08 Sep 2024 Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park to host antique tractor and engine show

Posted at 2:22 PMh in News by

The Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park is hosting the 32nd Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, in Scott, which a community located on the line between Lonoke and Pulaski counties. Admission is free.

During the event, owners and operators of antique tractors and small engines will be on site to share the story of these machines and their role in Arkansas’s rich agricultural history. The event will also feature a kids’ pedal tractor pull, lawn games, historic demonstrations, food trucks and other family-friendly activities. Visitors can view the park’s collection of antique tractors, a 1919 Munger cotton gin and press, a restored seed warehouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and artifacts related to the history of agriculture in Arkansas. 

“This is our trademark event.” said Emilee Baker, Park Interpreter. “For over three decades, visitors have been coming out to the museum to view these historic machines. We’re excited to add new features to the tractor show, like food trucks and games, and hope that this will encourage even more families to come out and enjoy the festivities.” 

Additionally, this will be the opening of the museum’s fall exhibit, A Field of Plenty: Celebrating Arkansas Rice. Through stories and artifacts, this exhibit will allow visitors to explore the history of rice farming in Arkansas from its humble beginnings to global prominence. Visitors to the museum will be able to view A Field of Plenty from September 7 until January 26, 2025. 

The 32nd Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 7 in Scott. Visitors will enjoy exhibits inside and outside the Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park. Photos by Curtis Smith, Museum Curator

The Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park preserves Arkansas’s farming history. Exhibits and programs interpret the period from Arkansas’s statehood in 1836 through World War II, when agricultural practices became mechanized.

“In 2023, the Antique Tractor and Engine Show featured more than a dozen tractor and small engine exhibitors and welcomed around 300 visitors,” Baker said. “Hopefully, both of those numbers continue to grow. We encourage everyone, whether you know anything about tractors or not, to come visit. Our goal is to create an event where, though the machines are the stars, there’s something for everybody.”

During these events, the Plantation Agriculture Museum will also be collecting glass recycling at the museum as part of the Great Arkansas Cleanup. Glass bottles, jars, and containers are welcome. Information on how to recycle glass in central Arkansas throughout the year will also be available. Light bulbs, plate glass, and glass containers with lids that cannot be removed cannot be accepted at this event. 

Arkansas State Parks is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Arkansas state parks and museums cover 55,006 acres of forest, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation facilities, and unique historic and cultural resources. Established in 1923, Arkansas State Parks preserve special places for future generations, provide quality recreation and education opportunities, enhance the state’s economy through tourism and provide leadership in resource conservation. 

The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism protects and promotes our state’s natural, cultural and historic assets, contributing to a thriving economy and high quality of life. It is made up of three divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism.