JOHN
DEERE GREEN • Members of the Early Day Gas
Engine and Tractor Association plow this field
owned by Gordon Young on Saturday, April 21st,
west of Mona Reservoir. The weather was perfect
for this gathering of tractor enthusiasts, both
young and old. Photo by Rebecca Dopp.
By Rebecca Dopp
Times-News Correspondent
What do you get with nine men,
antique tractors, and a beautifuday? A plow-in, that's
what.
Members of the Early Day Gas
Engine and Tractor Association, Branch 14, met on a
beautiful, crisp Saturday morning to do what they love to
do, plow a field.
Three miles west of Mona, on
pasture land owned by Gordon Young, nine members unloaded
their antique tractors and got to work. For no other
reason than sheer enjoyment these men drove back and
forth, tilling up dirt and sagebrush and occasionally
coming into contact with a wayward rock or dip in the
land.
Three different models of
tractors were on hand including a 1947 Oliver, a 1937
John Deere, and a 1937 Allis Chalmers. Dale Longhurst of
Delta had the oldest plow, dating back to 1929. Other
tractors were a 1952 and a 1957 John Deere
tractor.
Members of this club range
from all different ages and occupations, and come from
all over the state. Chris Kay of Mona is the youngest at
age 19 while another member was
70-years-young.
Farrell Jensen is an Economics
professor at Brigham Young University. Dale Penrod owns
an excavating company, and Phil Diamond is a retired
mechanic.
Members that were present on
this day came from Spanish Fork, Salt Lake City,
Springville, Gunnison, Delta, and Mona.
Steve Kay of Mona had his
grandkids present, attired in John Deere
sweatshirts.
"They love to ride on the
tractors," he said.
All appreciate the friendship
gained from this organization. Branch 14 of EDGE &TA
was formed in 1985 and has approximately 350
members.
Diamond, Springville, said
that they have a set schedule which includes plow days
like this one, shows and tractor-pull
competitions.
"We are going to have a show
and [tractor] pull on July 7 at the Juab County
Fairgrounds, Stampede arena," said Kay. "It's going to be
a fundraiser for the Juab High School rodeo
team."
The E.D.G.E. & T.A. was
formed in 1957 and is a national organization whose
purpose is to stimulate interest in collecting,
restoring, preserving, and exhibiting gasoline and oil
engines, gas/diesel and steam tractors, power driven farm
machinery and any other equipment of historical value.
For more information go to www.edgeta.org.
