While there’s always plenty to see and do at the Drayton Farm Show, a highlight of the event for many is a chance to check out, or pick up, the latest version of the customized show tractor.
Almost since the event began, show organizers the Drayton Kinsmen Club, have been offering a different scale-model toy tractor each year, to the delight of show-goers and collectors.
“The first three or four years we didn’t have a tractor,” notes Garry Becker, this year’s volunteer toy tractor committee chair, who has been charged with the task of selecting and overseeing the customization of the show tractor on eight previous occasions since he joined the Kinsmen Club.
The tractors, which sell for $85, are generally ordered through a local farm equipment dealer, although Becker, a toy dealer himself, has arranged for the order through his own contacts on some occasions. Each year the club orders and customizes 72 tractors, and generally sells out, many on advance orders before the show even begins.
“I think we maybe have three left from last year and maybe one from the year before,” said Becker, who notes the club has about 35 supporters who buy one every year.
“There are some people who have every single one of them.”
The tractors are popular with collectors, as well as those who just want a souvenir from the show.
“It’s something a little different for the Drayton show and it brings in a few extra proceeds for the Kinsmen,” Becker explains.
This year’s tractor is a 1/16 scale International Farmall 1256, Row Crop Tractor. The models are detailed with custom decals, lights, flashers and hand painting and packaged in an official Drayton Farm Show box. Kinsmen club members do the custom work themselves, adding the lights, applying the decals and hand-painting small detail work, “to make it our own,” said Becker.
The full size International Farmall 1256 tractor was built between 1967 and 1969. The original price was $10,700. It was built at the Farmall works plant in Rock Island, Illinois. They had a six-cylinder (6.7L), turbocharged diesel engine creating 113 PTO horsepower. Tractor options were row crop, wide front, MFWD 4WD, open station, two post ROPS, and cabs with heat and air-conditioning.
For those interested in purchasing a 2013 Drayton Farm Show Tractor, order forms can be found at www.draytonkinsmen.ca. For information contact Becker at (519) 638-3203.
