|
Valley tractor enthusiasts take to the road
Sep 20, 2009 (The Times-News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Amid the usual mix of semi-trucks and cars parked at a truck stop near Hansen off of Interstate 84, a group of aging green and red tractors from another era stood on the parking lot.
The seven tractors -- and their drivers -- weren't there to farm. Instead, they were there for the Second Magic Valley Antique Tractor Ride on Saturday. The event, sponsored by Magic Valley Antique Tractor Pullers, is an annual 27-mile journey through rural Jerome County for those with a love of vintage tractors.
"I grew up on a farm and like fixing them up," said Ben Pratt of Twin Falls, who brought a 1950 green John Deere R model of tractor.
The tractors are reminders of the past, when farming was simpler. In past decades, the tractor was the workhouse of any farm, a simple but hardy diesel machine that was handy for a variety of tasks in the field.
These tractors were a stepping stone along the path from horse and mule-powered farms of the early 20th century to modern farms with tractors that use satellite technology for planting, fertilizing and harvesting.
The tractors' age makes them easier to fix up compared to their new-fangled counterparts.
A running red 1954 McCormick Farmall Super M-TA tractor represents about 300 hours of rebuilding work for Dave Lohr, president of Magic Valley Antique Tractor Pullers.
But it's more than just a tractor -- it's history.
"You bring it back to life so it's restored," Lohr said.
The old, strong machines quickly sputtered to life, leaving the Garden of Eden -- a truck stop -- and lumbered down rural roads through Hazelton and on to Eden.
A truck behind the procession reminded motorists to use caution when passing the tractors.
Magic Valley Antique Tractor Pullers looks to the future as well. The organization provides scholarships to college students studying diesel mechanics and agriculture.
Ben Botkin may be reached at bbotkin@magicvalley.com or 208-735-3238.
To see more of The Times-News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.magicvalley.com Copyright (c) 2009, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax
to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave.,
Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
[ Back To 4g-wirelessevolution.tmcnet.com\broadband-stimulus's Homepage ]
|
INDUSTRIES
Back to TMCnet 