GENTRY -- Things are again cranking up at the Tired Iron of the Ozarks show grounds south of Gentry in preparation for the three-day show which begins Friday.
Old tractors are being lined up for showing and for a parade of power to be held at noon each day. The sawmills are being readied for operation. Buildings to house tractors and equipment are being set up for the show. And the blacksmith shop is being prepared for the smithies to do their work for weekend visitors.
The featured tractor this year will be a Ford Jubilee; and the featured engine, John Deere.
"Driver's ed tractors," outfitted with an extra seat, clutch and brake pedal so that children can learn to drive a tractor under the supervision of a tractor-driving adult, will be available.
The 22nd Annual Spring Crank-up will be open all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday. A church service will be held on the grounds Sunday morning.
The Blacksmith Organization of Arkansas will be putting on demonstrations on Saturday of the metal-working art in the blacksmith shop -- outfitted just as small-town blacksmith shops across the country were a century or more ago.
Other demonstrations, too, are planned for the weekend, with a fully operational sawmill, farm tractors and machinery, old engines, household machines and gadgets and much more.
Admission is free, and ample parking is available.
The schedule of events for this year includes the following:
• Home Antique Building -- Open all day each day.
• Blacksmith Shop -- Friday, exhibitions at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Saturday, Blacksmiths of Arkansas giving demonstrations all day; Sunday, open for visitors.
• Sawmill and Bandsaw -- demonstrations at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
• Engine Powered Saw -- Each day at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Threshing Demonstrations -- 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.
• Parade of Power -- 12 noon each day.
• Kiddy Pedal Tractor Pull -- 1 p.m. on Saturday only.
• Tractor Games -- at 2 p.m. each day by the bleachers.
• Church Service -- 10 a.m. on Sunday.
• Kitchen -- Open for breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. each day; Open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; drinks, chips and ice cream served all day.
The show-grounds are located on Taylor Orchard Road midway between Gentry and Siloam Springs. Signs mark the way.
More information on the club and the show are available at www.tiredironoftheozarks.org or by contacting the club's president, Jack Hutcheson, at 787-6982 or by email at [email protected].
General News on 04/16/2014