Antique Farm Machinery Show held for 14th year

Mar 21, 2023

Reva and Jim Nichols work in the information booth Friday at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show in Brownstown. Jim is secretary for the Jackson County Antique Machinery Association.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

BROWNSTOWN — Organizers of the 14th annual Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show found themselves dealing with temperatures in the 90s during the event Friday and Saturday, but that didn't keep people away.

The event at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown featured Case and International tractors, international engines, hit-and-miss engines, garden tractors and equipment.

On Friday, there was an antique tractor drive, a silent auction, a cake walk and a free bean supper.

Saturday started with a pedal pull and barrel train, an auction and some fun and games with a ladies skillet throw and a men's wrench throw in the afternoon.

The 14th annual Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show was held Friday and Saturday at the Jackson County Fairgrounds, 476 E. County Road 100S, Brownstown.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Products from Tammy Hoevener's Pigmented Creations were on display Friday and Saturday during the 14th annual Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Tractors are lined up at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show last Friday at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown. The Farmall tractor in the front belongs to Terrence Johnson.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

George Robbins of Scottsburg looks at some items at the Rustic Red Acres booth at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show on Friday.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Sandy and Dwayne Hansford of Shelbyville set up their Rustic Red Acres booth at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show on Friday. They buy, sell, trade and collect tractors and parts, machinery and literature.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Jerry Scott of Scott County, left, and Kenny Reynolds of Tampico look at tractors at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show on Friday.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Jerry Scott of Scott County, left, and Kenny Reynolds of Tampico look at tractors at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show on Friday.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Jim Steeri of Napoleon, left, and Daniel Chestnut of Odon stay out of the sun under a pop-up tent next to Chestnut's 1937 Farmall F-12 tractor Friday at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Tractors are lined up at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show last Friday at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown. The two-day event was held Friday and Saturday.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

David Wehrkamp stands by his 6 HP International Harvester engine from around 1908 at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show last Friday.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Tractors are lined up at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show last Friday at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown. The two-day event was held Friday and Saturday.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Brothers from Dupont, Jeff "Flop" Meek, left, and Ed "Flip" Meek, aka Flip and Flop, stand next to their engine at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show last Friday.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

One of six tractors Jim and Reva Nichols had on display at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show last Friday at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown. This tractor is a Ford model that Jim's grandfather bought for him in 1954 when it was brand new.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

Reva and Jim Nichols work in the information booth Friday at the Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show in Brownstown. Jim is secretary for the Jackson County Antique Machinery Association.

Lori McDonald | The Tribune

There were demonstrations of basket weaving, woodworking, blacksmithing and jewelry making throughout the show.

A variety of food was available from the Carr Township Conservation Club, Crothersville FFA, Wheeler Concessions and Kovener's Korner.

Robert Bishop, president of the Jackson County Antique Machinery Association, said they generally have between 75 and 100 tractors on display for the event, which also includes a swap meet and a flea market.

"The purpose of our organization is to preserve the past and to keep the antiques alive," Bishop said. "It's all about history and teaching the younger generation how everything used to work."

He said about a dozen board members and associates helped organize the show, and a lot of people help during the show, too.

Bishop said he and his brother collect antique stationary engines, and their dad, Melvin, is into tractors, so the show is a family affair.

"The flea markets are pretty popular and we have two buildings for those, and then there are outdoor flea markets, too," he said. "That's what most people come for, but others come for the food or the engines and things like that."

He said the money raised from the annual event goes back into the community. This year, the organization had extra money and was able to give a $500 scholarship to an FFA member.

The show is sponsored by the Jackson County Visitor Center and area merchants.

Tammy Hoevener of Pigmented Creations had some of her sublimation and wood products set up in one of the buildings at the fairgrounds. She said most of the items she makes are farm-related, and her husband, Brad, does some farming. She will be set up at Stream Cliff Farm's annual Old Barn Market this weekend in Commiskey.

Kenny Reynolds of Tampico and Jerry Scott of Scott County were walking around the fairgrounds looking at tractors. Case and International tractors were featured at the show, but Reynolds and Scott both said their favorite brand of tractor is John Deere.

"They don't make a true Case tractor anymore. Now, they make Case International," Reynolds said. "We don't have any tractors here today. We’re just looking and eating."

Scott said he was looking forward to the fish sandwiches being served by the Carr Township Conservation Club.

Daniel Chestnut of Odon was staying out of the sun under a pop-up tent next to his 1937 Farmall F-12 tractor. He said he purchased the tractor about eight months ago through an online auction in Illinois.

"Pretty much how it is now is how it was when I got it except for the engine was stuffed in," he said. "I’ll probably garden with it this spring, and I wish all mine ran as good as this one."

Chestnut said his dad and both of his grandpas collected tractors.

"I got bit naturally, and now, we’re working on our 6-year-old daughter, Kinze," he said. "She’ll be here on Saturday and has her Farmall tractor here, and she's pretty proud of it."

Allis-Chalmers tractors are more Ron Wehrkamp's style and his favorite. The Dudleytown resident attended Friday with his son, David Wehrkamp, who had a couple of stationary engines on display.

David said he has been interested in the engines since he was in eighth grade, so for about 40 years.

"We grew up on a farm, and Dad and I still farm the family farm in Dudleytown," he said.

David has about 12 stationary engines and had two on display. One was a 6 HP International Harvester from around 1908 he purchased this winter.

"I like bringing these to the shows because of the history behind them," he said. "The generations now don't really have any idea what they are, and I didn't know what they were growing up, but I had grandparents who talked about them."

David said hearing his grandparents talk about the engines sparked an interest, and after he got his first one, it kind of grew from there.

Dupont brothers Ed "Flip" Meek and Jeff "Flop" Meek, also known as Flip and Flop, were at the show Friday with a stationary engine.

Ed said the stationary engines were used around the farm to generate electricity and run power for saws to cut plywood, grind feed, run a threshing machine and other things.

Jeff said he and his brother go to quite a few farm machinery shows as far as Illinois and Ohio. Next week, they’ll be going to Evansville.

"We usually make about a three-hour circle from Dupont to go to shows," Jeff said. "We’ll go to anywhere between five and 15 shows a year."

Ed said they used to go to events more than that, but gas prices have slowed them down a little bit.

"We need more young people to get involved and keep this going," he said. "It's interesting, but a lot of people never see it, so it's nice to have these shows where young people can see it and ask questions about what's going on."

The best part of going to these events? The brothers agreed it's visiting with people, making new friends and seeing the friends they haven't seen for a while.

At a glance

The purpose of the Jackson County Antique Machinery Association is to preserve and exhibit historical farm and agricultural equipment from in and around Jackson County.

Officers of the organization are Robert Bishop, president; Melvin Bishop, vice president; Jim Nichols, secretary; and Gary Needler, treasurer.

On the Web

facebook.com/JacksonCountyAntiqueFarmMachineryAssociation