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Machinery Hill

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Former gopher

08-27-2005 03:12:48




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The Minnesota State Fair is starting up and I can't get there this year (have lived in PA for many years now) but went every year as a kid through my mid-20s. Always loved Machinery Hill where all the dealers (in the appropriate colored tents or semi-permanent buildings) displayed the "new" stuff (which was 1960s-70s vintage). They must have been patient with kids because I remember climbing on and "driving" a thousand different tractors as a small boy. Anybody remember that?

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Leroy

08-28-2005 09:43:25




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Former gopher, 08-27-2005 03:12:48  
I don't go to any fairs anymore, they have all turned into carnivals, not fairs, and that includes my county and the 2 countys next to me and all three have antique machinery displays put on by the 3 clubs I belong to in the 3 countys, have had kids with no respect for anything try to break my stuff, but I do take and display at the local tractor shows, 6 I think where I have Had my stuff the last few years and in that local I am including 166 mile one way for one

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Glen in TX

08-27-2005 14:05:26




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Former gopher, 08-27-2005 03:12:48  
It's sad but true those days of most all local fairs seem to be gone. I might go to a farm equipment show but none of local fairs because they ran our antique tractor pull out. City people with campers and animals at the fair said we were making too much noise and fumes and they needed their sleep. Wee wee wee. lol. Those screaming carnivals don't make any noise though?



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Dean Barker

08-27-2005 07:59:28




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Former gopher, 08-27-2005 03:12:48  
I am going to skip the Minnesota State Fair this year, mainly because there has been no machinery there. The only thing of interest, in the past years has been the new pickups and cars. If they bring back machinery hill, maybe I will reconsider next year. Thanks for the update.



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JMS/MN

08-27-2005 09:01:32




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Dean Barker, 08-27-2005 07:59:28  
Recent announcement was that there will be a Machinery Hill at this year's fair, although scaled back- not like it was years ago. Dealer's left the Hill because they said 99% of fairgoers were city folks, not potential customers. Also major transport and manpower issues. That's why the existence of Farmfest over the years- now permanent at Redwood Falls (?), in early August.



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Former gopher

08-27-2005 09:34:24




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to JMS/MN, 08-27-2005 09:01:32  
Meaning no disrespect to implement dealers who I know are at the State Fair to sell a product not to put on a show. Nevertheless, is it really true that "99% of fairgoers are city people"? (Live in an apartment in Minneapolis)? Or are there many, many people on small acreages who the big mainline implement dealers have completely missed? Why do the big implement boys struggle to survive while you see a Kubota on every other farm you drive by these days? There is quite of bit of "in between" on the spectrum between a suburban lawn and an agribusiness megafarm. That's why we "city folks" love vintage equipment and bid it up at auction. I'm not complaining, just noting it for the record.

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Mike (WA)

08-28-2005 10:05:54




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Former gopher, 08-27-2005 09:34:24  
Local JD dealer here changed the focus of the dealership when he took over 8 or so years ago- he recognized that the market for the new 50 HP range tractor was nearly non-existent- so has a couple 100 HPs around, but really ramped up the lawn and garden stuff- took on Troy-bilt as a short line, believe it or not- also recognized that you can upgrade the "2 acres of lawn country estate guy" to a $13,000 22 HP loader tractor with belly mount mower, if you talk it up a bit and offer good financing. He has guys who can "talk farm", as well, and with virtually no competion in the farm end of the business, has dominated that as well. Has really done well, and you've gotta admire his marketing intuition.

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JMS/MN

08-27-2005 12:56:20




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Former gopher, 08-27-2005 09:34:24  
Just quoting the article- I think it was in the Strib. People on small acreages in/near the metro area or a few oustate areas like St. Cloud, Rochester, etc. are the ones buying Kubotas for 20-30K, and those local dealers are catering to that market. Just like our local JD dealer- did a million dollar expansion, but it was for the toys he sells, not farm equipment. Putting machinery and people on the Hill is expensive. Rural dealers have to deal with farmers with smaller checkbooks, and are struggling to survive. Thus the reduction in numbers of dealers over the years. Same reason I resist going to weekend auctions if I'm looking for a tractor to restore. Can't compete with the checkbooks of the weekenders. Prices are higher than during the week when a farmer sells out. There are two economies in MN- one in metro, one outstate.

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Mn. Dave

08-27-2005 05:02:49




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Former gopher, 08-27-2005 03:12:48  
Yes, I remember it also. Was a good time in the late 50's and through the 60's. The machinery they had then was aimed at the common farmer and we could do a side by side comparison. For the last (many) years all they had was lawn and garden items on our "machinery hill". This year I read that they are bringing "machinery hill" back. Then I read a few machinery companies are allowed to bring a few of their largest items to the fair and that the local cops in St. Paul will turn their heads and allow them to travel the streets with the big loads. All this will be is a thing of beauty and high bucks for the city people to see, and think that is the way all farmers work their land. I will not be going to "machinery hill" but thanks for the memories.

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mike brown

08-27-2005 07:20:55




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Mn. Dave, 08-27-2005 05:02:49  
The NY state fair was ag oriented in the fifties and sixties as well. I used to lobby hard to get the latest JD tractor toys with limited success. Now it is pretty much city oriented, a reflection of society in general. Now the farmers go to Empire Farm Days where there is room to run the machinery in real field and crops.



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Delbert from Lincoln

08-27-2005 07:34:15




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to mike brown, 08-27-2005 07:20:55  
Nebrraska State fair started today, and although I havn"t been to one in many years, I understand it is the same way here. Lawn and garden equipment. The real farm equipment dealers and the real farmers go to Husker Harvest Days out by Grand Island, where they can see the machines actually doing what they were built to do, and sometimes get to take a turn at the wheel.



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Former gopher

08-27-2005 08:04:14




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Delbert from Lincoln, 08-27-2005 07:34:15  
You guys all hit the nail on the head (and yes, lobbying for the latest toy tractors was definitely part of the ritual!). There were always a few huge pieces of equipment for the "gee whiz" factor, but much of it was connecting to the average family farmer (160-220 acres the norm in my community). The scale was smaller but the farming was also much more integrated; the same guy who had real nice Allis or Massey Harris equipment also had a beautiful herd of Herefords, purebred Poland China hogs, etc. It made sense to have it at the State Fair because it all connected so much better with the farm families like mine who attended each year. Boy do I miss those days. You guys who restore tractors don't know how much joy you bring to the rest of us when we see one of your awesome displays at a county or state fair. Thanks!!

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j meyer

08-27-2005 08:22:56




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 Re: Machinery Hill in reply to Former gopher, 08-27-2005 08:04:14  
One of my co-workers took up a tractor to Machinery Hill this year for our dealership and we were told there would be no hassle, but the state patrol still barked at him and made him have a late night.....arrr! I myself am not that old compaired to some on this board and I remember when I was growing up in the 80's, and White still had a tent there with toys- This was the ONLY place I could get a toy like Dad's tractors (Oliver), and I was in bliss. Granted there wasnt a whole load of new stuff, but there was some. The last time I was there- about 1994, there was basically nothing but kiddie rides on Machinery Hill... I remember watching a TV show on Minnesota Public TV called "Lost Twin Cities" and they featured Minneapolis Moline once. Man, they showed some of their setups at Machinery Hill:) You guys could be lost up there in the day! Anywho, the Hill is back- or so they say, and I spose I'll go snoop it out this year. I best go see Princess Kay too:) Have a good weekend!

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