Monday, November 19, 2007

Tractor Events

Despite all those new roofs and big box retailers, there is still a part of the Prescott area hanging on to its rural roots. Rather desperately, I would say. Be that as it may, the harvest end of the year is when rurality is celebrated, even by the city folk, who flock to fall events, such as the now defunct Young's Farm Pumpkin Festival and, of course, the county fair.

It's a time when farm equipment operators strut their stuff, with races and tractor pulls. I was never quite sure what this competition was at last year's Youngs Farm scene. However, it made great pictures.

These fellows are lined up for the tractor pull at this year's Yavapai County Fair. Don't know why farm equipment has to wait for late afternoon, but just look at those shadows!

As well as that yummy chili dog. Love that fair food!

Perhaps the end of the day is appropriate for a waning American lifestyle. Melancholy, those shadows, those empty spaces, those mountains.

Comment Note: Someone from the London School of Economics has just caught up with my post about Truly Nolen, the family owned & operated exterminating company which uses those cute little VWs with Mickey Mouse ears. He/she has a comment which fills in more about the Nolen family.

Synchronicity: Right after I posted about vanity license plates, an AP article on the subject appeared all over the place (be sure to scroll down!); in looking for a link, I also found Coolpl8tz, a site that collects the best.

7 comments:

  1. The A & P Shows in NZ & Australian have farm machinery. The shows used to have demonstrations using all sorts of the machinery. Not sure if they still do.
    A & P stands for Agricultural & Pastoral.
    The Rural ones were wonderful & a very full day for youngsters!

    ReplyDelete
  2. meggie -- that sounds real cool. I don't know where the farm equipment is displayed -- it wasn't at the county fair. I did see a few pieces at cattlemen's barbecue.

    ReplyDelete
  3. E. once had a tractor and did jobs around Chino..he loved that tractor.
    My grandson just told me that Prescott resturants suffered less profit than usual in the month of October because many of the tourists who flocked to Youngs farm tended to patronize local resturants.

    ReplyDelete
  4. brain -- wonder how many of them donated to the save Young's Farm fund...

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've been trying to figure out those yellow "things" on the first couple of machines. What the heck are they?

    ReplyDelete
  6. cat-A -- I'm asking brain to ask E., since he once owned a tractor or two.

    ReplyDelete
  7. E. says those yellow things are cleats to give the steel wheels traction when pulling.

    ReplyDelete