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Steam and tractor expo showcases past, present
Visitors view historical engines
Steam WEB 1
Warren Fortenberry starts up an engine during Saturday’s expo at the Cumming Fairgrounds. - photo by Autumn Vetter

Brandy Banks said her 3-year-old son couldn’t talk about anything else for several days.

After driving past a large sign for the Cumming Steam, Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Exposition earlier in the week, Banks and her mother, Debra Williams, brought Elijah Banks to the event Saturday at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

“He loves tractor toys and anything doing with equipment like [earth movers] and old cars, all that sort of thing,” the elder Banks said.

Added Williams: “We really don’t care about tractors, but he loves them. The things you’ll do as a nana.”

Now in its 10th year, the event is put on by the Cumming Antique Power Club. It features a variety of tractors, steam engines and other old and modern agricultural equipment.

Organizer Michael Moore said the weekend’s crowds were a little lower than years past, but that didn’t hamper excitement among club members.

“The crowd was a little bit off. I’m not sure if that was because of the weather or what, but the club was happy with what we had,” Moore said.

Sonny Moore has been exhibiting at the event for several years. With his sons, the family owns a couple of steam engines.

“They used to use these things as farm equipment before the gasoline engine came and took over,” Moore said. “There’s not many of these things left anymore.”

While Moore and his family showed off their old equipment, Randy Thompson of Mason Tractor Co. was showing off the new.

“There’s a lot of old stuff here, but each year we like to bring a new product,” he said. “There’s always a lot of interest in the new products.”

Regardless of the equipment’s age, Moore said the exhibitors are the heart of the event.

“That what makes the show, everybody who brings their tractors and things out,” he said.

Suzanne Spence again brought her hot pink tractor.

Spence took up the hobby after her father “caught the bug” of restoring tractors several years ago.

“I went to a show with him and saw a pink tractor. I said if I had that, I would start [going to tractor shows] with him,” she said. “Thirteen days later, I had a pink tractor and now I love it.

“It’s given my dad and me a connection we never had before.”