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Asheville, North Carolina or to be more precise, Fletcher, NC was host to the 2018 HPOCA winter show. Buckeye Oliver Collectors was well represented with President Larry and Tonia Elliott, vice president Jan Huck, treasurer Billie Huck, secretary Bill and Jan Yaple and board member John and Sharon Gustina making the 8 to 10 hour drive south. The Gustina’s and the Huck’s went down a day early to visit the gem of Asheville-Biltmore mansion. I can say this, Oliver green was everywhere on the mansion grounds. If any readers have considered a visit to Biltmore put it on your bucket list, as it is breathtaking, something that will never be duplicated.

Now back to the Davis Ag center, the host building for the show. It is a very large structure to say the least, easily room for 26 tractors, plows, running gear, balers and chapter and vender tables. The Buckeye Oliver Collectors had a strong presence with seven tables total. We had on display our three raffle items and sold over 100 chances. Also we sold seven cookbooks and sales were strong from Tonia’s merchandise tables. I know a lot of grandchildren have new Oliver shirts thanks to grandma stopping by.

I also want to tell everyone that we also displayed our memorial plaque and had a signup sheet available for members of Buckeye Oliver Collectors to put their names down. A few names were on the list when the show closed. Interesting to note was the build card seminar held Saturday. Thanks to Dwayne Starr and Chris Losey for trying to make sense of a confusing subject, I for one would like to sit thru it again. Also held on Saturday was a seminar hosted by Margie Gaiser with the subject being hosting a HPOCA show. The room was full which speaks well for future shows. Many thanks go out to The Oliver Gang and a bunch of good ol’ Carolina folks for hosting a great show. As with all our shows this one ended with a banquet Saturday evening. When one is in the south one wants the good food that is famous, and good food was delivered. I won’t tease yo’all with the menu but it was worth two trips thru the line.

The amount of work that goes into a show is not lost on Buckeye Oliver members. Oliver green was spread throughout Fletcher at many hotels and the Hampton Inn where we stayed was full of tractor people filling the lounge area every morning and evening. It brings true the thought that it’s Great Green Tractors that bring us together but it’s the people at the show who make it worth the journey. I know it’s safe to say that a real good time was had by all who attended. Now we at the Buckeye Oliver Collectors look forward to our spring picnic so let’s come together and have a large turnout. See you all there.

John Gustina