The SCRAP Show over the Labor Day Weekend was one of the biggest Oliver and all Brand shows we have attended in recent times. Our members and the Oliver community showed up in full force. There were approx. 143 Oliver Tractors on display setting a new feature record and over 500 tractors in all. When Larry heard our guys were “emptying the barn” he did not realize what the turnout would be. Some of the larger displayed collections were The Bankey Family with 14 tractors, Larry Boellner with 9 including the Oliver #2 Hay Loader, and Derek Graves with 6 tractors. Wayne & Mary Groweg and Family with 16 Tractors and the 2255 White USAC Sign – never seen before – given to Wayne and the boys from Fremont Implement and it has been stored away for many years. Allen, Karen and Scott Helle with 11 tractors on display, John Parker with 5 tractors and Larry & Scott Reilly Families with 10 tractors. Many more had tractors and implements displayed making this the Best Show in a long time. For a lot of the time the tent was full of people visiting and telling stories; happy to see friends from near and far. We had our Michigan families there and our Pennsylvania families made it to Ohio. The tent also had Bob Bergefund Toys set up and some special display pieces inside. The 2 Oliver signs are owned by Kenny Frankart. The Stroman Implement sign of Fostoria was hanging on the front of the building when brother Joe bought it at auction for less than $100. The Munger Implement sign was given to Kenny in 1968 who worked for Munger at the time when they went out of business in 1956. The dealership was then owned by Stroman until it was closed in 1968. The Oliver 70 is a 1938 bought new in 1939 by Marvin Bankey, grandfather to Terry, from the Stroman dealership in Fostoria. The Bankey family has farmed with Oliver’s for now going into the 5th generation.
Sunday evening we went down the road a couple of miles to Wayne & Mary Groweg’s farm where they hosted a club picnic. There was a tent up and with the help of their family and some club wives the garage was full of great food and some music. There were 64 people there having a great time, enjoying the food and friendship. Wayne & Mary and their family were shown our appreciation and recognized for the exceptional family they have.
