LAKE PARK —
Tractor enthusiasts from all across the United States gathered Thursday at the Culpepper Farm for an antique tractor caravan parade that moseyed along J. Frank Culpepper Road, up Ga. 376 toward Lake Park and hunkered down at the Farm House Restaurant off I-75’s exit 5.
Kaye Archibald of Palatka, Fla., drove a 1953 Farmall Super F and has been collecting and restoring antique tractors for about 20 years and looks forward to participating in this event every year.
“It’s a gathering of some good people and it gives us a chance to talk about the way antique tractors used to be and talk about restoring them,” said Archibald.
For retired farmers such as Archibald, when you have worked hard your entire life, it’s only fair to play hard as well.
Bonnie Padgett of Live Oak, Fla., and his sister, Nannette rode a gray 1951 Ferguson. Antique tractors have become Padgett’s life since his retirement from the farm.
“I didn’t retire. I just got tired,” joked Padgett.
Some tractor lovers such as Gorden and Fran Hawk came as far as Grover, N.Y. Though they didn’t drive a tractor in the parade, they rode in the wagon of Jim Kauffman’s 1952 John Deere.
Kauffman of Fernandino Beach, Fla., met the Hawk’s at a convention in New York.
“It’s a camaraderie of a bunch of old farm people who get wore out from working on the farm,” said Archibald after Kauffman explained how they all knew each other.
Many people may think of tractors as just a piece of machinery, but to Frank and Betty Loveland of
Hendersonville, N.C., their tractor is a vivid memory of young love.
“We got her daddy’s antique tractor,” said Frank. “Her daddy had bought it brand new in 1954, and I can remember when they gone and bought it.”
Frank was 19 when Betty’s father bought the tractor.
“We got married right after that,” Frank recalled.
The Lovelands left their precious piece of tractor sentiment at home, but rode a 1954 Ford Jubilee instead.
Collecting antique tractors isn’t as simple as just buying an old tractor. When the parts to your antique tractor are as rare as dinosaur bones, getting one fully restored can be a challenge.
“It’s getting tougher every day,” said Kauffman.
To get a better look at these tractors and many more, go to the Alapahoochee Historic Farm/Heritage Days, Lake Park, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29.
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