More than 500 farmers, motorcycle riders and all-around tractor and antique enthusiasts gathered from from Northeastern Colorado to the Front Range and even some from various states throughout the country to experience the sites and sounds.
From vendor booths and entertainment to corn threshing demos, a parade, tractor games and even a pedal tractor pull for the kids, there was a little something for all ages and creeds to enjoy at the 2012 event.
Not only could folks in attendance come face-to-face with historical machines, but
a number of personal stories and adventures could also be found in meeting with tractor owners and families.For instance, Stratton farmer turned Apache Junction, Ariz. resident Chuck Cure and his family brought along his personal collection of gadgets and gizmos that wowed the crowd including some 1850s to 1920s antique apple peelers and a portable corn sheller and grinder and corn sheller that Cure had restored in fine fashion.
Cure said this is the second year in a row he's brought the family to the Morgan County Tractor Show after doing several such events at his regular residence in Arizona. Cure has been refurbishing and collecting such contraptions for nearly six years now and enjoys his new hobby in retirement.
Fort Morgan resident Larry Cage brought along his 1948 Super D 2-cylinder Gibson that he has owned since 1984. Although it was Cage's first time showing at the Morgan County event, he's taken his old girl out to ride in the Brush Fourth of July parade for the past 15 to 20 years. In 1996 Cage restored the tractor with a fresh paint job and in 1998, on the 50th anniversary of his Gibson, he took the machine to show off in a Longmont, Colorado event.
Bill Pitt of Weldona brought along his Gibson,
a 1949 edition manufactured by Western American Industries, Inc. as the original sticker proclaims. Purchasing the the tractor from the original owner's grandson nearly 10 years ago, Pitt has totally rewired the show item.Pitt said he uses his Gibson regularly for mowing job,s and folks often tease him that the lawnmower he hooks up to the tractor has more power. Pitt has brought his Gibson to the Morgan County show for the past two years and even showed at the show's predecessor when it was formerly known as the Cottonwood Forge Antique Tractor and Power Show.
The wheat threshing demo was a crowd favorite for many fans, featuring an Oliver RedRiver Special thresher manufactured in 1939 in Battle Creek, Mich. It was purchased new
at an Oliver dealership, straight from the factory, by dairy farmers Charles and Martha Nelson from the small farming community of Dousman, Wisconsin.After losing their previous year's crop of oats to the weather and having to wait many days for the custom threshing crew in 1955, Charles and his wife said, "Never again." It sat stored in their barn for 56 years until it was purchased from David Nelson, the original owner's son, on Jan. 22, 2011 by current owner Robert Gates.
The machine, along with the original owner's manual, left the Wisconsin farm and made the 1,012 mile journey to southwest of Otis. Gates is just the second owner of the machine, and after restorations that included having a professional old-fashioned sign painter out of Canada paint the original Red River details, Gates brought the thresher out to Brush at the Morgan County Tractor show for its very first time in exhibition.
Gates' friend, tractor owner and country music singer Sally Goerner, who also provided entertainment for the day, also lent a hand in restorations.
A 1949 John Deere D 2-cylinder with 30.8 drawbar horsepower, 38.2 belt pulley horsepower, four-speed tractor, owned and restored by Roger and Barb Holter, chairpersons of the Morgan County Antique Tractor and Power show, helped pulley the wheat thresher.
Festivities began with an opening ceremony at the AMA complex east of Brush and continued with a parade of tractors that slowly made its way through downtown Brush.
The parade featured 69 tractors, down from 83 last year, that ranged from historical antiques to new and used and refurbished models complete with the owners families who took obvious care and pride in their machines.
A poker run had bikers from near and far stopping at local businesses to pick up playing cards for the contest and also to take part in savings and discounts. Results from the poker run saw first place honors to go John Lapp of Holyoke. Second went to Daniel Harmon of Otis and third place went to Cliff Henry of Yuma.
The children's pedal tractor pull featured 22 contestants aged 12 and under from as far away as Louisiana, as was the case for 6-year-old puller Isabella Ricks, who was in the area visiting her grandparents Sam and Melody Romero.
The top three placers in each age division qualified to go on to the state pedal pull at the Old Threshers Show in Yuma on Sept. 9.The Whittington family, including Dale, Maureen and daughter Lauren, will direct this year's state event and were on hand in Brush to organize results, with a little help from pedal-pull aide Shorty Edwards.
Lauren boasts of holding the state championship title from the 2011 Old Threshers pull in the 12-year-old division and will move on to defend her title this year. Results and qualifiers were as:
3 and under: 1. Tasha Barron.
4 year-olds: 1. Thatcher Queen, 2. Payson Poland.
