Written By Jan Sims
ILDERTON - This year’s Tri-County Heritage & Antique Show had a lot of pull, in more ways than one. The annual three-day event ran from July 12-14 at the Ilderton Fairgrounds. And for many, the big attraction was the tractor pull. “Tractor pulls are very competitive. Each tractor driver wants to pull the longest distance from the starting line, so it takes skill to maintain a steady pull without running out of traction or power. The winner is the tractor that pulls the longest distance,” says event organizer Bev Hughes. While some other tractor pulls offer cash prizes, for this event competitors were vying for bragging rights.
Because of the range of tractor sizes, competition is based on the weight of the vehicle. “Each tractor is hooked onto a pull-sled. As the tractor pulls the sled, a series of heavy weights move forward along a flat plate from the back of the sled towards the front of the sled. As the weights move forward the pull becomes harder for the tractor,” says Hughes.
As well as the tractor pulls, there was a large display of antique tractors, cars, and farm equipment. This year the feature tractor brand is Massey-Harris and Massey-Ferguson, one of the very few Canadian manufacturers of farm equipment,” says Hughes. Next year’s feature tractor brand will be John Deere.
The show also featured a number of different activities across the Fairgrounds including line-dancing lessons. “In addition to the tractor displays and tractor pulls, there is a flea-market in the Agriplex both days, plus activities for the children – a petting zoo, barrel-train rides, and a play area including a corn box,” says Hughes.
And just as this year’s show wrapped up, the Tri-County Heritage Club began planning began for next year.
