Judy Trotter, the treasurer for the Peach State Antique Tractor and Engine Club, said people will have the opportunity to “bring back memories of the past” during the club’s annual tractor giveaway and tractor show Saturday.
“They’ll see that the past is not completely gone,” she said. “There are still people who love tractors and small engines, and it’s just a fun way of life for anybody to enjoy visiting.”
The show will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the nonprofit club’s clubhouse at 2693 Lake Francis Road, near Prater’s Mill in Varnell.
“One time a year we give away a tractor to a lucky winner,” said Trotter. “To enter (the giveaway), each person will have to purchase one or more tickets.”
This year’s tractor is a classic 1952 Ford Model 8N, with a new paint job and tires.
“It’s in perfect condition,” Trotter said. “The motor is rebuilt and will crank just like a brand new tractor.”
To enter into the tractor giveaway, Trotter said visitors can purchase individual tickets for $5 or a five-ticket bundle for $20.
“We will sell them up until the hour we give it away, which is 3 p.m. Saturday,” she said. “They will have all day Saturday until that time to buy a ticket.”
Those not able to attend the show Saturday who wish to purchase a giveaway ticket can call the club at (706) 270-2250.
Trotter said the show will feature several antique tractors and engines, with club members providing information on the history of farming and agriculture in the area.
“We would love for everybody to come and see,” she said. “We have a tractor show and we have hit-and-miss engines. It’s all part of the history of farming and life back in the old days.”
Mike Trotter, a member of the club and Judy Trotter’s husband, said there will also be small pedal tractors for children to ride and tractor rides for all ages.
“It’s free to come by and look and talk and ask questions,” he said. “There’s a whole lot to look at.”
Mike Trotter said the club normally has the annual giveaway and tractor show at the Prater’s Mill Country Fair but moved it to the nearby clubhouse this year due to the ongoing renovations to the mill’s fairgrounds.
“This is the first time doing this in a new location here,” he said. “Normally at Prater’s Mill we have hundreds of people show up. With it being right beside Prater’s Mill instead, we don’t know exactly how many people to expect.”
He said the Peach State Antique Tractor and Engine Club has been giving away tractors every year since 2004, when the club was started.
Judy Trotter said the club has approximately 50 members from Northwest Georgia and the surrounding area, including Dalton, Calhoun, Chatsworth and Cleveland, Tennessee.
“We go to approximately 30 different events (around the North Georgia area),” she said. “We go anywhere that we can take our tractors to set up and sell tickets to make money for our club to give away. We sell tickets all year long.”
Judy Trotter said the club gives money collected through tickets to several organizations throughout the year, including Wreaths Across America, the Dalton Shrine Club, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Kiwanis Club of Dalton.
She said the show will also be a place where interested people can join the club.
“They can just see me at the event Saturday,” she said. “They’ll just need to fill out our application form for membership. We’ll take their application and it is a very simple process.”