6 year-olds: (Boys) 1. Blake Emmerling, 2. Jacob Wilkenson (Girls) 1. Isabella Ricks, 2. Kaylee Mendoza.
7 year-olds: 1. Brady Gibson, 2. Matthew Krening, 3. Jackson Barron.
8 year-olds: (Boys) 1. Harley Queen. (Girls) 1. Deanna Harmon, 2. Jessie Bond, 3. Kyla Schilken, 4. Jamie Bond.
9 year-olds: 1. Jonah Gleason, 2. Jayce Kreegar.
10 year-olds: 1. Adam Krening.
11 year-olds: 1. Kenzie Cure, 2. Carter Mortensen.
12 year-olds: 1. Lauren Whittington, 2. Alayna Kreegar.
Tractor games included a slow race, pole race and 4-wheel trailer backing contest. Results from those events were:
Slow Race: 1. Don Flagstrom, Merino. 2. Tim Sharp, Woodrow. 3. Kent Bauer, Brush.
Pole Race: 1. Doug Dill, Fort Morgan. 2. Tim Sharp, Woodrow. 3. Larry Kage, Fort Morgan.
4-wheel backing: 1. Brad Buehler, 2. Doug Dill, 3. Darick Schneider.
The 2012 show also featured an auction where items for sale included John Deere toy tractors from 21st Century Equipment, a John Deere metal tin bank from All About U, Rockies tickets from the Bank of Colorado and KSIR Radio, dog food from Draegert Feed-N-Supply, tractor t-shirts from Donna Goeken, a denim tractor photo album from Meladee Hagamann, a gift certificate from Hodgson Media, five-piece wrenches and a 128 piece mechanic tool set from Hometown Auto and Hardware, a 12V inflator from Mr D's Ace Home Center, decorative horseshoe flower ornaments from Dave Musgrave, a cordless workstation light from Part Smart Carquest, toy tractors from S&S Service, Wickham Tractor Co. and tractor plates from Deb Schehrer.
The 2012 Morgan County Antique Tractor and Power Show committee members, volunteers and participants give huge thanks to the 56 area businesses that provided sponsorships to make this year's event a success.
Photographers from near and far could also be seen on the grounds of the tractor show as Morgan Community College's Center for Arts and Community Enrichment (CACE) program presented a photo contest for pictures snapped at the tractor show. The contest is open to all ages and pictures must be submitted by June 30 to Katie.Barron@Morgancc.edu or by mail to Katie Barron, 920 Barlow Road, Fort Morgan, CO 80701.
The best entries will be put on display at the CACE Gallery of Fine Art at MCC beginning July 13. For more information call (970) 542-3108.
Source: www.fortmorgantimes.com
Antique plane enthusiasts to visit Ontario Saturday - Argus Observer Online
Posted: Thursday, June 14, 2012 12:42 pm | Updated: 12:45 pm, Thu Jun 14, 2012.
ONTARIO — The Ontario Municipal Airport will host a group of special visitors Saturday as the Montana Antique Aircraft Association has scheduled Ontario as a stopover during its annual “hop,” which is a tour by members of other antique aircraft enthusiasts and other aviation sites in other states.
Estimated time of arrival at Ontario is 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. MDT. Twenty-two aircraft — 40 people — will be on the ground for a short period of time, Tom Frazier, Frazier Aviation, Ontario Airport fixed base operator, said.
Posted in News on Thursday, June 14, 2012 12:42 pm. Updated: 12:45 pm.
Source: www.argusobserver.com
Exhibition puts spotlight on music artwork - Japan Times
It's hard to convey how much of a game changer The Beatles were for rock music. Almost 50 years ago, they brought their music to the United States and incited a craze called "Beatlemania." Japan was similarly smitten and their 1966 gig at Budokan was just as legendary.
Ever since then, the Japanese have had a genuine passion for British music. Therefore a new exhibition titled the "Art of UK Rock" at Bunkamura Gallery in Tokyo's Shibuya is likely to be a must-see for local Anglophiles.
From the Beatles to Blur, the event celebrates the artwork (about 100 pieces) of many popular groups — whether it be album covers or art made by the musicians themselves.
Sometimes the artwork associated with a band can become just as important as the music itself. Among the pieces displayed at the Bunkamura event will be the artwork for The Sex Pistols' hit "God Save the Queen." Designed by Jamie Reid, the piece features a defaced photograph of Queen Elizabeth II. The Observer newspaper called the image the most iconic of the punk era.
Album covers aren't just decoration, they are the face of artists and movements, and with MP3s becoming a more prevalent way of listening to music — their importance could also wind up being diminished.
