‘It brings back memories’
Antique tractor show in Windsor draws nostalgic crowd
The sounds of puttering, purring motors echoed around the Hants County Exhibition grounds as vehicles and machines from as far back as the 1800s roared back to life.
The Antique Engine and Tractor Show kicked off in Windsor on Aug. 13 with the largest crowd and display yet.
Five-year-old Evan Collins, from the Falmouth area, said he enjoys the show.
“I like the tractors, I like the Massey, because Mommy told me I like that one,” Collins said. “They were going really slow.”
Collins’ mother said they come to show each year.
Richard Manning was displaying a mechanical wood splitter from 1889.
“It’s like anything that’s old, there’s a little bit of danger involved because it’s mechanical,” Manning said. “It brings back memories for people, who used to see this kind of stuff around, but it’s getting phased out now.”
Brad Hood, an organizer of the event, said he was happy with the number of people who came out to the show.
“This is our third year for the show,” Hood said. “It gets bigger every year.”
Hood said the event attracts people looking for a day out with the family and a good dose of nostalgia. There was still more to see on Aug. 14 with a tractor pull.
“It’s about enjoyment for the public and our club members,” he said. “It’s also a bit of fundraiser because we’re trying to preserve all of this old equipment.”
The Nova Scotia Antique Engine Association has roughly 60 members. There are already plans to hold another show next year.
Devin Harvey, who participated in the slowest tractor race, said it’s always a good time for the family.
“I got second in the slowest tractor and first in the bucket draw,” Harvey said. “I was always in the tractor pulls. Both of my grandfathers always had tractors and we would always play on them as kids. I just like them, it’s fun.”