What if...

Start this discussion by disclosing the exact location of the showgrounds.


You need to talk to the showground management to find out what dates are available because there are often annual events that eat up the best dates. They need to tell you what sort of insurance they require such an event to have in place and then you need to find an insurance company that will cover the event and what they will charge.

Issues such as adequate washroom facilities, food vendors, advertising, security, ticket takers, parking attendants, hydro and water connections, meeting with the local police and fire departments well in advance, on-site medical staff are just a few of the hurdles that need to be jumped within the next few months so that you have all your ducks in a row long before the date of the event arrives.

I agree with you that the show should be an ALL-Colours event to justify the costs and the efforts. If there are local clubs of one brand, then those guys should be brought to the table at the beginning.

If there are a lot of big tractor guys in the area, then you might want to talk to them too. The more you have on hand to show, the more people you will attract to the event.

We have a member on this forum that has held two small get-together events. One was last year and one was this year. Not far from where he lives is a town operated facility with an open-air pavilion. About 20 people showed up and they were mostly adult males. Some of them brought along their tractor to show it to the other participants. There was no competition of any kind. It was just a bunch of Case enthusiasts finally meeting one another face-to-face for the first time. If I recall correctly, he had to pay the Town a fee to rent the facility and he was required to prove to the Town that he had proper liability insurance in place for that day.

His name is Bob MacGregor and if he reads this thread, I'm sure that he will comment about what it took for him to hold something as simple as that. You are talking about something a bit more complex because tractors may compete is one form of contest or another. That raises the bar for liability considerably in the eyes of those who own or control the subject property.


Perhaps I do take life seriously but that comes as a result of past experience which I am trying to pass on to you now, instead of you finding out about it after a whole bunch of people have committed to attending what you are proposing. Sometimes what starts out as a very minor event begins to grow in size as the word spreads. When that happens, it can take on a life of its own before you know it. Then there is a scramble to try and find volunteers to help run the event along with a need for more money. Been there............ done that.

The only way an event gets pulled off smoothly is with months of planning long before the actual date. It may look like a piece of cake to you right now but the further you get into it, the more you will realize just how naive such a notion can be. I wish you well.

Hi group,
Just reading the posts about a possible garden tractor event in Hudson, NY.
Hudson is a fairly good local for an event as I-87 and I-90 are close by. If a multy brand event is planned it would draw a larger crowd, but require a lot more work to organize. I held the 2nd Casenutz Gathering here in a town owned pavilion on April 23rd. Being Easter weekend and a rainy day I had a small group.
My event was as basic as it gets, no charge. I supplied coffee, donuts, cold beverages, folders with Case/Ingersoll info, note paper, pens, and paid the rental fee. I had a local deli operator come by to take food orders. Even as a small Case/Ingersoll event I have to start planning 90 days prior.
If the fairground management is accustomed to holding this type of event with specialized activities like a pulling competition then it will be much easier to organize with with them.
Getting a club or two involved will be necessary as the required manpower will be many.
Following up on the progress leading up to a sucessfull event and managing a multy brand and activity will require a strong and organized manager.
You will need to have someone in charge of each brand of tractor to keep these sub groups organized and happy.
Many may say that they will help with the event, but!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and you know what I'm talking about!!!!
Liability is always the first hurdle!!!! Food, potties, trash cans, and what if it rains????
Bob MacGregor in CT