Eastern National Expo X ready to paint the Wayne County Fairgrounds green
Walt Weldon’s 1936 JD Model D runs so smoothly it operates while hoisted up on on soda bottles. This tractor along with all kinds of John Deere tractors, lawn garden tractors, equipment and memorabilia will be present at the upcoming Eastern National Expo X event hosted by the Ohio Two Cylinder Club June 21-23.
It’s early summer, and all of the foliage, lawns and fields around Amish Country are turning green. However, the local landscape isn’t the only thing coming up green. An enormous tractor show that will feature plenty of a very well-known shade of green is coming to Wooster.
John Deere tractors will show up in force to the Wayne County Fairgrounds for exhibition at the Eastern National Expo X, which will take place June 21-23. Hosted by the Ohio Two Cylinder Club, the expo is open to the public and will feature all types of John Deere equipment including antiques, restorations, lawn and garden equipment, and more.
Any owner of a John Deere tractor, implements, lawn and garden tractors, restored or unrestored, and antique or new generation are welcome to the exhibition, but the joy of John Deere green doesn’t stop with tractors. Owners of John Deere snowmobiles, bicycles and trailers are all welcome to join the festivities. This year’s show will feature the John Deere Model 4010 tractor and John Deere Model 110 Patio lawn and garden tractor.
In 2016 the expo had more than 700 displays, and they expect the show to be even larger this year.
“We want everyone to know that they can come and enjoy this event by taking in all that there is to see, but what we really want everyone to know is that they are invited to bring their own John Deere tractor or equipment in for the show,” said Vicki Slater, Expo X assistant. “We want to cover the entire fairgrounds in John Deere green.”
Ohio Two Cylinder Club members can display during the event at no charge while all others pay a $10 display fee, which will include two 3-day passes and a one-year membership in the club.
That invitation to being in John Deere equipment should make for some fun viewing to John Deere fans.
While this show has been located in Springfield, Ohio for quite some time, the show came to Wooster in 2016, and this is the second year the fairgrounds will play host to the event.
“We have club members all over Ohio, and the club felt that with the fairgrounds providing a wonderful venue and with this area being so devoted to agriculture that Wooster made perfect sense to present the show,” Slater said.
The three-day show will present various seminars throughout the event, but having people bring in their favorite John Deere tractor, lawn tractor or piece of equipment is what drives the show.
“We have already had some wonderful phone calls from people who are committed to bringing in some really unique and rare pieces of equipment,” Slater said.
While the tractor and equipment displays can be viewed all day all around the fairgrounds, there will be time slots devoted to some fantastic speakers on a variety of topics.
On June 21, opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. with a Model 140 L&G tractor seminar taking place at 10 a.m. There will be a tractor parade at noon, tractor games starting at 1:15 p.m., a gauge seminar at 2:30 p.m., a threshing and shelling demonstration at 3:30 p.m., and a tour to JR Acres Museum taking place at 5 p.m.
June 22 will feature a plowing seminar at 9:15 a.m. with a “Painting Your Tractor” seminar at 10:30 a.m. by Steve Fender. Another threshing and shelling demo will take place at 10:30 a.m., followed by yet another tractor parade at noon. At 2 p.m. the “Step Safety” seminar will take place with a lively tractor pull kicking off at 4 p.m. and the JD memorabilia auction beginning at 5 p.m., host auctioneer Steve Andrews taking the gavel to ignite the fun. Slater said Andrews is already accumulating an impressive list of tractors that will hit the auction block.
June 23 will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a lawn and garden tractor competition, at which time there also will be a peanut farming seminar. The popular kiddie tractor pull will take place at 11 a.m., followed by a tractor parade at noon. At 1 p.m. another JD machinery auction will take place, and there are a multitude of other events happening throughout all three days.
“We’ve made it so people will have to decide what they want to do next. There is that much to do and see,” Slater said.
In addition to the auction, the public will have every chance to find that hidden gem they are looking for at the trading post, a three-day event that gives attendees a chance to buy and sell John Deere items. The club expects around 50 vendors who will peddle parts, tires, signs, books, new and used toys, and ephemera.
“The trading post is a lot of fun, and even nonmembers are invited to bring things to sell,” Slater said. “It’s a garage sale atmosphere, and people can sell tractors and any other type of memorabilia and equipment they want. You never know what you might find that catches your eye.”
Slater said that with everything to see and everything to do, it will keep John Deere fans hopping and might even create some new JD fans to sing the praises of the John Deere line.
“We really had a great turnout in 2016, and we expect it to be very busy again this year,” Slater said. “The speakers are tremendous. There is a lot to do, and we invite everyone to stop by and check it out.”
Expo gates will open at 7 a.m. with opening ceremonies kicking off at 9 a.m. each day. The expo grounds are open in the evening for viewing for free after 5 p.m. Admission is $5 per day or $12 for a three-day pass, and children age 12 and under are free. The Wayne County Fairgrounds is located at 199 Vanover St. in Wooster.
Expo sponsors include Bent Wood Solutions LLC and Shearer Equipment, platinum donors; Snyder Hot Shot, Trent Insurance Group, Wilson Tire and Vaughan’s Lawn & Tractor, gold-level sponsors; Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau, silver sponsor; and Scenic View Engines, bronze sponsor.
Expo X is hosted by the Ohio Two Cylinder Club to promote the interest in the preservation, restoration and exhibition of antique John Deere products, particularly John Deere two-cylinder tractors.
Show books are available at www.ohiotwocylinderclub.org. For more information call expo chairman Dave Howman of West Salem at 330-466-0197 or email ohiotwocylinderclub@gmail.com.