Wanda English Burnett
Editor

Location, location location, was truly the story behind the Vintage Garden Tractor Club of America coming to Osgood for their annual show.

“They really liked the fact that the fairgrounds park was in town,” noted Chuck Heck, president of the Southeastern Indiana F.A.R.M. Club. The F.A.R.M. Club will host the National Garden Tractor Club of America at their Antique Tractor and Engine Show June 26, 27, and 28 at the Ripley County Fairgrounds Park in Osgood.

Heck, who has been working toward the goal of hosting the national tractor club for three years, said he received a call this past winter from them, saying, “it looks like the fairgrounds is right in town.” Confirmation of that statement set the wheels in motion, meaning the club, more than 1000 members strong, will be setting up in Osgood.

Excited about the F.A.R.M. Club’s third year at Osgood, Heck said the fairground park is a perfect place with lots of room for the group.

This year they will also host The Hoosier Co-op Jamboree, which will feature Co-op and cockshutt tractors and more. Heck said they are expecting up to 1000 garden tractors alone, with numerous other exhibits coming. The F.A.R.M. Club should have at least 200 tractors themselves, according to Heck.

Besides tractors of every variety, there will be steam engines, threshing, hay baling, corn shredding, sawmill, shingle mill, working blacksmith, and many other exhibits showcasing farming and antique related equipment from days gone by.

The F.A.R.M. Club is a non-profit organization composed of over 300 members. About 30 active members meet monthly to plan events such as the upcoming show at Osgood. Their purpose is to collect, exhibit, restore and preserve equipment related to farming of all sorts so it will retain its historical value.

Also a part of the club is to preserve the skills and knowledge of operation. This is where the action comes in. There will be exhibits showing how things were actually done years ago, such as the blacksmith shop, hay baling and more.

New this year at the three-day event will be a parade on Saturday at 2 p.m. “It should be less than a mile long,” Heck noted, saying the parade of a variety of exhibits will wind along Fairground Road. This is open to any exhibitor with the show who wants to be a part of it.

While there is no general admission fee, this will be the first year the group will charge a parking fee. A $2.00 charge will be asked of each vehicle to park with part of the money going to the local Fraternal Order of Police, who will be assisting with the parking.

The three days will be action packed with pedal pulls for children, a Sunday morning church service, ‘Tradin’ Post’ consignment area, swap meet, antique and flea market, crafts, bluegrass and more. Friday night’s entertainment will feature Barnstormin’ Bluegrass Band from 6-8 p.m. On Saturday, Lonesome Highway will perform from 1-4 p.m. with Common Ground taking the stage from 6-8 p.m.
There will be antique tractor pulls, garden tractor pull, and much more including great food, Amish homemade ice cream and the F.A.R.M. club’s famous kettle cooked bean soup.

For general information about the event you can contact Heck at 812-926-3654; for information about the tractor pulls contact Kevin Menchhofer at 812-756-0158; camping question can be directed to Greg Edwards at 812-926-1388. Vendors can contact Chris Schmaltz at 812-654-3949 or Dawn Dieckmann at 812-852-2660.

The club invites the community to come to this event, kick back, relax, and enjoy seeing exhibits that are fading fast from the farming landscape.