GENTRY — Rains dampened the 26th annual spring show of the Tired Iron of the Ozarks last weekend -- a frequent occurrence at the spring shows each April -- but the wet weather did not keep club members from showing off their antique tractors and engines and giving visitors a taste of how things were done years ago.
Though numbers may have been down, old tractors were paraded past visitors, the put, put of old hit-and-miss engines could still be heard, saws buzzed and hammers pounded on the red-hot iron to turn the shapeless metal into works of art and useful tools.
The show, held at the club's showgrounds on the southwest edge of Gentry last weekend, April 20-22, was the 26th such annual spring show for the club. And, though the rains fell on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, it was a busy weekend with lots of people coming and going to see the old engines and machines and visit with club members and other antique tractor and engine enthusiasts.
In addition to the regular demonstrations on Friday and Sunday, the Blacksmith Organization of Arkansas was there, showing the metal-working art, on Saturday in the blacksmith shop -- outfitted much the same as small-town blacksmiths were a century ago.
And, in the home furnishings building, sewing machines and other antique household goods and machines were on display, with club members and their wives standing by to explain what the old tools and machines were and how they were used years ago.
The club is dedicated to the preservation and showing of antique tractors and engines and has two shows each year to give visitors an opportunity to see these old machines and learn more about life in rural America in previous generations. The shows are always free and open to the public.
More information on the club, its meetings and its two shows each year is available at www.tiredironoftheozarks.org. The fall show is set for Sept. 7-9.
Community on 04/25/2018