Joe’s Show

27 Loon Lake Road Bigfork, Montana 59911

The Northwest Antique Power Association lost their president,
Joe Nordtome, to a heart attack on July 21, 2000. Joe was our
president for two years and was well liked by the club members, as
he kept on top of things that make for a successful show. And so,
we dedicated this year’s show to the memory of Joe
Nordtome.

It was bad enough to lose Joe just two months before our show,
but we were shut out of our show grounds just one week before show
time because of the dry conditions and the forest fires raging in
Montana.

The show directors were hard pressed to find a private show
grounds nearby, as all the advertising had been up for weeks. We
were successful in finding a place about two blocks away.

Members worked hard on getting the grain wagons moved, along
with the food trailer and other related items moved to the new show
grounds by September 6.

Saturday, September 9, was our first show day, and how well we
remembered it. After having no rain from July 6 until September 9,
it just had to be cloudy and rainy. Sunday wasn’t much better,
cold, cloudy and light showers most of the day.

But it takes more than nasty weather to wipe out an engine and
tractor show in Montana. We had visitors from 17 states and three
Canadian provinces.

We had 72 engines and 55 tractors running for people to view,
plus a rope making exhibit, skrag mill sawing 2×4’s, a
threshing machine separating the grain, and a round baler, baling
the straw. Model steam engines were giving rides around a track,
almost a quarter mile long.

Each day we had a tractor parade and an egg breaking contest
using tractors.

I want to congratulate the show committee for the fine job they
did in making this a successful show, considering what they were up
against.

It was voted by the members that we will have next year’s
show on September 8-9, 2001 at this new location.

Hope to see you all then!