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 has 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 co-chair, who has been charged with the task of selecting and overseeing the customization of the show tractor on nine 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.
Becker notes the club has about 35 loyal supporters who buy one every year.
“There are some people who have every single one of them,” he said.
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 1/32 scale die-cast metal White Field Boss 4-210. The model features a detailed interior, clear windows, hitch and dual wheels with die-cast rims and articulating body.
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 Field Boss 4-210 joined the White Boss line in 1978. The cab included the latest improvements such as a reduced sound level of 81.0 decibels.
The dash provided a 14-channel monitoring display in an eight-channel digital display of speeds and temperatures. Night visibility was improved by adding two headlights at the top of the grille.
The 4-210 offered a maximum HP of 210. The 4-210 series White 4wds would have competed against the articulated Allis-Chalmers 7580, rigid frame Case 2470 and 2670, International Harvester 4186, 4386 and 4586, John Deere’s 8440 and 8640, Steiger’s Wildcat and Bearcat, Series III 4wds, Versatile’s 555 and 750 and Massey Ferguson’s 4840 and 4880.
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.
