Boy Scout Tractor Show enjoys good weather and a good turnout

 

[June 04, 2022]   On Saturday the Mount Pulaski Boy Scout Troop 122 hosted a sandwich sale and tractor show on the back lawn of the community center in Lake Fork. It was a pleasant sunny day not too hot, and for once, not too windy.

The event brought in a large number of farm tractors in a wide variety of ages and brands.

Looking around it appeared that the event was dominated mostly by Oliver tractors of all ages and a very small number of Internationals. John Deere numbers were somewhere in the middle and then there were some less common versions such as Case, Minneapolis Moline, Massey Ferguson and Allis-Chalmers.




The dominance of the Oliver brand was clear and a bit comical bringing to mind the song “lonely little petunia in the onion patch” when visitors reached a long line of all Olivers, with one lonely little International Harvester 756 parked at the end of the row.

Around the lot there were signs of a life lost but still remembered and loved in the community including a special spot for a Case tractor under the pavilion that was clearly labeled as “Caleb’s Collection.” Caleb Coogan was a young man who was loved by many in the community and had possessed the wonderful quality of having bridged the generation gap with friends that were young and friends that were much more seasoned in life. He loved his tractors and garden tractors and enjoyed spending time with like-minded people. Caleb lost his life in an accident in September of 2017.



Around the show, people gathered in small groups, talking tractor most of the time, as it was clear that there were a good number of farmers in the bunch who were taking a moment to recall a day when the tractor in front of them, now an antique or at least “vintage” was a new innovation that every farmer longed to have in his barn.



While most were gathering around tractors, a small crowd gathered around an added feature in the parking lot. It wasn’t planned per say, but two fellows showed up with their guitars and sat on the fender of a trailer strumming tunes and visiting with folks who came past.

In addition to the guitarists, there were a couple of folks on hand with political interests. Illinois Senator Sally Turner was on hand. With a knack for fitting into whatever environment she is in, Turner casually visited with several people about their concerns for the future of the state. As one who grew up in Logan County with a farming background and family currently involved in farming, Turner related well to the discussions of the day. Alongside her was Don Knapp who is running for the 11th Judicial District Circuit Judge.







In the kitchen of the concession stand the boy scouts were also quite busy. The lunch menu included a pork chop sandwich with chips and a drink and a sweet treat for dessert.
 

In all, it was a good day, laid back and relaxed with plenty of time to just enjoy being outdoors, check out some common and unique farm implements and support a very good cause.

Money earned by the scouts will go to further support the activities of the club.

[Nila Smith]