About Us
Morrow County Antique Tractor & Equipment Assoc Inc

The Morrow County Tractor & Equipment Assoc came to be after the Morrow County Fairboard advertised for county people to bring antique tractors to the 1989 fair. After the parade that year, several county men and women gathered by the log cabin and discussed interest in forming a club. At that time, Ike Mitchell volunteered to have a meeting at his farm.

In October 1989, Ike held a hog roast at his farm shop and several Morrow County people attended. Also, two couples from the Marion County Antique Steam & Gas Engine Club came and talked about their bylaws and the pros and cons of forming a club. They suggested what officers would be necessary to get started and run a club. A decision was made to go ahead and vote for officers. They were: President -  Dave Cover; Vice President - Carlos Mitchell; Secretary & Treasurer - Kim Mitchell.
In January, 1990, a meeting was held at Country Girl Restaurant to choose the name of the club. The name chosen was THE MORROW COUNTY ANTIQUE TRACTOR AND EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION. Also appointed was a committee to decied the rules and regulations for the club.
At the March, 1990 meeting, the rules and regulations were adopted. Also approved were the club colors of green and light green. At the June, 1990 meeting, three trustees were appointed and approved. They were Ike Mitchell; chairman, Doug Grimm, and Gary Frazier.
A telephone chain was set up to invite people to become members.
Our first and second Farm Days were held in August, 1990 and 1991 at the McDonald's, Big Wheel, and Kroger parking lot. Antique tractors were on display. The show was free to the public and round and square dancing and raffles were well accepted. This was all coordinated with our club officers and Rosemary Leving, P.R. for McDonald's, Mt Gilead.
At Christmas time each year we have a  holiday dinner. Little toy tractors are purchased and wrapped up for Santa to give to all the kids. Club members bring canned food and children's toys to be given to the needy families of the community.
Club members have participated in many parades such as the Morrow County Fair, Marion Popcorn Festival, Chesterville Heritage Days, Cardington Memorial Day, Fulton Memorial Day, Ostrander Fourth of July, and Mount Gilead Memorial Day, Ohio Gourd Show, Halloween, Christmas, and the Desert Storm Parade of 1991.
The club has a shuttle wagon that is used in our show, at the fair, and at the Ohio Gourd Show. It was designed and built under the direction of Dick Poland along with the help of some members.
All members are invited to display tractors and equipment at the fair each year.  Members are expected to help pull the shuttle wagon on Senior Day at the fair. Member's antique tractors are used to "pull off" tractors and trucks at the Morrow County Tractor Pull and Truck Pull at the fair and also at the pulls on July 4th. Club members have also traveled to the Marion County Fair to help "pull off".
Money for the club has been earned from many bake sales and raffles, pie and quilt auctions, sale of club t-shirts, hats and jackets, calendars, the Farm Collector Show Directory, and yearly dues.
For the last several years members have restored an antique tractor to be raffled at the Farm Days Show. This year's raffle,  a John Deere pedal combine, donated byLarry McCreary's Body Shop and Won by David Lyle, was awarded at a drawing held during the 2009 20th Annual Farm Days Show. The 2010 raffle will be a Minniapolis Moline G750 pedal tractor.
One of the main goals of the club is to help provide a permanent museum for the antiques and artifacts of Morrow County.
Club membership is open to anyone who wishes to join. Club meetings are usually held on the first Sunday of each month.
The club now operates with a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, and eleven Trustees. Officers and trustees serve two-year terms.
Each spring the club has a plow day and picnic. Many members show up with their antique tractors and plows, and many more people show up to watch the antique equipment work. A potluck lunch is enjoyed by everyone in attendance.
Farm Days is held every August at the Morrow County Fairgrounds in Mt Gilead. On display at our show are numerous antique tractors, farm equipment, garden tractors, pedal tractors, and hit and miss engines, Among the many attractions and activities for antique tractor enthusiasts and the local community are the Combine Demolition Derby, Pickup Truck Demolition Derby, Antique Tractor Pull, Consignment Sale, Farm Toy Show, Kid's Pedal Pull, Threshing, Antique Tractor Rodeo, Slow Race, Modern Machinery Expo, Pie Bake-off, Quilt & Pie Auction, Crafts and Flea Markets, Entertainment, and Food Vendors.
On Sunday, August 15, 2004 members of the club held their First Annual Tractor Drive. It took just under four hours to make the 25 mile round trip from Mt Gilead to Marengo, traveling at about seven miles per hour. Since then, the club has held a tractor drive each year.  There are plans to have a Seventh Annual Tractor Drive the week after the 2010 Farm Days Show.
Web site designed & hosted by debra osborne (C) 2003 at Homestead (TM)
An annual family Club picnic has been held in June every year since 1990.
Memorials
Memorials to Past Club Members
Nora Baler
Ike Mitchell
Russell Jagger
Bob Wilson
Arnold Korody
Joan Westevelt
Robert Loyer
John Lindsay
Russ Flora
Ora Mosbarger
Marilyn Long
Steve Sander
George Mosbarger
J Paul Moore Sr
Dick Mirise
Carroll Griebling
Marno L Christman
George Smith
Gene Rogers
Claude Wheeler
Elzie Ruhl
Ann Rogers
Ralph Christman
DC Travis
Roger Axthelm
Freida Higgins
Willis Long
Rodger Welch
Fred Garverick, Jr
John Lockhart
Mary Reynolds
Betty Jo Axthelm
Dean Higgins
Emma Winck
Lewis Scott
Mike Graham
Ted Reynolds
Karen Hollingsworth
Wayne Hout
John Hout
Robert Ramsey
February 18, 1992
January 26, 1994
April 14, 1994
November 16, 1996
January 2, 1997
February 16, 1998
May 1999
January 21, 2000
August 2000
September 29, 2000
January 20, 2001
February 20,2001
August 12, 2001
March 9, 2003
April 5, 2003
April 12,2003
January 22, 2003
November 21, 2003
November 22, 2003
December 5, 2003
February 14, 2004
June 20, 2004
July 17, 2004
September 27, 2004
October 19, 2004
November 4, 2004
December 22, 2004
January 4, 2005
January 21, 2005
June 2005
August 2005
December 17, 2005
June 2006
August 19, 2007
August 16, 2008
January 25, 2009
May 27, 2009
August 24, 2009
September 14, 2009
October 16, 2009
November 3, 2009
last update 12152009