Tri-State Portland, Indiana Tractor Show

ricky racer

ricky racer

501 Club
My wife and I were in Dayton, Ohio this last week to visit our daughter's family and headed home yesterday. On the way home we decided to visit the Tri-State tractor show held in Portland, Indiana. I've only been to the Portland show 3 times and each time it amazes me how much stuff is there. The flea market is tremendous and displays are all over the place. There's no way one can see the whole thing in one day. Within the show grounds I found an immaculate Cockshutt 20 owned by our very own Gary Dotson along with some very nice Cubs including one with a vegetable planter. The tractors look much nicer than the pictures show due to the layer of dust all the tractors had from the hundreds of golf carts running around the show grounds.

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I'd like to attend that show. But the dust should be a significant concern for anyone that breathes.

I exhibited Barebones at the Mid-Michigan Old Gas Tractor Association show last weekend for my 30th time as an exhibitor with one tractor or another. Barebones was showroom clean but by the last day, Sunday, I couldn't keep up with the dust from golf carts. Many show goers exceeded the 5 mph speed limit, but even those moving at slower speeds created the unhealthy conditions with the smooth golf-cart tires. They have a tractor set up with a large trailing tank of water to minimize dust, but not once did it come through. Only dropped water near some of the buildings housing stationary engines. I hope they recognize how filthy and unhealthy the air was. Everyone I talked to voiced concern.

Last year heavy rains fell on the last day forcing me to leave my '54 Ford NAA on the grounds. No way could most pickup trucks with trailers come onto the grounds. Here's a taste of what it was like last year:

Vendors lost out, because in essence, the show came to a halt, although the one in the video made it out. I came back the next day and drove my '54 Ford NAA through the mud to the road, where I had to leave my trailer. On top of that, I had to hand-carry all my exhibit paraphernalia to the road bit by bit. This year, many vendor spaces remained vacant and I can only surmise why.
 
Well Ricky, that dust was minimal to what had accumulated by Sat. afternoon, when I retrieved it. The water wagon took better care of the camp ground, than usual but that area where we’re parked, near the saw mill, was dustier than I’ve ever seen it. Right now, we’re getting ready load up, hook up and head home. 8 days is plenty.
 
Yes, the Cockshutt is my “go to” tractor for the Portland show, it’s such a good little trailer mover. The implement trailer lot is a good ways from the camp ground and I certainly don’t cherish the idea of taking my motor home out there. Too many ruts and such.
 
Gary's Cockshutt has been a life saver for me for the years at Portland. He has moved my trailer in and out of the lot every year. He is right, that lot is o place for a motor home, especially if it rains.
 
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