BUCKLEY — Over 1,000 old tractors built between 1885 and 1976, powered by steam, propane and other fuels, converged on the 250-acre site of the Buckley Old Engine Club for its 58th annual show Aug. 14–17. Among these were a group of Farmall tractors owned by members of the Bosch family.
Merle Bosch, 90, started this family trend when his dad, Gerrit, bought a new Farmall Cub, with manure spreader, in 1948. The son spent many hours on the Cub as a young boy. The restored Cub is still owned by the family. At its introduction in 1947, the Cub was advertised as selling for $545, which was a lot of money over 75 years ago.
At this show, Merle drove a larger 1953 Farmall Super H in the parades. Merle and his wife, Ginny, both in their 90s, still attend the show, but need some assistance getting around.
Their daughter, Brenda, married to Chuck Hicks, is on hand to coordinate their needs. Brenda controlled the show’s north entry gate for the first time this year, but other family members are there to help, including her daughter Michaela. For the past 15 years, Brenda worked in the Tractor Shack, where duties included assigning parking spots for all the tractors.
“Three generations of our family have been at the Buckley show the past 20 years,” said Michaela. “We’re a close family because of the tractors.”
This show is important to the family.
“When I was in the Navy, I got a furlough so I would not miss this show,” she said.
“It’s in our blood,” said Brenda.
Chuck and Brenda, of New Era, brought a 1952 Super M and a 1958 International model British 450 to the show. They were parked under a canopy with four other tractors, including a 1949 W9 and an International model KB2 pickup. All were painted the same red color.
“The W9 was Merle’s Uncle Bill Heck’s. He bought it new. It is a family heirloom,” said Brenda.
The British tractor is a rare machine. The 450 was built in Doncaster, England from 1958-70.
“Only 40 were ever shipped to the U. S. and now only four are known to exist,” Brenda said.
This one was brought north from Georgia as a complete tractor, and was disassembled prior to restoration. That was as far as the project went. Lloyd McClellan, of Shelby, heard it was for sale and bought it. During the restoration, due to difficulty in finding British parts, he was forced to substitute some U. S. ones. It was a two-year project completing the tractor for his wife.
Later, after she died, he wanted it to go to a female who would like it as much as his wife did. Brenda qualified, and she bought it in 2024.
This family enjoys restoring, showing and driving their 11 red tractors. Two more are being restored. With room in the barn, who knows what the final count will be?
At the Buckley show, there is much more to see than tractors. Old cars, stationary engines, vintage farm tools and garden tractors are among the other attractions. The show is well-run and a pleasure to visit. Parking in a large field is controlled by The Posse, volunteers on horseback from Osceola County. Rides from the field to the event and back are provided, with trailers holding about 30 people. The $10 entry fee makes this event a real bargain. All of this keeps entrants and spectators returning year after year.
