Tractors, trucks, and agri-toys

Preserving the agricultural history of the Okanagan is what one local event is doing this weekend.

The 21st Annual Okanagan Antique Tractor & Machinery Fair features old cars, trucks, farm equipment, engines, and tractors.

It’s organized by the Okanagan Antique Power Club (OAPC), which has around 40 members who meet throughout the year and help each other with fixing up old machines.

“Today is about learning and drawing up interest from the past,” Brandon Mitchell, president of OAPC told Kelowna10. “My area of interest in anything related to agriculture and vintage vehicles.”

Mitchell has been attending the fair since it first began 21 years ago, when he was only four years old.

“I got into this really because my grandpa was big into tractors and that’s what started my interest,” he said. “I’m the youngest in the club by far and they chose to put me as president which made me feel pretty good.”

Mitchell is a mechanical engineer, and his family owns a 65-acre farm in Lake Country. Being around machines is his way of life and he’s happy to share his passion with others through this event.

“We’ve had the farm since 1918 when my great-grandfather’s dad bought it and I hope to take it over one day,” he explained. “[I enjoy] seeing how excited the little kids get when they see tractors driving around, it’s just very fulfilling to see how happy it makes people.”

There were many unique tractors at the fair, including a rare heavy plowing engine, the 1911 Canadian Rumely. It’s only one of two left in the world and the only one that still operates. It was used mainly in Alberta to plow fields on the prairies.

Breakfast and coffee were served on Saturday morning and the event attracted people of all ages who were admiring the old machines.

“If we don’t get the young generation interested in this stuff it’s just going to disappear,” Mitchell said. “This is preserving history and a lot of people have never seen stuff like this, so it’s a big deal.”

The event runs Sept. 17 and 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Father Pandosy Mission.