This year we are featuring Fairbanks Morse engines at our summer show. It seems like a good time to update visitors as to that green engine displayed at our Crider’s Church road entrance.
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On Saturday, August 13, 2022, CVAEMA board member Aldean Crider presented a $700 donation to Leslie Bowman (pictured below), representative from the Franklin County 4-H program’s Tractor Safety course for youth. The donation will sponsor multiple youth for The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) certification course. This safety course is for youth ages 12-16 who will be operating tractors or self-propelled farm machinery on public roads for their own family, as well as youth interested in tractor and machinery safety.
Before I get into the story of this engine, I thought I would explain what a halfbreed oil field engine is. The early oil industry used steam engines for various jobs in the oil fields during the mid to late 1800’s. It was in the early 1900’s when companies began to convert steam engines into gas engines. This proved to be less time consuming to maintain. The other advantage was that gas engines could be run off well gas (a byproduct of the well) which was free and already at the engine location.
Another year’s flown by and it was time again for the CVAEMA’s Winter Banquet. We all gathered at Solomon’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 25th. Although the sign-up sheet said doors open at 5:30, by that time the gym was already filled with chatting people. Seems like the engine/tractor crowd is always very early for their events. Alex Baker started the evening promptly at 6:00 p.m., thanking everyone for coming. A blessing was given by Joel Nupp and off to the food tables we went.
The Franklin Fall Farm Fun Fest was held September 26-28, 2019 at the host farm of Wayne and Bradley Beidel of Newburg, PA. CVAEMA once again sponsored the "Grinder Winder", a learning station on the walking tour which consisted of 15 hand corn shellers provided by Bill Swailes.
Twenty one people turned out for the 2019 tractor ride on June 9, 2019. We heard several reports about what a good, relaxed time they had traveling from the showgrounds, out Peckman Drive and around Edenville, stopping for a photo shoot at Mt. Olivet Church. The skies were threatening so the group decided to short cut the ride and head back to the showgrounds a bit sooner than they would have liked but that’s what June in PA is like sometimes!
Each year the club commissions a quilt of the feature tractor and auctions it off at the August Steam and Gas show. This year’s quilt beautifully displays Case tractors, the iconic Case eagle emblem and this year’s show dates embroidered at the top. The quilt will be auctioned off immediately after the 1:00 tractor parade on Saturday, August 10th, 2019 on the Midway.
CVAEMA’s annual Winter Banquet was held Saturday, January 26th at Solomon’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chambersburg. The gymnasium was noisy as everyone was socializing while waiting for the program to begin. At 6:00 pm President Jack Horner got the banquet underway and after the blessing by Pastor Joel Nupp, a delicious meal of chicken, meatballs, potato casserole, peas, carrots, creamed lettuce, pie and ice cream was served by the church.
Randy and Edie Quinby, owners of Twin Bridge Campgrounds, graciously shared these aerial shots of the CVAEMA showgrounds taken during an August show. Quite a birds-eye view!
The 28th Franklin Fall Farm Fun Fest hosted by Robert Musser and his daughter Faith at the Musser Farm on Pinola Road, Shippensburg in September 2018.