Source: www.japantimes.co.jp
Cave artwork found in Spain is confirmed as oldest in Europe at 40,800 years old and could have been painted by Neanderthals - Daily Mail
- The Palaeolithic paintings in northern Spain have been precisely dated for the first time
- The results proving that cave art was first painted in Europe 10,000 years earlier than previously thought
By Graham Smith
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Europe's oldest cave artwork was today confirmed to be at least 40,800 years old.
The Palaeolithic paintings in northern Spain have been precisely dated for the first time, proving the art form began in Europe 10,000 years earlier than previously thought.
This means the cave paintings were created by either the first anatomically modern humans in the area - first thought to exist 41,500 years ago - or by Neanderthals.
Record-breaker: The 'Panel of Hands' artwork in the El Castillo cave in northern Spain. Made by blowing or spitting paint onto the wall, scientists have estimated the art to be at least 40,800 years old
The paintings were created by either the first anatomically modern humans in the area - first thought to exist 41,500 years ago - or by Neanderthals
Scientists were able to work out the age of the paintings by dating the formulation of tiny stalactites on top of the art using the radioactive decay of uranium.
They examined a total of 11 caves in northern Spain, including the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Altamira, El Castillo and Tito Bustillo.
Hand stencils and disks made by blowing paint onto the wall in the El Castillo cave proved to date back to at least 40,800 years. This makes them the oldest known cave art in Europe - up to 10,000 years older than previous examples from France.
A large club-shaped symbol in the polychrome chamber at Altamira was found to be at least 35,600 years old, showing that painting started there 10,000 years earlier than previously thought too.
Research found that the cave was revisited and painted a number of times over a period spanning more than 20,000 years.
The creation of art is considered important to the evolution of modern cognitions and symbolic behaviour, and could be associated with the development of language.
Dr Alistair Pike, of the University of Bristol, said: 'We see evidence for earlier human symbolism in the form of perforated beads, engraved egg shells and pigments in Africa 70,000 to 100,000 years ago, but it appears that the earliest cave paintings are in Europe.
'One argument for its development here is that competition for resources with Neanderthals provoked increased cultural innovation from the earliest groups of modern humans in order to survive.
'Alternatively, cave painting started before the arrival of modern humans, and was done by Neanderthals.
'That would be a fantastic find as it would mean the hand stencils on the walls of the caves are outlines of Neanderthals’ hands, but we will need to date more examples to see if this is the case.'
Gathering evidence: University of Bristol researchers remove samples from paintings in Tito Bustillo cave in Asturias, Spain, for radioactive dating
Dr Alistair Pike removes calcite crusts in the 'Corridor of Disks' inside the El Castillo cave
Social history: The creation of art is important to the evolution of modern cognitions and symbolic behaviour, and could be associated with the development of language
The scientists were forced to use the uranium method as the paintings lacked organic pigments or binders suitable for radiocarbon dating.
And even if there was organic material - such as charcoal pigments - only small samples can be used for dating to minimise damage.
This can cause contamination, leading to an inaccurate result.
Instead, the international team measured uranium isotypes in the thin calcite flowstone growths which had formed on the surfaces of the paintings to date the art.
The method, known as uranium-series disequilibrium, is used in Earth Sciences to accurately date ancient objects.
Dr Dirk Hoffmann, of the National Centre for the Investigation of Human Evolution in Burgos, Spain, said: 'The key development was our method to date tiny tiny calcium carbonate deposits similar to stalactites.
'We can now date samples of just ten milligrams - about as small as a grain of rice. This has allowed us to find samples that had formed directly on top of hundreds of paintings, whereas the larger stalactites were much less frequent.'
Cave art specialist Dr Paul Pettitt, of the University of Sheffield, said: 'Until now our understanding of the age of cave art was sketchy at best; now we have firmly extended the earliest age of European cave art back by several thousand years, to the time of the last Neanderthals and earliest Homo sapiens.
'These earliest images do not represent animals, and suggest that the earliest art was non-figurative, which may have significant implications for how art evolved.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Heart in his hands: World's richest artist Damien Hirst holds up striking painting days after he splits from partner of 19 years - Daily Mail
- World's richest artist pictured with symbolic artwork days after split
- Maia Norman, 49, confirmed to reporters she is leaving Hirst for former mercenary Tim Spicer
- Twice-divorced Spicer was formerly an Army officer and served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands
- As a mercenary he was investigated for allegedly shipping weapons to Sierra Leone in breach of a UN embargo
- Norman and Hirst, who have three children, have been together since 1993
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Devastated: Damien Hirst's partner may have left him for an older man only last month, but the artist put a brave face on his heartache when he was pictured with symbolic artwork today
It was only a few days ago that details had emerged of Damien Hirst's split from his partner of 20 years after she left him for a former mercenary.
But in the face of his relationship breakdown, the world's richest artist has put a brave face on his personal troubles, as he was pictured today going back to the day job and holding a particularly symbolic artwork.
