Located at 2850 Pembroke Road, the Christian County Cooperative Extension Service Arena was thick with diesel smoke and passersby Friday afternoon — as home of the first-ever Western Kentucky Antique Tractor Show.
Tightly lining its dirt floor: more than 60 metal marvels ranging from the 1920’s to the 1970’s, and from Allis-Chalmers, Case, John Deere and International, and big, small, lean, and tall.
And something for everyone, of any age, to enjoy.
Among the proud owners, Rodger Swatzell, of Henderson, who has a 1959 John Deere 730 Diesel-Electric start.
With a farm in Cerulean, he knows the southern Pennyrile well, and a familiar name got him to fall in love with the particular Herculean model.
Because he sold his first one, buying this one in 2016 meant even more. It had most of its sheet metal and signature green-yellow cast to it, but he changed the fluids, put new tires on the front, and only brings it out for shows like this.
Also rolling from 9 AM until 5 PM Saturday, and the Christian County Cattleman’s Association on hand for the cooking, Swatzell noted this weekend was a tough one on the calendar for many folks. They tried to avoid the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, but didn’t have many other feasible options for local and regional collectors — themselves busy with farming and related affairs.
However, this type of show does serve a different purpose, and Swatzell added that it’s going to be something they hope to continue — as the 2025 event is already planned.
Swatzell also noted they were “tickled to death” with the number of tractors entered, despite the busy schedule.
