Ag Heritage Park’s Spring Crank Up! Tractor Show is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2015. This fourth annual tractor show is open to the public, and especially tractor enthusiasts. Tractor owners are encouraged to bring their tractors to show, whether they are reconditioned or not; old or new. The tractors will be on display from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a “Parade of Power” cruise through downtown scheduled at 9:30 a.m. There is no pre-registration required, and no registration fee for the day, with registration beginning at 8:00 a.m. Ag Heritage Park is located at 103 S. Main, the south edge of Alta Vista.
A variety of tractors, equipment and garden tractors is expected for the Show, in addition to the 40 plus tractors on display in the Park, ranging in age from 1918 to 1960. These tractors were collected by Ag Heritage Park Founder, Everett Zimmerman, and put on public display back in 1999. The Show also typically includes several stationary engines displays.
The schedule for the day, besides the tractor show, includes Ron Schultz and Friends Jamming, beginning at 11:00 a.m, featuring bluegrass and gospel music. A barn quilt block drawing will be held at 4:00 p.m., with tickets available in advance, and show day prior to 4:00 p.m. The ticket donations will benefit Ag Heritage Park. The 4’ x 4’ barn quilt was painted and donated by Connie Larson. The Ag Heritage Park main museum building displays two barn quilt blocks painted by artist Susan Kesl, and is part of the Kansas Flint Hills Quilt Trail. More information on the Kansas Flint Hills Quilt Trail is available at www.KsFlintHillsQuiltTrail.com.
Lunch, snacks and drinks will be available all day on the grounds. The Alta Vista C of C will sponsor a biscuit and gravy breakfast downtown from 7 – 10 a.m. A variety of local Alta Vista businesses will be open for the day.
Ag Heritage Park will be open tractor show day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Besides viewing the tractors in the show, visitors may “step back in time” and tour the many exhibits of agricultural history in the Park. The Park features a large display of horse drawn equipment, as well as other farm equipment dated from the 1800’s through the mid-1960’s. Also on the grounds are an 1885 era one room school house, a two room farm house, and a log cabin, along with other farm outbuildings. Two museum buildings include a complete display of household items, miscellaneous farm memorabilia and machinery. Ag Heritage Park displays offer interest for young and old, and any age group.
Admission to the Park is by donation, very much needed for park upkeep and maintenance. Along with gate donations Ag Heritage Park welcomes Corporate Sponsors who are vital to Ag Heritage Park remaining open to the public
For more information concerning the Spring Crank Up! Tractor Show on Saturday, April 18th, or to schedule individual visits or bus tours to Ag Heritage Park on future dates, please call Kirby Zimmerman, 620-767-2714 or Hazel Zimmerman, 785-482-3865. Visit www.AgHeritagePark.com and Facebook for updates.
