FOR LOVE OF TRACTORS: ANTIQUES PART OF AGRICULTURAL HISTORY

Phillip R. Dillow has seen plenty of rusted tractors falling apart in farmers' fields.

But the Dongola, Ill., man doesn't view them as junk. To him, they are a treasure.

Dillow and his son, Phillip, brought several vintage tractors to the SEMO District Fair's Antique Tractor Pull Saturday.

Tractor pulls have always been a staple of the annual fair, which ended Saturday.

Both men enjoy restoring and driving the tractors.

The elder Dillow has restored old tractors for 30 years. "It's addicting to me," he said.

Once he found a tractor that had been abandoned in Tennessee for more than 40 years. The tractor had a tree growing in it. Dillow removed the tree and restored the tractor.

Dillow said he has restored about 300 old farm tractors for himself and others. He has about 50 antique tractors, the oldest dates back to 1928.

Dillow's son drove a 1937 John Deere tractor to a second-place finish in one of the sled-pulling contests Saturday.

He said he never tires of the old tractors. "I like them. I like to fix them up."

The Dillows are members of the Egypt Mills Antique Tractor Club, an organization of about 50 members who display tractors and participate in the tractor pull.

About 60 tractors pulled a weighted sled in competition in 29 different classes Saturday.

Larry Schweer of rural Jackson is president of the tractor club, which was organized in March 1981.

Schweer, a diesel mechanic, has restored a few of the old tractors. He started his hobby with a rusted tractor frame and a single rear-end axle. "It took a little over a year to find all the parts and get it running."

The antique tractors are a part of agricultural history, he said. People like to see the tractors at the fair because it reminds them of ones that their fathers or grandfathers had on the farm.

The tractor club has helped put Egypt Mills on the map. "We've got a fire department, a tavern and a tractor club," said Schweer.

Bobby Haggett of Chaffee drove his 1947 Gibson down the dirt track in front of the grandstand to pick up his trophy for the "Best of Show."

Haggett's bright red tractor is small, but it stood out among the tractors displayed at the fair.

It has a 6-horsepower engine and no wheel. It is steered with a tiller.

Haggett said the small tractor was designed for use in garden plots.

From 1946 to 1954, some 50,000 to 60,000 Gibsons were manufactured and sold in the United States and 26 foreign countries. The Colorado company went out of business in 1954.

"These tractors are pretty rare," said Haggett, who has owned the tractor for 23 years. He restored it two years ago.

Gene Maevers of Egypt Mills won the people's choice award because his 1951, metallic gray Ferguson was judged the most popular with the public.

Maevers said a restored, antique tractor is worth $3,000 to $5,000.

But for Maevers and others, the value of the old tractors isn't in money.

For them, the fun is in restoring the old farm machinery and seeing it run.

FAIR ATTENDANCE

Sunday, 19,613

Monday, 7,516

Tuesday, 8,631

Wednesday, 11,364

Thursday, 11,980

Friday, 20,879

Attendance through Friday, 80,983