2021 Antique Tractor Calendar!

Fingers crossed this year we will be attending tractor and farm toy shows in person! With that in mind, what better way to ring in the New Year than to start planning ahead using this tractor calendar. I started this last year with the 2020 Antique Tractor Calendar. Sadly several were cancelled, but this is a new year, and I have added a few new shows to the tractor calendar and kept some of the same. Here are some of my favorite shows and those of some of my tractor friends.

Caveat about the tractor calendar

Always make sure before hitting the road that the event is still happening. As you know from the tractor calendar in 2020, things can change in the blink of an eye! I hope to see you at shows this year and cover more events!

Sublette Toy & Tractor Show – Cancelled

March 20-21, the Sublette Toy & Tractor Show is not a huge event, but it is well loved. Keith and I have been going to this for years. It has grown smaller, but we still find a lot to enjoy. Buildings are filled with farm toys and the streets with farm tractors. They also have a pancake breakfast and a fun Saturday night dinner with entertainment and a silent auction most years. Money from this event goes to fund the towns youth sports. We usually set up at this show in the Firestation.

National Farm Machinery Show – Cancelled

March 31-April 3rd , is the rescheduled date for the National Farm Machinery Show held in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the largest indoor farm machinery show in the country. While antique tractors are not the main focus, I have found them here and there. Keith and I love to attend this show when our schedule allows. Note that this year it is different you have to pre-register saying what day you will be there. With the pandemic they are requiring masks and a smaller crowd. Attend prepared.

Pioneer Swap Meet- Note on their site –(Depends on the State of Minnesota Governor Walz order at that time if we can have the swap meet,
keep checking back for the latest updates)

April 23-25, is the annual Pioneer Swap Meet in Le Sueur, Minnesota. This is a fun show where anything goes. You can never determine the weather, or just what you will find. My husband Keith loves to dig from one vendor to the next. I am just amazed at what I see from snow shoes, to tractors I never envisioned!

AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree

May 15, AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree will be held in Oregon, Illinois. Collector Dave Carton says that the family has several barns of nice stuff and that this is a cool show that should be included in everyone’s calendar. It is on my list to get to!

Tri-State Gas Engine Swap Meet

May 19-22, in Portland, Indiana at the Tri-State Swap Meet in the area across from the Jay County Fair grounds is a huge swap meet. Here you can find antique tractors, engines and Keith’s favorite, parts!

Classic Green Reunion

June 24-26 of this year is the 2nd Classic Green Reunion event. This will be held in Columbus, Ohio. We attended the first event in Grand Island, Nebraska and really enjoyed it. There were quality John Deere tractors everywhere both inside buildings and out! Look for details in Green Magazine!

Red Power Round Up

July 1-3 the Red Power Round Up returns to my home state of Illinois at the DuQuoin Fair Grounds. Southern Illinois is beautiful and I am excited to attend this event that for various reasons I have missed over the past few years! The Red Power group is always well organized and often include a variety of activities (that have to be signed up for in advance look in Red Power Magazine).

Historic Farm Days

July 8-12 Historic Farm Days will be held in Penfield, Illinois. This show is an annual favorite for us. This year they are featuring Massey, Minneapolis Moline and B.F. Avery. When visiting be sure to visit the ag museum too, there is some neat stuff inside!

Two Cylinder Expo

This appears to be a John Deere year! July 15-17 the Two Cylinder Expo will be held in Waterloo, Iowa. It has been a while since I have been to this event, but I always enjoyed it in the past! Besides the opportunity to see Expo quality tractors, collectors also get the opportunity to hear educational workshops as well. Look for details in Two Cylinder Magazine.

Illinois State Fair

August 12-22, is the Illinois State Fair, and Mike Hall shared that the Antique Ag Expo will be held in conjunction with the fair this year. Collectors bring their tractors and fair visitors get the chance to look them over in this fun setting!

American Thresherman Association Show

August 18-22 in Pinckneyville, Illinois (the town where I was born in case you wanted to know!) is the American Thresherman Association show. This great show has an added bonus of a fantastic flea market and field work. This is also a great place to see steam and old and rare tractors. This year they are featuring the National Ford and Fordson collectors and Leader tractors. I always make sure to stop in and see what is on display at the Illinois Rural Heritage Museum while there! .

Badger Steam and Gas Show

August 20-22, the Badger Steam and Gas Show will be held in Baraboo, Wisconsin. This was Carl Davis’s suggestion and a show that we also enjoy. This year they are featuring Rumley tractors! Baraboo is also home to the cool Circus World Museum!

Butterfield Steam and Gas Engine Show

August 20-22, is when the Butterfield Steam and Gas Engine Show, or Thresheree will be held in Butterfield, Minnesota. Bryan Ebbenga said, “I call it the best little show in he Midwest because it is out huge, but it has a lot of good antique tractors and equipment.”

Bryan said it is located in a beautiful setting on a lake with a Pioneer Village and a huge grove of Ash trees for all the small gas engines. “There is music and camping under the trees where it is nice and cool,” Bryan added.

Tri-State Gas Engine & Tractor Association – 56th Tractor Show

August 25-28, in Portland, Indiana at the Jay County Fairgrounds, the Tri-State Group are holding their annual tractor show featuring JI Case tractors and Kentucky engines. Even when the Half Century of Progress is going on, Keith usually tries to wrangle a day in at this event that he always loves. There is always cool finds and a huge flea market at this event.

Half Century of Progress

August 26-29, is the granddaddy show that only happens every two years, the Half Century of Progress. This show is in Rantoul on the former Chanute AFB. If you only make one show this summer, save this date! Collector Don Nowack listed this is working farm show as a must attend. Here you will have a chance to see antique machinery in action. This occurs right before of the Farm Progress Show held in Decatur on August 31- September 2nd. This show is also the site of this year’s Graham Bradley gathering, so we will be there and have the Graham Bradley tent, stop in and see us and all the other Sears Related tractors!

Central States Threshermen’s Reunion

September 2-6 – The Central States Thresherman’s Reunion annual show over the Labor Day weekend is a favorite of collector Dave Carton’s in part because the Palamino group gather here! This year the featured tractor will be Minneapolis Moline and Repowered Tractors and Ford!

Rock River Thresheree

September 3-6 -This is a fun show that has been around for a long time. This year the Rock River Thresheree will celebrate their 64th show! Located in Edgerton, Wisconsin, this year they are celebrating steam powered equipment. On site there is a cool pile driver, and other neat items to see.

Vintage Farm Equipment Show

September 17-19, the Vintage Farm Equipment Show will be held at Bridge Park just west of downtown Atkinson. Dave Carton recommends this show where they also have the Vintage Farm Equipment Museum. For more information, you can find the Vintage Farm Equipment Show on Facebook.

Tri-State Fall Swap Meet

October 7-9 in Portland, Indiana at the Tri-State Swap Meet in the area across from the Jay County Fair grounds is a huge swap meet. Here you can find antique tractors, engines and Keith’s favorite parts!

Paradeeville Community Car & Truck Show

September 4 from 8 – 4 in Pardeeville, Wisconsin is a fun show Keith and I attended a couple years ago. There were a few tractors then. I can’ t say for sure that tractors are always a part of this, but if you like cars and trucks, it is sure a fun show and something different. It is a huge show and fun to walk and gawk! My favorite truck spied was an old hippie van, but they had everything from old trucks to classic, to rat rods!

Calendar Wrap

This is by no means a complete 2021 antique tractor calendar listing! I will most likely be updating and adding to it as I get more suggestions and updates on shows. I look forward to your reactions and suggestions. Let me know if you attend any of these events or use the calendar!