Creating an Official Day

Let’s start by following the YouTube link below (Tap the picture)

Saturday, August 22, was proclamed Antique Tractor Preservation Day by the Illinois House of Representatives. A ceremony was held in Pekin, IL, to celebrate. The day became official in several states beyond Illinois, but the celebration is still yet to grow nationwide. The planning hasn’t been new, either.

Kansas native Michael Hinton has been working to create Antique Tractor Preservation Day since 2010. Maybe some have already learned Michael’s story. He has been an antique tractor enthusiast for many years

Michael also has a website at http://www.talkingtractors.com

Michael has been the voice promoting  on national radio, and as a guest of podcasts. Several  magazine articles have been written. His hard work and dedication have earned him to become a recent inductee of the National Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Kevin Bresnahan discovered what Michael had been working to create through a magazine article. Also, a believer, Kevin, took up the cause in Illinois.

Kevin worked tirelessly, making calls. He went before the State House of Representatives to testify, which earned him the following proclamation

August 22, a tractor show was held to celebrate the day. 31 tractors and 19 lawn & garden tractors were on display. Mostly, Pekin locals were present, but a few traveled from other parts of the state.

This show was a little different. A ceremony began at 11 am. with  a presentation of our nation’s colors, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation, Mary Burress, Pekin Mayor, shared her thoughts and presented a proclamation to Kevin

State Representative Travis Weaver was next at the podium. Weaver had been the crucial politician helping to create the official day.

The ceremony wrapped with John Ackerman , Tazewell County Clerk, and Recorder of Deeds, sharing early agriculture history in the county.

Promoting agriculture history to the public has been something discussed between many collector circles. I must applaud Michael and Kevin’s efforts to gain a day of recognition.

Now, a few states are recognizing agriculture history and honoring a special day. The founding day isn’t the end goal. If anything, this is just the beginning of greater things to come.