Times Advocate, 1992-09-30, Page 11At Exeter Fall Fair
Coilectors display tractors
EXETER -
They huff
and they
puff...
No
these
aren't
wolves
with the
three tilde piggies, but rather trac-
tors which have done their job on
the farm. Although these antiques
are still used for the odd job,
they've mostly been retired.
It's tough to look at these large
metal creatures and think of them
as having characteristics: but they,
do.
That's obvious by the loving care
given to them by their owners.
At this year's Exeter Fall Fan.
over a dczen antique tractors, the
oldest dating back to 1929 were in
the annual parade This year they
were also on display for two days
at the Royal Bank's Main Street lo-
cauon.
Ken Elder of Hawaii rued up his
1929 blue Rumely Oil Pull and
proudly drove it in the parade. Eld-
er became interested in the garde
giant because his father Ben was a
fanner.
"He owned a couple of models,
not like this. But that's how 1 got
interested in them."
This was the first Exeter Fair for
Elder and his Rumely as they have
displayed in the Mitchell and Blyth
Fairs in the past.
At first glance, observers may
think the Rumely is a steam en-
gine. It's massive size and large
iron wheels make it look like one
of the old steam engines.
"It's a fuel oil burner," explained
Elder. "There were steel cleats but
you can't run on the road with
them.'.
Of the many tractors on display
on the weekend, Ivan Norris of
Dublin, was the owner of seven.
The former warden of Perth
County first began collecting his
Massey-Harrises shortly before the
1989 Perth ploughing thatch was
held on his farm.
"I bought a tractor from a chap to
Varma three years ago," said Norris.
"1 eventually bought several trac-
In all, Noms has nine tractors
which are either stored either in his
shed or his neighbours'.
"There's two of than I've re-
stored. The 44 Special and the 55."
Numbers on these red tractors
symbolize their size. The 55, which
Norris got from a farmer in Sas-
katchewan is the largest of his col-
lection.
The fairgoers were given the
chance to vote on their favourite of
the antiques on display. The win-
ner: Ken Elder's Rumely Oil Pull.
Times -Advocate, September 30, 1992 Page 11
One Foot
in the Furro
If my memory is correct, the
Oiibways called October the Ice
Moon Month because it heralded
the winter. Or maybe it was the
Mating Month when deer and
moose are in the rut. No natter.
In these modern times, October
this year has been declared the
fust Women's History Month.
11 is about time to recognize
some of the wonderful women
who have helped shape this great
country. What is so difficult for
me to understand is that women
have been recognized in Canada as
persons for only 63 years! Can
you imagine that, until that time,
women by law were chattels to
this male -dominated society.
For those of us who have been
around fora few decades, 63 years
seems like only yesterday.
It is my firm belief that rural
Canada would have disintegtated
hnow without the feminine
touch. I personally know a few
dozen tanners who would be on
welfare without hard-working
wives to help them.
And 1 don't just mean helping
the ban, or in the fields. I mean
Tr
holding down a full-time or pan -
time job, bunging home a pay
cheque to augment faun earnings.
A few years ago, 1 foolishly
agreed to be a guest speaker at a
farm meeting in Huron County. 1
was given instructions by mail to
meet at a farmhouse before going
the meeung. 1 was met at the sum-
mer kitchen door by several cheer-
ful children and a teen -aged girl.
They said their father was in the
barn and that their mother would
be in from the milking parlor in a
few minutes.
The woman came in to the kitch-
en, greeted me informally and said
she would be with me in a few
minutes. She looked like an acci-
dent going some place to happen.
She wore coveralls that were full
of lumps and bumps, a sloppy T-
shirt, huge boots and a floppy hat
which concealed her hair.
While the kids kept up a cheerful
conversation with me, I could hear
water running in the shower and
footsteps upstairs. In about 20 min-
utes, this dream appeared in the
kitchen
What a transformation in 20 min -
ides! She was coifed and dressed
better than a model for Vogue.
She trove me to the meeting hall,
She was a classic example of a
caring, competent farm wife and
mother. In addition, 1 learned she
also worked part time in a drug store
in a town 10 miles away to supple-
ment the farm income.
Just being a pan of the rural scene
as a writer and being able to contrib-
ute to the support of agriculture in
this country is a privilege for an old
scribe like me. This column has ap-
peared in various newspapers now
for more than 25 years and faint
people are just the most wonderful
people in the world to write about.
Wherever 1 have gone -- with one
to two exceptions -- 1 have been
greeted warmly and respectfully.
One exception was about 20 years
ago when 1 spoke to a meeting 31-
cattlemen
fcattlemen up in Bruce County. 1
gave my very firm views on the val-
ue of farm marketing boards, espe-
cially supply management market-
ing boards. Beef producers at that
meeting were not impressed. The
smattenng of applause was not even
polite.
1 should have known better. Stu-
pidity is no excuse.
1 can only repeat that it has been a
pleasure but, most of all, a privilege,
to write about agriculture for 25
years. I hope I can keep going for
another 25 years.
Ken Elder of Hensel!
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