The Western
Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery Association is hosting its the Annual Show on June 27th,
28th and 29thh at
Frontier Village in Adrian. But how much do you know about where The Western
Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery Association originated from? Here is a
little information.
In 1975 a
small group of 6 men gathered together during the annual tractor pull, which
was a fundraiser for the Adrian Optimist Club. These men put on a tiny show as
part of the event using their vintage antique tractors. They gathered with six
very old tractors brought back from being abandoned in fence rows decades
earlier. Each one had been brought back to life for this special occasion where
they had a special part of the “tractor pulling show” along with modern farm
tractors.
The crowd
had responded favorably with the little show that had included an old Wallis,
an F20 Farmall, a G John Deere, a B John Deere, a GP John Deere. After the
event, there seemed to be an immediate growing interest in antique farm
equipment.
In late
1975, Calvin Field and Don Arndt started talking about forming a “club” of old
farm equipment owners. A gathering of about 20 men met at the George Sollars Farm
under a shade tree where it was unanimously decided to proceed with the
formation of the club. A board of 6 men, being led by Don Arndt President and
Calvin Field serving as Treasurer and Secretary were elected.
Appropriately,
the group was formed sitting on buckets, tree stumps, and baled hay at the end
of a wheat field sitting next to a 1930 tractor.
By the 1976
Bicentennial Celebration, several pieces of antique farm equipment had been
brought back to life by these individuals.
The little group made a great showing for the 200th Year
Anniversary of the Nation.
The club had
grown rapidly; Within a couple of years it had grown to a size that it was
decided to incorporate it as a not for profit, and it also decided to have a
“show” at the Adrian City Park featuring their old equipment – which many had
restored to their original beauty. Threshing machines, saw mills, grain mills,
plows, and every kind of farm machine was included.
In late
July 1979, the newly formed Western Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery
Association, Inc. held their first three day show, and it was deemed a huge
success.
In late
1981, discussions with the City of Adrian began concerning the use of the
abandoned acreage on the East edge of the town. In September of 1982, an
agreement was made, and the Western Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery
Association, Inc.’s annual event was moved to the present day show grounds.
The grounds
were reclaimed from buck brush, shrubs, trees and being a dumping ground for years.
Members cleaned it up, plowed the entire acreage, disked it, and seeded it all.
The grass wasn’t up yet when the first building restoration project began with
a big project. The Mount Vernon School was moved from several miles west of
Passaic to the grounds. Being totally restored to the original condition the
old one room school was only the beginning of many huge projects the young
group would undertake in the next few years. At least one new building project
was completed every year from log cabins to reconstructing store buildings from
area small towns and communities.
The huge
1983 Western Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery Association, Inc.’s show
was held on the new grounds as a record breaking crowed enjoyed the 5th
Annual event. By the late 80’s crowds were numbering from 10,000 to nearly
15,000 visitors – all of which were looking and watching in awe at hundreds of
restored vintage equipment operating as they had so many years before.
Membership
grew to over 200 in the 1980’s, and the building continues today while the
group holds four major events annually.
The 2025
Western Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery Presents the Annual 3 day Steam
and Gas Engine show June 27rd, 28th and 29th at the Historic Frontier Village, located on
the Southeast Corner of Interstate 49 and Highway 18 in Adrian.
*The
Western Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery Association historical
information is courtesy of Don Arndt.
*The story was written and researched by the Adrian News Leader.
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