This year’s trip to Oregon, IL, for AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree, wasn’t the beginning of my show year. It still marks as one of my favorites, however. It’s a great opportunity to meet up with garden tractor enthusiasts from northern IL, Iowa, and Wisconsin. In previous years participants would travel from further distant states. This year wasn’t the case. I’d imagine that fuel prices were a determining factor…
I almost didn’t go this year myself. It turned out to be a blessing that I had made a nonrefundable room reservation. That wasn’t the key reason I made the venture. Thankfully, with a lighter truck ,and a smaller trailer, it makes the fuel mileage – gas price equation still work out for me. Rather than taking a load of six tractors, I only took one.
Friends Carl Davis and Jerry Lindsey made their fuel equation work in another method. They truck pooled, Loading two each on Carl’s trailer and pulling the load with Jerry’s truck. That’s just a couple examples of coping that I noted. During the initial greeting with show host Andy Hinrichs, I apologized that I hadn’t brought more to display. Andy the ever gracious host just shrugged my apology off. Stating it didn’t matter. He was just glad I came. He reminded me it isn’t totally about the tractor tally, it’s about the friendship. Of course he’s right!
This year I left in plenty of time to enjoy prep day, even though I didn’t need much time to prepare. Digger Dave Kemp and I had discovered a great lunch stop on the way up during a previous trip. I made sure to pass through Lacon, IL to have barbeque at the base of the river bridge.
Last year, I had roomed at the Quality Inn in Dixon. The room was comfortable but a little outdated. I was in for a very pleasant surprise this year. The hotel is updating. My room was absolutely amazing. Sure there’s the usual microwave mini fridge and coffee pot. I got put in a suite. Full size fridge with freezer, which included an ice maker. A galley style kitchen, with over counter full microwave. A stovetop, dishwasher, and a garbage disposal. This was nicer than my cabin rental in TN a few years ago. Any guess where I’m staying next year?
Prep day set up wasn’t as populated as previous years. I was surprised to see so many yard spaces and made a plea on Facebook.
The Fish Fry was a little more intimate this year, making the evening fellowship much more subdued. Overall show attendance was less this year for both days. Those there, still had a great time though. After watching Andy and his crew do their usual phenomenal hosting, I’d have to say Andy was more relaxed this year. I think he actually had more chance to visit. During my interview last year, Andy commented that if you come to see him wanting to talk, don’t come to the show. He can’t spare the time. This year may have been the exception.
There was a change up for parade marshal this year. AJ relinquished the lead to Carl Davis. Andy commented “The Lord only knows where Carl was going to lead them. I hope you all have a full tank!” After Carl signed autographs, I was the only one willing to pay for one. The parade stepped off.
The usual events took place throughout the day. There was plowing, an auction, the slow race and the usual driving around the yard. That slow race has some fearsome competition! Those tractor’s barely move! The food was good, and of course the ice cream truck was set up. What more do we need? Good Fellowship, Good Fun, Good food.
This year power units were the feature. So if anyone needed to run PTOs this was the year for it.
I finally got an interview with Kevin and Hayden Fay this year. We discussed the Haney that they brought last year. My blog article was only one year overdue. Mark McCarron, I’ll try not to take that long to feature your tractor.
Antique Iron Media 