'They don't make them like they used to'

Many years ago, they could be seen in the fields of Highland County, plowing the fields, baling the hay, and helping bring in the harvest.

Over the weekend, vintage John Deere, Farmall, Ford, Oliver, Massey-Harris, Allis-Chalmers, International, Case and B.F. Avery tractors, among others, were on display at the 28th annual Highland County Antique Machinery Show.

Hundreds attended the annual show, held Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 22-24) at Amvets Recreation Park off of North Shore Drive in the Rocky Fork Lake region.

“This is the 17th year we’ve held the event here,” said Trent Morrow, president of the Highland County Antique Tractor Club. “We’ve had beautiful weather, it’s been another great weekend, and a lot of guys keep coming back year after year.”

Tractor parades were held each day, and a kiddie pedal tractor pull, a cornhole tournament, a silent auction and a flea market were also held. In addition to the tractors, old hand tools, equipment and engines were on display.

“We’ve had good crowds – on Saturday, we had a really big crowd,” said Jane Malott, secretary of the Highland County Antique Tractor Club.

“We had around 115 of the larger tractors, maybe more, and we had 30 to 40 garden tractors and many hit-and-miss engines.”

Highland County Antique Tractor Club Treasurer Ann Everetts said she always looks forward to the annual show.

“I love seeing all the vintage tractors and machinery,” Everetts said. “They just don’t make them like they used to.”