Another successful year...

MrsTractor · Jun 6, 2009

Well here it is the low down on the Wallace gathering. First off Joel & Marc (Deputy) were the biggest winners. Its was such beautiful weather!

Joel missed out on the deal of a century

and he can also tag that Kioti Hauler properly now that Rick hooked him up. Two lucky buyers help Rick with some of his bailout decrease, Joel is still kicking himself in the rear for that. JonKioti made it to Northeast PA with no problems & spent most of the day with us, he is a very nice man. We had alot of factory reps on hand and again the Federal DOT Officers working their magic in more ways than one by helping with sales.

The food was way better than last year. The skills test was totally awesome (Joel the big winner on that one)

and of course more door prizes again this year's big winner Marc (Deputy) with the nice package there. I will let these guys tell you about their winnings and hopefully they will post some pics up with what went on. We did discuss how much we missed

the regulars this year from TBN. We now move forward and start to plan what to do next year. Ideas are always welcome. Thanks guys for all the support you give us. Look forward to seeing even more people next year!!!!

JoelD · Jun 7, 2009

First, it was terrific to see Deputy, John, Amy, Rick, their children and the entire Wallace team. Long story short they are all a class act. We were all made to feel welcome, all of their local friends were terrific and very inviting, the police officers (including their dads) were wonderful company and the food was awsome. I drove 5 hours each way today to spend a few quality hours with a bunch of quality people and it worth every minute.

The food was excellent and the chef (Amy's dad) did a wonderful job, his pork sandwiches (of which I had two maybe three) were awsome, the burgers (of which I had one) were tender and cooked to perfection and the dogs (of which I had one) were golden brown. The pasta salad (which I had two servings) was super tasty. They also had baked beans, tons to drink (I had two orange and one lemon / lime) and potato salad.

The skills test was a blast, I got lucky on my first pass, deputy and John were millimeters away from winning. I figure my machine might be more similar to the test machine, maybe that's why. I'm convinced if the poppa-state-policeman had given the challenge a shot I would've been second.

I'm already looking forward to next year.

I'm pooped and heading to bed, I'll post some pictures tomorrow of some amazing wood carving work one of Amy's friends brought in to show us.

Thanks again Wallace tractor for making me proud to be part of the pack.

Sincerely,
Joel

JoelD · Jun 7, 2009

Here's the carving pictures I promised.

deputyrpa · Jun 7, 2009

Thanks to Rick, Amy, and the entire family and crew, the PA safety crew, all of the Reps and the guests for another good time!! It's always worth the trip!

Well said Joel, and you're way too gracious regarding my skills challenge ....uh ...skills. The hydraulic system on that little CK is much quicker than any tractor I've owned - hence why I was "slap-happy" with the pallet and broke the game! Congrats to Joel on a fine performance! Contrary to his humbleness, he blew the competition away. You could just smell his concentration. If you've never met Joel, you're missing out on a great guy with a heart of gold. The prick is also handy with a tractor

I hope Joel posts some pics soon of the officially labelled "Kioti Hauler". That transfer creation was way cool.....

Anyway...the food was great. Rick performed the duty of the Royal Food Tester, just to make sure everything was safe. I sampled everything a few times, and made Joel look like a nibbler. Even the 5:30 cold cheeseburger was delicious! JohnKioti even came down from Newfoundland (that's "Newfund-lund"). He is a nice dude, exemplified by putting the party into his plans during his busy travel weekend. It was nice to meet you John!

Rick, Mark and Mike tried their darndest to sell me a large ticket item, but to no avail! There were deals to be had (Joel missed one), but I am a procrastinator by genetic code. Mark the Mower Man took it hard, but he'll get over it! Mike just wanted to deliver something....anything....so he could spend the weekend camping out at my farm. I suppose the solid-state magnetron upgrade for the 3HP Briggs was not quite enough. I'll have to break something on the tractor soon! I'll get right on that.

I'm looking forward to next year. Mark should start practicing his sales skills now.....I might be ready for a mower or trimmer by then!!!

