EYE ON SAN ANGELO
SAN ANGELO, TX – At the Spur Arena, amid a continuous cloud of swirling dust, students of agriculture from around the state showed up to show off their creations. Agricultural devices of every kind; pens, catches, feeders, gates, any kind of ingenious solution to the problems of life in the field. Among the most photogenic projects were the lovingly restored tractors.
Kids as young as 10-years of age hopped onboard, happy to teach this reporter a thing or two about the tools their grandfathers and fathers before them used to get the job done.
Like this Farmall, that started its life up near Lubbock, restored to an original red shine by Brett Ball, of Burleson. One of only 2,000 original models they produced to run on liquid propane gas, he explained all the mechanics behind the process.
Or this 1934 John Deere Model D, the “Poppin’ Johnny,” complete with steel-lugged wheels and all original parts, restored by Bradley Grey of Whitharral.
He spent well over 300 hours tracking down pieces for the old two-lunger. The only thing he had to fabricate himself were covers to prevent damage to the wheels while moving.
All in all, it’s a wonderful experience to listen to the hardworking young men and women of this state explain their projects, carrying along the tradition of southern ingenuity into the 21st Century.
