13163 Railroad Road Savannah, New York 13146
Our show was held October 4 and 5, 1997. It’s now October
11, and I’m just starting to relax, sitting in my easy chair
about 9:00 p.m., reminiscing about how well our show turned out,
with a slight sigh of relief!!!
I opened up my Gas Engine Magazine and started reading. It’s
almost like a ritual whenever I get the new issue. Sometimes it
seems like forever between magazines.
Well, let’s get on with telling you about our show. We start
the show out on Saturday morning with a tractor parade which begins
at our town barn and runs through town about a mile to our festival
grounds. Dawn King won Best of Show with her John Deere.
On the grounds we had about 60 displays, from gas engines to
Harley Davidson motorcycles, antique cars and trucks. Mr. and Mrs.
Powers were even kind enough to join in with their two draft horses
and wagon.
We had live country bands both days. The pedal tractor pull was
on Saturday, which everyone liked. Lots of raffles, cooking
contest, and a Potato Queen Contest were held.
On Sunday, we got lucky. The rain cleared. The gas engines
started singing away on engine row, getting ready for the judges
who look at all of the engine displays to decide whose engine would
be on next year’s plaque and button. We had prizes for the
first three winners. I’ve enclosed pictures of the winning
engines and proud owners. Winner #1 was Will Phillips, of Redcreek,
New York; #2 was Rod Simiele, of Oneida, New York; #3 was Walter
Wezel, of Ulster, Pennsylvania.
We even had the children dressing in costumes for the event.
Little Bo-Peep enjoyed herself and she was the drawing card for the
Potato Wagon.
Well, toward the close of the show. I sit back and think how
dreams can come true, but I never thought that by bringing one
engine to a Potato Festival in 1995, I would be able to start a
tractor and engine club in my own backyard! At the close of the
1997 show we now have 67 members.
Thank you, everyone involved with Potato Fest 1997. Pass the
word see you all at Potato Fest ’98!
