Tulare

[Jim Grammer <jimg@domain.elided>]

Since I got a private request for more info about the IH Western Regionals 
in Tulare ...here's the gist of it...

It is held in conjunction with the 6th annual California Antique Farm 
Equipment Show, April 17-19, 1998. The 1st annual Western Regionals had 
approx 100 IH trucks in attendance(registered and visitors). I specify 
trucks because the farm equipment show features hundreds of IH products(as 
well as other brands) from tractors to stationary engines. It's like a 
giant toy store of old iron.

Here's some highlights from last years 5th annual farm equipment show 
schedule(why do I still have that program?):

Both days they had a 'small human' pen set up in a big barn with some 
petting zoo animals. I assume you could divest of the younguns for a small 
fee.

Saturday
Equipment parade
Greased pig contest
Toy tractor pull
Novelty acts(Art the steer)
Auction(half a football fields worth of rusty iron :))

In the big barn:
Tractor/implementalia vendors(Binder Books was there)
Craft vendors(spinning demos w/cute angora bunnies, etc.)
Dancing groups(clogging, squares, etc)
Music(country & bluegrass)
Steak Dinner
Headliner performance(Baxter Black in '97)

Sunday
Pancake breakfast
Equipment parade
Slow tractor race
Greased pigs again
Big boys(and girls) tractor pull
Draft horse plow demonstration(16 horse team!!!!!)

>but is there anything for the wife and kids to
>do at the event or in the immediate local area?

If they get bored with the animals and farmy-artsy-craftsy stuff, you can 
send them off in search of abandoned trucks in the local fields ;). Tulare 
is a farmish town on Hwy 99 with around 40k population, so it has most of 
the modern shopping conveniences, etc. I'd imagine there's a mall close by, 
maybe a historical museum or two, and Fresno(BIG city) is within striking 
distance. BTW, there is NO place to buy a real cappucino/latte in Tulare 
proper as of 3/97.

I'm hoping to spark a little friendly competition, probably between the CO 
and PNW crowds(but I'm not counting out AZ/NM). Something like Jim donates 
a case of cold beverage to the group that has the highest 'caravan factor', 
i.e. number of vehicles driven multiplied by the mileage(mean or total?). 
Still trying to decide if there should be an age component ;).

Jim