IslandTractor · Jun 7, 2009

Sorry I missed the event. All is well on this end but I did not return in time to make the trip on Saturday.

I did return home to find a new fuel bowl waiting for me...never even had to talk to Rick as he saw my post and had one shipped out. I installed it and all is well again. (Didn't have to bleed the system, just used the air setting to fill the bowl and then she fired right up....good thing because I couldn't get the bleeder bolt to move

)

I missed your skills competition but ended up getting quite a bit of seat time late Sat and today with mowing, tilling and then helping a neighbor by digging out his water valve with the BH. A three implement weekend is by definition a good one even though I missed the party. So I will just have to think about next year, there is always next year.

JoelD · Jun 7, 2009

Glad all is well Island.

You were missed.

Was a great time.

Yes a three implement weekend is a good weekend.

I hope to get some time with my box blade and rippers next weekend, I've been putting in a motocross track in my back yard and it's coming along, I need to yank some saplings and rocks, will be fun when done. Nice to be able to roll out of the garage with the mini-boss and go riding our quads together.

Looking forward to seeing you next year island. I hung out with Deputy, but he had to dumb down the conversation in order for me to keep up.

I'm thinking a tactor show-and-tell maybe fun next year, including tow rigs.

There'll be me at one end of the lot with a "before" sign over my rig (1986 F250 "Kioti Hauler" and tri-axle patched up trailer) with Rick at the other end of the lot with an "after" sign over his crazy rig.

Joel

deputyrpa · Jun 8, 2009

I'm glad all went well with your sister, Island. My mother's hip replacement was a screaming success (in a different sort of way), and she was promptly moved to rehab yesterday.

Three implements in one weekend - tilled, mowed AND helped the neighbor? Chill out there Island....it's heros like you who make life difficult for husbands like me! I had to explain to my wife that you used three implements because each task just wasn't big enough. Phew....I think she bought it....

You're a funny man, Joel. C'mon now....I didn't dumb-down the conversation. It was just that all the blood had drained from our brains to assist the digestive tract.

I'm looking forward to next years ZTR wheelie competition!

ToadHill · Jun 8, 2009

I actually thought about making the trec this year but I had committed to do a carving demonstration at a local fair, but the carvings done for Ricks event were better than mine so I'll know not to bring any if I can make it next year.

IXLR8 · Jun 8, 2009

I am doubly sorry I missed this years 'Bailout' picnic. First, I missed all the fun, frivolity and camaraderie. Second, the place that replaced the glass in my car door window messed up the lock on the drivers door and the door is now locked all the time!!

I can get out from the inside, but I have to turn the key to unlock and pull on the handle at the same time to get in.

I am not sure if I want to trust them to fix it when I get home later this week... or do it myself.

WHERE ARE ALL THE PICTURES OF THIS EVENT???? Did anybody get dropped in the soda ice 'bucket' this year?

Amy and Rick, thank you for putting this together, sorry I couldn't make it this year. If you still need bailout help next year... I will be there.

JonKioti · Jun 8, 2009

It was a wondeful time and great to meet so many different people.

Here are a few pictures of the "skills competition" - Joel and Marc in one, then Rick tries to impress us by revving the engine to maximum RPMs as he starts - then throttles back as he approaches the first task. I see a show off...but his time was pretty good.

Last shot is of one of the CK-20's that sold...funny how one has such good luck with a tool that the inclination is to buy another just like it!

I'm here in Montreal Airport waiting for our flight back to Newfoundland (and it's actually pronounced new-fin-LAND, rhymes with "understand"). Great to meet Joel, Marc, Amy, Rick, and hear about your daughter's aspirations to work in something in no way related to tractors. Best of luck to her.

One correction...I did not arrange my trip to accomodate this event; this event was the REASON for the trip. The other stops (Montreal, Ottawa, Scranton, Saratoga Springs) were incidental. Great reason for a road trip.

Cheers,

Jon