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Antique tractors, engines crank up the power in Eagleville




John Ford of Portland, Tenn., runs a 65 horsepower Case to provide power to thresh wheat at the 33rd annual Pioneer Days Antique Tractor Show & Pull. JASON M. REYNOLDS

John Ford of Portland, Tenn., runs a 65 horsepower Case to provide power to thresh wheat at the 33rd annual Pioneer Days Antique Tractor Show & Pull. JASON M. REYNOLDS

Antique tractor and steam engine enthusiasts from all over the nation chugged in to Eagleville recently to thresh, pull and saw — and even throw a few skillets and wrenches around.

The 33rd annual Pioneer Days Antique Tractor Show & Pull was held Sept. 11-12. The associated Eagleville Truck & Tractor Pull, or Thursday Night Lights Pull, took place the evening of Sept. 10. All activities but the truck pull were offered for free to the public, said Travis Brown, president of the host organization, the Tennessee Valley Pioneer Power Association.

The association held the show on a 34-acre site it owns at 747 Chapel Hill Pike, Brown said. The show, which originally featured mostly antique tractors, was held for years at Eagleville School but outgrew that site, especially once athletic fields were built there. School groups used to help with the show.

Association members “hacked” the show grounds out of wilderness on Chapel Hill Pike by clearing brush and rocks, Brown said.

Wayne Metzger of Boonville, Ind., is not fazed by having his face within inches of a saw at the 33rd annual Pioneer Days Antique Tractor Show & Pull while demonstrating how steam power was once used to saw logs. JASON M. REYNOLDS

Wayne Metzger of Boonville, Ind., is not fazed by having his face within inches of a saw at the 33rd annual Pioneer Days Antique Tractor Show & Pull while demonstrating how steam power was once used to saw logs. JASON M. REYNOLDS

Events have been added over the years, and steam engines have become a major theme, Brown said. The wheat thresher is a big draw as well.

Brown, who owns Quality Tire & Auto Service and is a former mayor of Eagleville, said he has been active with the tractor association for six or seven years.

Brown said he estimates there were 40 to 50 people putting on the show this year. There were about 600 antique tractor pulls (with some people and tractors pulling multiple times). Also, there were about 100 antique tractors present for showing, and a couple of dozen hit-and-miss engines.

Other activities included skillet throwing for ladies, wrench throwing for men and wagon backing contests, plus games for kids, Brown said.

Brown said he takes his antique equipment to four to six shows a year, including at Cannonsburgh Village and La Vergne’s Old Timers Festival, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17. His equipment includes a 1921 Keck Gonnerman steam tractor, rated at 20 horsepower.

Travis Brown operates a 1921 Keck Gonnerman steam tractor to power a saw. Brown is resident of the Tennessee Valley Pioneer Power Association which hosted the 33rd annual Pioneer Days Antique Tractor Show & Pull in Eagleville. JASON M. REYNOLDS

Travis Brown operates a 1921 Keck Gonnerman steam tractor to power a saw. Brown is resident of the Tennessee Valley Pioneer Power Association which hosted the 33rd annual Pioneer Days Antique Tractor Show & Pull in Eagleville. JASON M. REYNOLDS

Next year’s show is already being planned; it is scheduled for Sept. 10-11, 2021, providing plenty of time to practice your skillet- or wrench-throwing.

More information about the Tennessee Valley Pioneer Power Association is at eaglevilletvppa.com and on Facebook at @EaglevilleTVPPA.

David Hensley of Bristol, Va., runs the threshing operation at the 33rd annual Pioneer Days Antique Tractor Show & Pull. JASON M. REYNOLDS

David Hensley of Bristol, Va., runs the threshing operation at the 33rd annual Pioneer Days Antique Tractor Show & Pull. JASON M. REYNOLDS

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