Lack of display Tractors at Fair??

[LD1]

Went to our local county fair last night. Usually no shortage of dealer display tractors there. I actually enjoy going cause its rare that you get a chance to look at model X from brand Y and get to walk 10 steps and see Model A from brand B...

But this year was a disappointment. Mahindra display only had 3 or 4 tractors. A 6530 4wd w/loader, a 3616/loader, a ax w/cab and loader, and a smaller one.

JD only had 2 tractors. A big 9510 duals, and a 5085.

NH only had 3. A T5.115, a T5.85, and some big huge 4wd also. Once small case farmall 35 IIRC.

And no kubota display

Usually there is atleast 1 tractor in every "frame size" up to about 100HP from all of em.

I was really wanting to see what was out there in the 40-60 HP range and have to opportunity to see 4 mfgs and do some comparison, but this was disappointing. The 6530 was probably the closest to what I would be looking for in my next tractor (still a ways off), but when looking for a ~50 PTO HP bushhog tractor, 6300# weight seems a bit much. And didnt really like how LONG it was with the old-school design and loader.

Oh well. I am sure dealers dont get much in the way of sales from the county fairs, so I cant blame them. Anyone else notice similar at their fairs?

 

[k0ua]

Went to our local county fair last night. Usually no shortage of dealer display tractors there. I actually enjoy going cause its rare that you get a chance to look at model X from brand Y and get to walk 10 steps and see Model A from brand B...

But this year was a disappointment. Mahindra display only had 3 or 4 tractors. A 6530 4wd w/loader, a 3616/loader, a ax w/cab and loader, and a smaller one.

JD only had 2 tractors. A big 9510 duals, and a 5085.

NH only had 3. A T5.115, a T5.85, and some big huge 4wd also. Once small case farmall 35 IIRC.

And no kubota display

Usually there is atleast 1 tractor in every "frame size" up to about 100HP from all of em.

I was really wanting to see what was out there in the 40-60 HP range and have to opportunity to see 4 mfgs and do some comparison, but this was disappointing. The 6530 was probably the closest to what I would be looking for in my next tractor (still a ways off), but when looking for a ~50 PTO HP bushhog tractor, 6300# weight seems a bit much. And didnt really like how LONG it was with the old-school design and loader.

Oh well. I am sure dealers dont get much in the way of sales from the county fairs, so I cant blame them. Anyone else notice similar at their fairs?

Our county fair had 1 Zetor, and 2 TYM's.. not a whole lot...Of course Taney county is not exactly big tractor country.. there is no farming here to speak of. Unless you are growing rocks.

 

[RickB]

We still participate heavily in our county fair. Two other long time participating dealers do not, one absent for the first time this year, the other absent for about 5 years. It's difficult to quantify the amount of sales generated, but fairly easy to tally the man-hours of cleanup, prep, trucking, and staffing 12 hour days at a fair display. This year we were burdened with about $1000 of vandalism to units on display.

 

[joemd11]

Ha, last night I was thinking the exact same thing. I'm in the market for some brand of lawn vac to go behind my Simplicity Conquest. Went to the Canfield Fair last night wanting to at least talk to some dealers. Disappointed that there weren't many equipment displays and many didn't have any sales staff to talk to. I guess the expense of having a display just isn't worth it any more. I did enjoy a sausage sandwich and some fries!

 

[buickanddeere]

Who is left that is interested? The old farmers and those raised on farms are either dead, in nursing homes, too crippled up to see the show or they live in town.
Younger folk were raised in town and have no emotional tie to old iron. Many by single Mothers who did not work on mechanical stuff, nor hunted or fished.
Now have a show with 1960's and later vehicles, motor cycles, snowmobiles, quads, video games and computers. The place will be full.

 

[joemd11]

We still participate heavily in our county fair. Two other long time participating dealers do not, one absent for the first time this year, the other absent for about 5 years. It's difficult to quantify the amount of sales generated, but fairly easy to tally the man-hours of cleanup, prep, trucking, and staffing 12 hour days at a fair display. This year we were burdened with about $1000 of vandalism to units on display.

When I bought my LS the mechanic that delivered it said they frequently had to repair tractors after fair displays. He said they had to split one tractor because someone had forced a range selector and broken a pin inside the tranny. Not surprising when you see what some parents allow their kids to do on display tractors.

 

[LD1]

Who is left that is interested? The old farmers and those raised on farms are either dead, in nursing homes, too crippled up to see the show or they live in town.
Younger folk were raised in town and have no emotional tie to old iron. Many by single Mothers who did not work on mechanical stuff, nor hunted or fished.
Now have a show with 1960's and later vehicles, motor cycles, snowmobiles, quads, video games and computers. The place will be full.

Not sure what you are talking about.

Not talking about a tractor show here.

Talking about dealers setting up a display sorta like their lot at the dealership, with a rep or two there to talk to and ask questions.

 

[LD1]

Never really gave the vandalism a thought....but that is a good point. I like looking, and even sitting on the tractors that I may be interested in. Like to get a feel of what the seat and operator platform is like, and where things are located.

My 4year old also likes sitting on tractors. But under my careful supervision and me holding him while in the seat. Nothing to cause any harm to anything.

We did sit on the mahindra 6530. First thing he found right away was where the flashers were. He is always turns mine on first thing if we go for a little ride on the kubota:laughing:

 

[TomSeller]

Not related to tractors, but our local fair announced to the non profit food vendors that this is their last year. The Lions Club, Rotary, Catholic School charity, etc. are going to be pushed out in favor of the McDonalds, Burger King etc companies. Those non profits are very charity driven and help so many disadvantaged kids and families, it will be a shame for them to lose that funding. We have always ate there and made big donations, some years pitching in to help. An era and way of life is gone.

 

[Red Horse]

Not related to tractors, but our local fair announced to the non profit food vendors that this is their last year. The Lions Club, Rotary, Catholic School charity, etc. are going to be pushed out in favor of the McDonalds, Burger King etc companies. Those non profits are very charity driven and help so many disadvantaged kids and families, it will be a shame for them to lose that funding. We have always ate there and made big donations, some years pitching in to help. An era and way of life is gone.

Don't know about your situation, but here in MA, some of the regulationsmake it almost impossible for the volunteer non-profits to be compliant with the regs that are "protecting us"! It is a shame.