Tractors from all over Sampson County and the surrounding areas traveled to Fann Farms this past Saturday for their second annual antique tractor show, a fundraiser to benefit Relay for Life and the Christian Food Bank of Salemburg.
“We have close to 70 tractors here this year,” said Kent Fann. “I can’t believe how many people have antique tractors.”
Tractors of all shapes, sizes, and colors came from places like Salemburg, Roseboro, Autryville, Clinton, Newton Grove, Godwin, Warsaw, Harrells, Faison, and even Fayetteville to show their support for two good causes.
“There’s some here I hadn’t ever heard of before,” mentioned Fann, pointing to an antique Silver King tractor. “I didn’t even know they made that.”
In addition to the show raising funds for important charitable causes, the accommodations at Fann Farms may have also contributed to peoples’ impressive participation.
“The tractor owners really like the concrete and covered shelter we have here,” said Fann as he watched people mill around under the expansive shelter that is lined on each side with tobacco barns. “A lot of the time tractor shows are held out in a field or something but here they’re able to show in more comfortable surroundings.”
The surroundings of the tractor show are also very welcoming and respectable. “It’s a great Christian, wholesome atmosphere, so it’s good for families and kids to come out to.
Susan Cadigan of Fayetteville brought her two sons, Thomas and William, out to the show for a day of tractor fun.
“I’ve got a little tractor love here,” said Cadigan, looking down at her son Thomas. “His grandpa has got a Farmall tractor so we had to come see if they have one here like grandpa’s and they do. There’s not much here they don’t have and some are so big. He’s definitely in tractor heaven.”
“It’s very nice and it’s such a beautiful day for it,” added Brenda Sinclair from the Herring community who came out the the Fann’s first tractor show last year. “There’s good food and fellowship, and of course, there are lots of exciting tractors to look at.”
Although tractors were the main event, other vehicles showed up like antique cars and trucks, including a 1931 Model T Ford.
“It’s a little bit bigger than last year, our first year,” noted Fann, a longtime supporter of Relay for Life who was thrilled to have such a good showing. “People’s volunteerism and their donations to Relay for Life are important because its through that research that we cure a lot of diseases.”
Last year, the fundraiser was solely for Relay for Life, but this year, Fann wanted to include the local food bank in Salemburg as well.
According to Fann and food bank volunteers, the food bank has been operating for three and half years and usually spends $2,500 a month to feed around 514 families.
“People really need help and we have an opportunity to help them,” Fann said.
In addition to the $5 admission fee, the Fann family came up with another way for people to donate and have a little fun and friendly competition in the process.
“We don’t have a real competition here and we don’t charge an entry fee for the tractors, but we do have these buckets in front of each tractor where people can make a donation in honor of their favorite tractor. Later, we’ll see which tractor got the most donations and it will be named the people’s choice,” explained Fann.
When all of the tractor donations were counted, it was announced that Ricky Naylor of the Herring community won the People’s Choice Award with his F12 McCormick Farmall tractor, raising $1,340.
Naylor’s wife Cynthia won second place with her father’s 1951 John Deere tractor, raising $792.
“We raised over $2,000 just between those two,” said Fann after he presented the couple with their prizes. “That’s amazing.”
Once the tractor donations, the admission fees, and all of the other donations had been counted, the tractor show raised a total of $7,200, which will be split between Relay for Life and the Christian Food Bank of Salemburg.
Fann also acknowledged the role the community played in the success of the tractor show. “We have lots of community sponsors and support which we are really thankful for. That just makes it that much more profitable.”
“It’s an evolving thing but we hope to continue it every year,” Fann shared. “It’s an event that really brings the community together.”
Lauren Williams can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 117 or via email at lwilliams@civitasmedia.com.
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