Hirst, who has a 215m fortune, was left devastated last month when Maia Norman, his partner of 19 years, confessed her affair with former Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer.
But the 47-year-old artist appeared focussed on his work in London's Covent Garden at a Tate Modern Art Project today, despite at one point holding up a painting of a giant bright red heart.
The details of Hirst's relationship breakdown with Norman were revealed on Sunday, after the couple broke news of their split to friends and confidants.
In the wake of the revelations, it emerged that Hirst went ahead with a party in the grounds of one of his country homes only hours after news broke that his partner Maia Norman had left him for Mr Tim Spicer.
Fans expressed their sympathy to Hirst after Miss Norman confirmed she was leaving him after 19 years for former soldier-of-fortune Spicer, who is 12 years older than the artist, who is the father of Norman's three children.
It is unclear whether Norman will now move out of the couple’s main home, a 300-year-old Grade II listed farmhouse in Devon.
A fortnight ago, she grinned as she greeted 59-year-old Spicer, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Scots Guards who now runs Aegis Defence Services, a security firm that has won multi-million-pound contracts with the US government in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Striking a pose: The world's richest artist appeared in good spirits when he was pictured with the heart design painting in London today
Details of Hirst's split from Maia Norman emerged last weekend, with the break-up thought to have happened last month
Smiling for the camera: Hirst poses with schoolchildren with his heart spin painting, as part of a Tate Modern Art Project in Covent Garden
Two weeks ago, California-born Miss Norman, 49, was photographed in Hollywood tenderly kissing Spicer in front of 150 journalists attending a car rally.
She embraced her lover for a second time before the pair walked arm-in-arm into a hotel lobby.
An onlooker said: ‘They looked incredibly comfortable and happy to see each other. You got the feeling this was the real thing, not just a fling.’
When approached and asked whether she was leaving Hirst for Spicer, Miss Norman said ‘yes’ before declining to speak further.
Divorced Spicer, the father of a teenage son, remained silent, although yesterday a spokesman confirmed he did not deny the story.
Spicer, 59, is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Scots Guards and a Falklands veteran. He came to prominence through his company Sandline during the ‘arms-to-Africa’ controversy in 1998. He now runs Aegis Defence Services, a security firm that has won multi-million-pound contracts with the US government in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For his part, Leeds-born Hirst is the most successful living artist. His controversial works, which include a dead shark encased in formaldehyde and a skull made from diamonds, have helped him earn what is believed to be a 215million fortune.
Item: California-born Maia Norman leapt out of her black Dodge Charger - complete with Hirst's skull design on the side - to passionately embrace debonair Tim Spicer, a former mercenary
One onlooker said: 'They looked incredibly comfortable and happy to see each other. You got the feeling this was the real thing, not just a fling.'
Last night, however, lawyers said Miss Norman might be entitled to very little of that money because the couple – whose children are aged 16, 12 and six – never married.
Ayesha Vardag, of London solicitors Vardags, said: ‘They are not married and, in England, the rights of cohabitees are extremely limited, even if they have been in a relationship for a long time and even if they have three children.
‘It all depends on whether they have a joint bank account and if her name is on the title deeds of the various properties. If not, she could be entitled to very little for herself.’
As well as the 300-year-old Grade II-listed Devon farmhouse, which is the main family home, Hirst also owns a restaurant, a pub and an art studio.
Bond and Hirst bonded over their mutual lack of a father figure and humble beginnings. She initially worked as his assistant. One of Hirst's best-known works is a diamond-studded human skull that sold for 50 million
In 2005, he paid 3million for Toddington Manor, a gothic pile in Gloucestershire that he is renovating to house his art collection, and he also owns a house in Thailand, a beach home in Mexico and a houseboat moored on the Thames in Chelsea.
Although they never married, Hirst and Miss Norman used to refer to each other as husband and wife, and their relationship was seen as one of the art world’s most stable.
Sources stressed their main priority now was the welfare of their children.
It is not known how Spicer came to know Miss Norman but neighbours in Devon have speculated he could have helped to arrange the security guards who monitor the entrance to Hirst’s home.
Hirst, pictured with his famous shark in formaldehyde, has a 215-million fortune. He has been left 'devastated' after Norman confessed the affair to him in the last week of May
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Ivan, you make a splended point, man and his ego can interfere with most anything in life. For instance, how can scientist find skeletal remains of dinosaurs dating back a billion years with very shallow excavating; remember we're talking about billions of years, 1st when 80% of the earths circumference is covered in water currently. So you mean to tell me archiologist can locate dinosaur remains on 20% of dry earth circumference dating back billions of years, but we barley can find a missing persons skeletal remains in a shallow grave? yeah, right.
- Richard , usa, 15/6/2012 03:28
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