Plow Days draws antique tractor collectors to farm in Elba
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Chuck Esten of Albion and his grandsons Benjamin, 3, and Joshua, 16, sit on one of their antique tractors during the annual Plow Days which the Esten family started in Elba 17 years ago.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent
ELBA – What started as a tribute to their late father has grown into a major annual event, not only for the Esten family, but for many local antique tractor collectors, said Chuck Esten of Albion.
After their father died, they wanted to do something as a tribute, and Chuck’s brother Louis Esten of Elba came up with the idea of having a plow day with old time tractors, in which the entire family was interested.
“Louis and his son Nick have done a great job with it,” Chuck said Sunday at the 18th annual event, as he and his grandsons, Benjamin, 3, and Joshua, 16, showed off one of their antique tractors, a 1939 Farmall F.
Nearly a dozen and a half Farmall and International tractors are lined up on the lawn of John Torrey on Route 98 in Elba, where antique tractor collectors from around the area participated in Plow Days Saturday and Sunday.
About 60 vintage tractors from throughout the area, including Orleans, Genesee and Niagara counties, plowed 75 acres of ground on the John Torrey Farm on Route 98. Torrey has been a big supporter of the event ever since it started, allowing for the use of his barn and fields.
The Estens own a number of antique tractors, mostly Farmalls.
Chuck bought a Farmall Cub which he gave to Joshua on his 5th birthday. Joshua said he thought that was a great birthday present. Chuck just purchased a Farmall A, which he is restoring for Benjamin.
The Estens think it’s important to remind people of how things were done in the old days.
And, they enjoy the fellowship and opportunity to talk with fellow antique tractor collectors.
