Tri-State show brings friends together

Way back in the mid-’60s the first Tri-State Antique Tractor and Engine Show was held.

The assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and others were still fresh in our minds. Race riots were happening across the country. The war in Vietnam dominated the news. The reassuring voice of newsman Walter Cronkite was a calming force as he reported on the carnage being played out in the streets of our country and overseas. His was the voice of truth. The term “fake news” was yet to be invented.

I wonder if the founders ever dreamed that the Portland, Indiana, get together would one day become the “The World’s Largest Gas Engine and Tractor Show.”

Officially, the purpose of the show is to keep the various engines and tractors from fading into the background. It is sort of like a traveling sanctuary for ancient farm equipment.

This year’s features are J.I. Case tractors and Kentucky engines. Personally I can’t tell one tractor from another, nor do I know what a Kentucky engine looks like. I have found that in addition to showcasing their hobbies, the people who set up their displays come for the chance to get together with their friends. In that respect, the whole city becomes a giant reunion.

In addition to antique machinery there are garage sales everywhere. It is a chance to clean the house of all of our unwanted stuff in order to make room for more stuff. I have set up a yard sale only once. I thought I had some valuable metal toys. When I unpacked them I found that most of them were either broken or missing some parts. They still sold, but I probably undervalued them.

I find it fitting that so many were broken. Perhaps they were a way of reminding me that they once had belonged to someone who was equally broken. I still have several boxes of knickknacks and salt and pepper shakers that I should do something with but probably won’t.

It seems to me that the Tri-State show gets bigger every year. People come from all over the country to attend. Some are looking for bargains and some are looking for that one part that will allow their ancient tractor to run again. Some people are just looking for an excuse to get out of the house.

There are lots of tables and booths that hold items that cause us to exclaim, “We had one of those.” We check the price and shake our heads before putting the item back where we found it.

So far, the pandemic doesn’t seem to have affected the number of attendees. Since the events and displays are mostly held outside, we hope the risk of sharing coronavirus is lower than it would be if we were all crammed together. I doubt if most people will be wearing a mask. Vaccines are a volatile subject, with both sides insisting they are right. The frequent application of hand sanitizer coupled with frequent hand washing should help keep the virus from spreading as quickly as it would otherwise.

My brother, Michael, always enjoys going through all the exhibits. More often than not he will find something that he just can’t live without. His wife, Diane, usually returns home with several bargains. Me, I tend to avoid it at all costs.

There is one constant that seems to happen every year. At least once during the show it will rain. I am not talking about a little sprinkle. A full out downpour is almost guaranteed.

We need to be careful if we are out and about this week. Golf carts are prone to stop without much advance notice. Pedestrians will walk out into traffic without looking. Restaurants will do more business than usual.

The Tri-State show only lasts for a week. I hope that it will be uneventful.

Who knows? You might make a new friend or find that one thing you simply can’t live without.