Ixonia Vintage Tractor Show set for May 26-27

There is something about old farm tractors, stationary engines, pedal tractors and farm toys that turn grown men (and women) into kids.

That's why antique farm equipment shows have become so popular.

There are numerous collector's clubs scattered out around the country and the state. Now another club has started - the Ixonia Vintage Tractor Club.

The club formed after the group of Ixonia area collectors successfully hosted a two-day show last year on Memorial Day weekend in Ixonia. As they made plans to host a second show this Memorial Day weekend, they also formally organized as a club, charter, by-laws, board of directors and all.

The main reason they formed the club was to make it easier to host more shows, says Curt Pernat, the club's president.

The show will take place May 26-27 and will feature the usual music, refreshments, flea market, barrel train rides for kids, pedal pull and display of antique machinery.

Like last year, the event will also include a tractor parade on Saturday. Area equipment dealers and hardware stores have registration forms and information about the event.

The Saturday parade includes two separate groups.

One group meets at the county park at Rome and then travels along a 25-mile route along the back roads of Jefferson County north to Ixonia.

A second group meets at the Lebanon Fire Department parking lot at 7:30 a.m. and will wind through rural southeastern Dodge County to Ixonia.

Only one person is allowed to ride on each tractor unless the tractor has a designated passenger seat. The club will provide a wagon, however, for family members or others who want to participate in the parade but are not driving a tractor.

Both groups plan to arrive before noon at the show in the Ixonia Firemen's park.

New at the show this year will be tractor games. Tom Triplett, one of the show organizers, says this is a popular activity at many antique power shows.

One game is a tractor "teeter-totter."

Triplett says tractor teeter-totter started back in the 1970s when John Deere made a trailer to haul corn planters from field to field. The trailer had a center pivot on an axel and worked like a teeter totter, so tractor buffs got the idea to see if they could drive two tractors on the 21-foot trailer to see if they could balance the weight exactly.

There is a $10 fee per person for participating in the event to help cover the insurance the club must take out to host the event.

The group is not intent on raising money for the club. Any profits that are realized from the event will be donated to charity.

Last year the show provided funds for the local food pantry.