Plow Day low-tech fun for antique-tractor owners
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 01:54 p.m., November 19, 2007
Updated 01:54 p.m., November 19, 2007
Duane Watts stood beside a field across from the Emporia Municipal Golf Course on Saturday morning watching several antique tractors plow the corn stubble into his field, releasing the scent that every farmer knows well — freshly tilled dirt.
The people plowing the field Saturday were a part of the Flint Hills Antique Power Association and they were participating in the annual Plow Day.
Plow Day has been held for several years, Watts said as he watched several rows of tractors in the distance work the land. Each year the tractor owners get together to socialize and use their antique tractors and plows.
Several makes of tractors were on the field, including Farmall, John Deere, International, Allison and Oliver. Each tractor was pulling an antique plow. There were several different kinds of plows as well — each unique in how much dirt it kicked up and how deeply it plowed.
Jim Haynes, a member of the association, was driving a red 1956 Farmall. He stopped long enough to answer a few questions before leaving again to plow another row of dirt.
“I enjoy coming out and running with the old tractors,” he said from atop his tractor. “Most everything out here is obsolete. It’s just kind of a fun day.”
After the farmers plowed most of the morning they were rewarded for their efforts with a meal. Watts said he and his wife, Ellen, served up hot dogs, chips and baked beans.
Watts said the meal is a big hit. Last year, he said with a laugh, there were fewer than eight tractors for the plowing, but many more people than that showed up for the meal.
photobuggy2 (anonymous) says...
How cool, I would have loved to take my Grandson to see that. He would have loved it.
November 19, 2007 at 4:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )