I’m happy to report another successful week of preparation for the 27th annual Inman Farm Heritage Days on Sept. 20-22.
First some sad news. In recent days we’ve mourned the passing of two of our most loyal exhibitors – Bob Edwards from Jasper and Ken Arnold from Riverdale.
As long as he was able, Bob brought a trailer load of tractors, crawlers and some other mechanical creations he built. Ken was a regular with his Corvair truck, a rare vehicle that, like Bob’s display, always drew lots of attention.
Back to show prep. Glen Roberts is down to the last details of the conversion of the old boiled peanut shed into a room to display items detailing the history of Inman and the Inman Methodist Church. Allen Pierce came up from Barnesville to help Glen, and to start cleaning some of the other buildings on the show grounds.
Tommy Hicks and Jim Sams completed some needed repairs on the dragline. Our operator, Nathan Mixon, came up, tested it out and declared it show ready.
Tommy, Jim, Glen and I spent Tuesday morning sawing the lumber we needed to complete Glen’s project.
And over on the west side of Inman at the Sams place, Jim, with help from Tommy and others, has completed the restoration of his grandfather’s Allis Chalmers WD.
I’ve enjoyed working with Jim here, and I’ve enjoyed following his restoration project.
He even wrote an article for our souvenir program about his tractor, and it’s a great story. That’s no surprise, as his late father, Dr. Ferrol “Sambo” Sams was a best-selling author.
From back in the days when Jim and his brothers Ferrol III and Fletcher used to be among the youngsters that were recruited to get up hay each summer, Jim stood out as a hard worker.
(pictured above: Jim Sams)
All the Sams boys worked hard, but Jim stood out. He was what I’d call a “quick stepper.” Instead of dragging his feet, hoping someone else would pick up the next bale in the row, he’d often step up and get it himself.
Still today, when we are sawing or working on equipment, he’s got that same quick step, whether it’s carrying a board from the mill to the stack or fetching tools for dragline repair.
If you didn’t know different, you’d never guess that for years he’s been one of our area’s leading medical doctors.
Brandon Harp and his able assistant Justin Chosewood finished spreading the asphalt millings in our parking area. Duck Carden and Joanne mowed grass on the showgrounds.
Daniel Perkins and the Chasons – Austin, Sam and Sammy – helped Glen raise the steel pole that will hold an antique gas station light that Barry Carden donated. (Actually is was mostly Austin, and we would have recorded a great video of the pole raising, but no one pushed “record” on the camera.)
Daniel got the wide-front John Deere 730 running much better by fine-tuning the timing of the injectors. He also gave it a good pressure washing.
The crew also bolted some more parts on the John Deere G, and Greg Thompson made an extra trip over to drill out the holes in the frame where the radiator is attached. We’re using a different frame from the original, which was damaged, and the bolt holes were a bit small.
Joanne’s “Ugly Tractor” a 1947 International I4 is up and running again. Big thanks to Roy Rhoton and Keith Betsill for putting new tires and tubes on the front.
If I missed anyone I apologize. Thanks for following along. Hope to see lots of y’all at the show.