had our rock crusher, an ensilage cutter, a husker shredder, sawmill and a planer operating for a standing room only crowd both days.

Our featured Allis Chalmers group displayed 87 tractors, an Allis Chalmers golf cart, a 6-wheel amphibious vehicle called a Terra-Gator, Allis Chalmers refrigerators and other appliances, a lot of memorabilia, dealer items and several displays of Allis Chalmers farm toys. One highlight of Saturday’s display was a full size Allis Chalmers model “A” tractor made completely of wood. The tractor was four years in the making with tires, hoses and even the wiring was wood.

Our feature chairman Russell McLucas extends a big “THANK YOU” to all that displayed, attended and helped out with the Allis Chalmers display.

There was a total of 239 tractors and 8 steam engines on display at the show. Saturday’s events included lawn mower racing, a farm stock tractor pull, and the crowd pleasing shower of sparks during the annual steam engine pull. This year, 3 engines participated. Sunday, we held the antique and classic tractor pull as in our early years. By all accounts, the crowd, our exhibitors, vendors and our members were very pleased with this year’s show.

Plans for the 2012 show are underway. Our feature tractor will be Ford tractors and equipment and several summer activities are being planned. Another item returning is the antique tractor raffle. Our equipment crew is presently overhauling a 1951 FORD 8N in preparation for the summer show circuit. Tickets have been printed and will be available at the banquet and shows we attend throughout the summer months.