City of Glendale - News

Tractor Time

* This is for the 2006 event

Gear up for the Spring Tractor Show at Historic Sahuaro Ranch

Gentlemen, start your tractors.

Plan on hearing those not-so-famous words often this weekend as dozens of these great agricultural machines take to the fields at Historic Sahuaro Ranch for the spring tractor show. The event lineup includes:

At the Fruit Packing Shed Galleries

Visit the Fruit Packing Shed Galleries for the Electrification of the Salt River Valley, featuring the Rural Co-ops and the annual quilt show entitled Retrospective of Verde Valley Contemporary Quilts. Demonstrations of quilt making, basket weaving, butter churning and cotton ginning along with a kids korral and historic home tours will be taking place all day on both days. The Arizona Artists Blacksmith Association will be forging and pounding in the blacksmith shop in the Barnyard, as well.
In addition to the Gallery and Barnyard activities, there will be an assortment of antique, craft and food vendors, including kettle corn, Polish dogs and barbecue. Homemade ice cream frozen with a John Deere ice-cream freezer will tempt the taste buds.

Behind the Scenes

The event is being presented by the Arizona Early Days Gas Engine & Tractor Association and Sahuaro Ranch Foundation. The Arizona Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association was founded in 1979. A non-profit incorporated organization, the group started with 13 founding members and has now grown to more than 450 family memberships from throughout the Valley. The organization currently has three major shows every year, including Sahuaro Ranch Days.

Members share a common interest in restoring engines, tractors and related equipment from the turn of the century. This type of collecting and restoration has become increasingly popular in all parts of the country, where clubs have been formed and publications dedicated to the preservation of our mechanical heritage have emerged.

The organization aims to preserve agricultural heritage by passing the interest down to the younger generation. The events allow club members to show off their fine collections. Antique tractors are pulled for percentage and some classics are pulled for exhibition. In addition to the tractor pulls and engine displays, there are contests with the equipment, silent auctions, demonstrations of early farming (including threshing and hay bailing), craft shows, hayrides, pedal tractor rides and other activities for the kids.

The Details

What: Spring Tractor Show
When: Feb. 11 and 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: $5 Adults, Children under 12 free (when accompanied by an adult)
Where: Sahuaro Ranch, 9802 North 59th Ave.
Info: For more information on activities, call Sahuaro Ranch Foundation at (623) 930-4200.

2007 dates: Feb. 10 and 11