IRRICANA, Alta. – There’s a little bit of historical preservation going on north of Irricana.
Each year this small farming community north of Calgary welcomes a few new members to Pioneer Acres, where antique farm implements are restored and displayed on a 36-acre site.
On Aug. 5 to 7 the club will host the International J.I. Case Heritage Foundation Expo, a travelling show that appears in one North American community each year.
International network
The last time the show of vintage Case implements came to Canada was in Austin, Man., four years ago. The foundation was formed by a group of collectors to act as an international network for Case collectors, said Tom Kempling of Drumheller, Alta.
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Kempling attended the first Case show eight years ago in Pawnee, Mich. and applied for the expo to come to Irricana.
“It took this long to come.” Everything Case ever built is on display, as well as items from some of its subsidiary companies.
For the volunteers at Pioneer Acres, this show will be an exciting weekend when more than 20,000 people are expected. Besides a machinery demonstration, there’s a museum of household antiques. A 1926 home, restored by volunteers, will be opened and old-time entertainment will be provided.
Pioneer Acres originated as a club for a handful of vintage tractor enthusiasts who wanted a place to repair and run their old equipment. Incorporated as a society in 1972, the group moved to Irricana in 1983 where members come from across the pro-vince to store their collections, restore them and give demonstrations. Today the club has about 700 members.
Putting old machinery back together is a labor of love for the members, many of whom are retired farmers. If they can’t find parts for their steam engines, threshing machines, generators and tractors, they build them on site, said Tony Virginillo of Lethbridge.
Paint is matched as closely as possible and logo decals such as the Case eagle mascot are special-ordered. If members can’t build the needed parts at Irricana, they contact Clyde Hall of Fillmore, Sask. who builds them in his foundry.
“The one thing about this club is that it makes people live longer,” said John Kvill of New Norway, Alta. Kvill, a model builder, was also involved in establishing the Remington carriage museum at Cardston, Alta.
