A barrel train takes youngsters on a tour around the grounds of the annual Glory Days Tractor Show.
The 10th annual Glory Days Tractor Show was held on Radiator Road, just outside of Yadkinville on Friday and Saturday, several months earlier than its usual fall date. Charles Neal, creator of the event, said the new date was in hopes of avoiding rainy weather as the past few years have been a battle against the elements. The two-day event had largely sunny skies and perfect temperatures this year for guests to enjoy viewing antique tractors, classic cars and the tractor pull competitions.
“We’ve got a good turnout here today and I’m tickled to death,” Neal said on Saturday.
While the event is mainly a celebration of farm equipment from days-gone-by, Neal said it is also extremely important to him to take time out to honor veterans. Each year, the Glory Days show features special recognition of veterans in attendance with a presentation of the colors by the Yadkin Honor Guard and a 21-gun salute. This year’s celebration also included a performance of the National Anthem by local gospel singers Millie and Morgan Salmon and a performance of Amazing Grace by bagpipers representing the Shriner’s Club.
“We love coming out here and singing for the veterans and just being able to honor them. It means a lot to them and it means a lot to us too because of all they have gone through,” said Millie Salmon. The sisters are from Boonville and sing at various churches in the county.
American Legion Post 336 Commander David Shore who took part in the ceremony honoring veterans called it a “great event.”
“We appreciate what they’re doing for the community and recognizing all the veterans,” said Shore.
Neal said the Glory Days show has many returning participants who come back each year as well as newcomers. This year there were visitors from other states including, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and Delaware.
Fred Milner was among the returning participants at Glory Days this year.
“It’s a great show,” Milner said. “The greatest thing about this show is they honor the veterans and it’s very patriotic.”
This year Miller brought along pal Melvin Huyard, of Tennessee, with his Moline tractor. The two said they were big fans of this antique brand of tractors and even attended the 100-year reunion of Moline Universal in Illinois in 2019.
“I like the infancy of the tractor revolution and everybody had different ideas thinking something would work,” Huyard explained about why he was so taken with the Moline tractor.
Huyard said he had farmed with horses for 20 years and that was another interesting part of how the Moline tractors were made.
“This tractor was designed so that the farmer that had any horse drawn riding equipment, it could be modified to work with this tractor,” he said. “One of their slogans was ‘you sit where you always sat.’”
Huyard, said he just likes “old tractors and old things.” When he first purchased his Moline tractor he made a promise to the prior owner that he would restore it.
“It came from the Mississippi delta. When the levy broke in 1927 and 1932, this tractor was under water,” he said. “When I brought it home it still had water it in. Everything internally in this tractor had to be machined, replaced or repaired. It took quite a while.”
Next year’s Glory Days Tractor Show is expected to have a spring date as well. Neal said they plan to keep the show in the spring with a date most likely the second weekend of April. For updates on the show, visit the Glory Days Tractor Show Facebook page.
Kitsey Burns Harrison may be reached at 336-258-4035 or follow her on Twitter @RippleReporterK.