Family fun down on the farm

It's an annual event. It's a chance for lovers of antique tractors to get together and compare equipment. It's a chance for children to have fun and learn about farming history. It's a good time in the hills.

The fifth annual Vintage Tractor Days is also a chance for the residents of Oregon House and Dobbins to raise money for their community center.

"At most tractor shows you go to," said organizer Rod Hisken, "you park it in a little square in the sun and talk to people who might want to ask you questions. But we'll be doing competitive games with the tractors.

"The goal of the tractor show is to provide family entertainment, where families can come up and enjoy a day in our beautiful community and hopefully learn something.

"One thing we're trying vigorously to do is make this an educational activity. So someone can come up here and see how our country transitioned from horses in agriculture to big equipment. These are the things that made it possible," the retired school principal said.

Rod says there will be some significant tractors on display, including a 1946 John Deere Model A: "It was delivered to the Colusa Farm Agency on Dec. 6, 1946." And a 1947 AO John Deere, which he said was first sold at Marysville Tractor and Equipment when the store was on Fifth Street.

He said that he'll also have a number of his own vintage machines at the show, including a 1951 20 hp Oliver Cletrac track layer; a 1946 John Deere Model D that was often used in rice fields; and his wife's 1947 Farmall H.

"It was these types of machines that allowed us to send food all over the world.

"While the property is mine, and many of the tractors are mine, this is an Oregon House community activity. All the money goes to the construction of the community center," Rod said.

Douglas Binderup, chairman of the Dobbins/Oregon House Improvement Foundation — also known as DOIF — said that the nine-year community center project is nearly complete, and he gives a lot of credit to the tractor show for its help. "Rod and the tractor people have been very generous to us." Last year, the event generated nearly $9,000 that was donated to the center. Income comes from the parking, sponsors and food concessions, Rod explained.

Douglas said that the 10,000-square-foot facility is 98 percent finished, and he expects it to be open within the next three weeks, with a conditional-use permit.

According to Rod, the tractor event has grown by about 30 to 35 percent each year, and he expects about 100 tractors this year. "I know of at least three tractors that are coming from Oregon, and at least four tractors that are coming from Nevada."

There will be very little time for either the participants or the audience to sit around and talk during the two-day event, because Rod has rides and games planned for both days. “The optimum time to attend, for people who do not have tractors, is from 11 to 5 on Saturday and 9 to 11:30 on Sunday,” he said.

Talking about why the Vintage Tractor Days is a great event, Rod said, "Families can come up, buy a hot dog, pet the cow, be in a nice place, learn something, have fun and not spend a lot of money."

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter John Hollis at 741-2400 or jhollis@appealdemocrat.com.

• SATURDAY'S GAMES

"No. 1, I have the thing called the 'Barrel race.' In a 3-acre spot in the back, I'll have lanes where there'll be a barrel placed on its side, and they have to push the barrel with the front tire, and whoever does it fastest down the 60 feet of lane wins.

"Then there's the 'Slow race' — that's for track layers and wheeled tractors — and whoever takes the longest wins."

Also scheduled are the "Corn planting" contest, where the driver has to drop a 1/2-inch washer into a #10 can as he drives over the can, and the "Tractor-totter" (a crowd favorite), where the driver rolls up a huge teeter-totter, balances both ends in the air and then drives down the other side. "That's a real challenge, and not many people can do it. Last year, we had three people do it."

There's also the "Farm wagon backing" contest, where the driver must back a four-wheel farm wagon around a 90-degree curve and park the wagon's back wheels against a telephone pole that's lying on the ground.

• SUNDAY'S GAMES

• "Egg hauling" contest, where the driver must carry a raw egg in a teaspoon while navigating a course with obstructions. "They have to drive over the obstructions."

• "Chain race," where the driver uses a chain and a 10-foot piece of rope to lay the chain in a coil. Score comes from elapsed time and the diameter of the chain coil.

• "Backing" contest, where the driver has to back up a lane that is only slightly wider than the tractor's tires.

While all of that is fun for the drivers and enjoyable to watch, Rod and the other event planners have also made sure there's plenty for the children to do as well.

Rod said the kid's games include:

• Tractor toss (bean bag throw) game

• Needle in the haystack contest: This Saturday-only game will have various prizes hidden in a pile of straw, with the top prize awarded to the child who finds the needle hidden in a matchbox.

• John Deere teeter totter

Other activities include pedal tractors and a tractor train, where kid-sized wagons are towed behind a restored John Deere riding lawnmower (with blades removed).

A food concession will be on site, selling hot dogs and drinks.