The show is really all about the people (08/30/06)

It's not about the machinery. It's about the people.

That simple fact was brought home last week as I wandered the Jay County Fairgrounds with a camera and notebook, looking for stories for our annual supplement and looking for photographs that could begin to capture the scope, color, and fun of the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association Show.

I went out the week before the show started, visiting with Al Confer, Tri-State's president, and a number of other association directors I've had the privilege of getting to know over the years.

On the lookout for pictures, I had to check every once in awhile to make sure we hadn't published a similar photo the year before.

The early-arrival crowd is pretty consistent, and we have to be careful not to shoot pictures of the same folks year after year.

(I remember an interview several years ago that had just concluded, when a fellow told me he'd been interviewed by "that blonde lady" - Mary Ann Lewis of our staff - the year before. My interview was shelved, and the story was never written. I wandered off looking for another.)

Thursday or Friday, before the show, I took some pictures of Rich Theurer from Salamonia, doing preparatory work, and made sure he wasn't in last year's photos.

Friday at 5 p.m., when the squatters start setting up ropes to claim their space on the fairgrounds, I found myself taking pictures of Art Gaier from Versailles, Ohio, a longtime show participant. As I did, I realized I'd taken his picture more than once before, so I moved down the line a bit and took some more.

This time, it was more Geiers - spelled differently but pronounced the same - from Cincinnati.

And on and on it went.

Take a picture, ask a name, meet a new friend, or renew an old acquaintance.

The Sunday before the show was a delight.

I had a great visit with three generations of the Carroll family from Springfield, Tenn., though I never could get 3 1/2-year-old Jonathan to smile for the camera.

Then I ran into Al and Marilyn Anderson from Roanoke, who provided a journalist's dream of an interview. I didn't have to ask a single question. I simply had to keep up with taking notes while they - especially Marilyn - talked about their family's tractor.

And on and on it went.

Wandering through the antique dealers as the week went on, I had a chance to visit with Jim Waechter from the Museum of the Soldier. I kidded with flea market entrepreneur Earl Cantrell from Anderson, a banjo picker who used to be a regular at the bluegrass show.

And I remembered all the dealers past - folks like the late Quentin Imel and Alton Hartley - whose love of Americana was something you could almost hold in your hands.

Toward the end of the week, I took - yet another - picture of Danny Bennett, a blacksmith from Louisville, Ky. As I took it, I mentioned that we'd run his picture before.

This year was his 37th year. My numbers are nearly that high.

Before we knew it, we were talking about the old days, when the show was small and thought it was big.

"Right over there," I said, "is where Woody Turner's trailer used to be parked."

Good old Woody. He really would have enjoyed this year's show.[[In-content Ad]]