By Tammy Kilby
tkilby@morrismultimedia.com
DARLINGTON — The Pecatonica Valley Antique Club is getting ready for a special year. Antique Days 2026 prepares to celebrate 45 years of farm implements, demonstrations, vintage items, and every day rural life, on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13, at the Lafayette County Fairgrounds. The committee is expecting this year to be bigger and better than in previous years, as the hype has already begun. Demonstrations throughout the weekend include thrashing and shredding, along with the wood cutting demonstrations.
One of the biggest highlights this year, as in the past few years, is Master Sawer, Al Handfeldt, who will be cutting logs and giving demonstrations throughout the entire weekend. Logs are being requested at this time. For anyone needing to clear some trees from their property, this is the time. Those who bring logs are asked to assist with the handling of the materials.
Due to popularity of his demonstrations, Handfeldt adds extra opportunities to watch his vintage saws do all the work. Anyone who is planning on bringing logs for the Antique Days demonstrations, are asked to reach out to Handfeldt by calling 563-590-3941. The proceeds will benefit the Pecatonica Valley Antique Club.
Three brands of tractors will be honored during this year’s event. Oliver, Minneapolis-Moline, and White tractors, who have produced outdoor equipment such as tractors, combines, lawn tractors, corn planters, and tillage equipment such as plows, disks and field cultivators; hold a significant and historic connection with one another.
The Oliver Farm Equipment Company was formed by the merging of four implement companies on April 1, 1929. The Oliver Chilled Plow Company, which started making equipment in 1855; the Hart-Parr Tractor Company from 1897; along with the American Seeding Machine Company, and Nichols and Shepard Company, both of which began in 1848. The merger began a full-line manufacturer, until White Motor Corporation purchased the Oliver Farm Equipment Company in 1960.
Minneapolis-Moline was originally known as the Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Company but later shortened the Minneapolis-Moline Company. The business was a result of the merger of three companies in 1929. Minneapolis Steel and Machinery; Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company; and the Moline Implement Company formerly known as the Moline Plow Company. The company was later acquired in 1963 by the White Motor Corporation.
In 1969, Oliver, Minneapolis-Moline and Cockshutt were merged to form the White Farm Equipment company, which has since been absorbed into the larger market of farm implements. What lives on are the memories of three vintage farm tractors, driven by the ancestors by those whose strong faith continues the legacy of what farming is today. Anyone wanting to place a tractor on display should reach out to Jon King 608-482-4921 or Jim Turpin at 608-482-3388.
Vendors will be featuring unique crafts and vintage finds during the Antique Days weekend. Anyone who wants to be part of the market is encouraged to participate this year. Handcrafted items and vintage items seem to work best; however, all are encouraged to reach out and reserve a spot. Items in the past that have worked well are toy collectables, old milk cans, handcrafted jewelry, wood crafts, die-cast model cars, trucks and tractors, old cookbooks, tin signs, recycled finds, and a variety of works of art. In addition, those with special skills, such as working with a spinning wheel or other unique item from the past, is also encouraged to reach out. To be part of the craft market or flea market, all vendors are asked to contact Matt Sauer at 608-482-0473 or Joe Kiefer at 608-482-1929.
The antique tractor pull on Saturday is a draw for a lot of people in the area. To watch the vintage farm implements while showing their abilities and compete with one another, is a form of entertainment that has been well-encouraged over the years. The strongest will win, and the crowd will cheer them on. The tractor pull is weather permitting. All are encouraged to dress for the weather.
The Parade of Power on Sunday, Sept. 13 is a favorite with the older generation as much as it is for the youngsters. The featured tractors, as well as a few other unique implements, are driven with a pride of ownership, with some being displayed in tribute or in memory of farmers who are gone but not forgotten. Sign up for the parade will begin on Sunday morning.
