Antique tractor show brings restorers together

Visitors at the Seward County Fair got the chance to see a bit of hard work and agricultural history at the antique tractor show.

Marlin Luebbe of Seward and his son Byron Luebbe of Seward are superintendents for the event, along with Mark Greckel of Utica.

Byron said that, even though the tractor show has a barn, county residents bring in displays that were also seen outside the building. He added that the barn is reserved for tractors that have been restored.

“It’s kind of a privilege to have it in the barn,” Byron said.

Marlin said the extent to which someone restores a tractor depends on what they want to do with it.

“Some people tear it completely apart and re-do every nut and bolt,” Marlin said.

He added that if the tractor’s mechanics are sound, a person may choose to get it a new paint job. Or, if some of the machines are still in use, they may come in their “everyday clothes,” as Marlin said.

“It’s all in what you want to do,” Marlin said.

“It’s a fun hobby,” Byron said.

Byron said each year, the tractor show features a different brand. This year, John Deere was featured.

Marlin said they were arranged in chronological order from 1937-1959.

Both Marlin and Byron said there’s some nostalgia involved in restoring and showing tractors.

Byron said some tractor showers are able to bring in their dad’s or grandfather’s first tractor that was purchased new—something he said is rare because it was typical for farmers to trade in their first tractor for a new one.

“It’s kind of rare that people have that,” Byron said.

He added that the tractor show can be considered a history lesson on farming.

Marlin said he has seen grandfathers bring their grandchildren to the tractor show and tell them, “this is what we farmed with.”

“That’s the thing that really makes you feel good,” Marlin said.