“Despite chilly weather, it was a delightful time for country folks, and urbanites, too, from all around.”
That has to be the best synopsis of the recent 2013 Spring Crank Up Tractor Show, and a number of related activities, at Ag Heritage Park in Alta Vista, according to the family of Everett Zimmerman.
Connie Larson, Zimmerman’s daughter who serves as president of the directors for the farm museum, tabulated: “More than 300 visitors came from 60 Kansas towns and as far away as Oklahoma, Maine and Hawaii.”
Thirty exhibitors displayed 34 tractors including a 1961 IH Cub Cadet with a plow and a new Massey Ferguson tractor.
“A number of the participants drove their tractors in the cruise down Alta Vista’s main street and attracted a large crowd of viewers,” said Larson, who noted that some of the 40 tractors permanently on display at Ag Heritage Park were also featured in the parade.
Among highlights of the daylong public presentation were hit-and-miss and kick-start engines, a 1930 GMC fire truck, a sawmill, a couple restored pickups, and an IHC Husker Shredder, as well as a Maytag washer all the way from Oakley, and several gas engines from Hays,.
“A Barn Quilt Seminar, sponsored by the Kansas Flint Hills Quilt Trail, was quite well attended,” Larson commented.’
Sue Hageman from Riley and Susan Kesl of Milford (artist of the blocks on the main Ag Heritage Park museum), assisted by Bobbi Prinz, Westmoreland, shared helpful instructions, tips, patterns and ideas for barn quilts with interested participants, Larson added.
Seating was filled to capacity much of the time by smiling-toe-tapping-fans during musical entertainment by Ron Schultz and Friends “jamming” bluegrass and gospel songs.
“I was very pleased with a good turnout of exhibitors and visitors even though the weather was windy and chilly,” Larson again summarized.