ABOVE: Bob Olson rides his 1949 G Allis-Chalmers garden tractor through the Martin County Fairgrounds on Thursday as spectators get their refreshments and look on. Above a dozen other tractor were part of the annual tractor parade.

FAIRMONT – Locals looking to display what they’ve been able to keep running entered 13 tractors to the tractor show and parade at the Martin County Fair on Thursday.

Organizers Jim Sherman of Truman and Bob Olson of Trimont led the way in their 1939 Farmall HM and 1949 Allis-Chalmers G, respectively. Olson’s tractor had a unique, lower-to-the-ground design, which was made as a garden tractor and today is rare for Southern Minnesota.

For over 10 years, people have been drawn in to participate via word of mouth.

“We were sitting around a coffee shop many years ago, and we all liked old tractors,” Olson said.

Sherman got his tractor from someone’s grove 20 years ago, and after some tinkering, decided to restore it to its original parts. Olson had seen the Allis-Chalmers G in farming magazines during his childhood.

“I liked the looks of them,” he said. “I thought they were unique. Opportunity came up to buy one [five years ago], so I bought it.”

When it comes to keeping older tractors in good shape, Sherman said thankfully, there are lots of parts out there. These range from the new to those found on broken-down models from salvage yards.

Along with the Martin County Fair, Sherman and Olson said they both go to events in Truman, St. James, Trimont and several in Iowa. Over the past 10 or so years they’ve been involved, they said the amount of events with tractor shows has improved.

To make sure everything goes smoothly, they both keep their tractors in buildings and regularly check their oil, gas and components.

“Sometimes there’s a flat tire,” Olson said.

This show and parade is one of their last for the year, as they generally show their tractors from June to August. To be able to bring their special rides for all to see is something Olson said is fun.

“The way people look at us when we’re driving around, like today, it looks like they like it,” he said. “Going up to the different tractors.”

Ken Miller of Truman brought four tractors to the event, all of which have been in his family for three generations. They include a 1956 WD45, 1949 WD and 1938, all of which are Allis-Chalmers brand. The fourth was a 1958 Farmall 560 with a cab on it. Surprisingly, he said there aren’t many differences in maintaining them.

“Keep doing them oil changes and the fluids,” Miller said. “They just look different because they’re different brands.”

The 1956 WD45 is still used periodically by Miller for farming when he’s assisting his uncle on the family homestead’s 150 acres.

To bring the tractors in, Miller has two car trailers and made two trips to bring all four over. He said it was a little easier for him because he works for Miller-Sellner across the street.

“Yesterday morning when I came to work, I brought one and I brought another one,” Miller said. “This morning when I came to work, I brought another one.”

Miller noticed that this year attendance was down at the tractor show from the previous years, which he attributed to the intermittent rain that happened throughout the day.

Regardless, he said he enjoys showing his tractors every year because it instills in him a sense of pride, displaying his collection of farm machinery passed down through generations.