South Plains Antique Tractor Association ‘Plow Day’ hosted by Gordon Graves

thought for a moment they had traveled back in time as they passed the Graves farm. The sun in a sand filled sky revealed men breaking ground on tractors that have not been seen plowing a field for many decades. Gordon Graves hosted the 10th annual Plow Days which affords the public a look at the way their grandfathers and fathers farmed. In true West Texas tradition and despite the cold wind blowing up a sandstorm, the hardy farmers were in the field deep breaking the plot of land behind Mr. Graves barn.

As president of the South Plains Antique Tractor Association, Mr. Graves and his family has graciously hosted the event for many years. Mr. Graves has collected and restored a collection of plows for twelve years. He has traveled long distances to obtain many of those antique plows. He offers the plows for use by the exhibitors who wish to join in the event.

The tractors were driven by retired owners, sons, and grandsons who wanted to experience and appreciate the “old ways” of farming that have given way to the much larger more sophisticated machines with GPS guidance and computers. Despite the cold, windy weather antique tractor enthusiasts traveled to the event from Amarillo, Silverton, Lubbock, and Idalou. Mr. Graves said “one year a man took a week long vacation and drove down from Iowa to attend the event”.

Luke Stephenson was an unlikely participant in the event. Mr. Stephenson, age 28, is currently an employee of The Cheesecake Factory. He is working toward his Bachelors Degree in Psychology at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He stated that he had no background in farming, however, he attends Highland Baptist Church where he met and became friends with Lionel and Liz Patterson who are members of SPATA. Mr. Patterson invited him to the event last year, and he became an eager participant. Mr. Graves stated “They put him on a tractor, and he took to it like a duck to water.” When asked what sparked his interest in farming, Mr. Stephenson stated that as a student of psychology, he was intrigued by the conversations he had with Mr. Patterson about farming with those old tractors. He wanted to experience or “walk a mile in their shoes” on the old tractors he heard about. After he learned how to drive a tractor pulling a plow and being out in the field for a while, he said, “I loved it. It is hard to explain but it’s addictive.”

Following a morning of plowing, a lunch of smoked brisket with all the trimmings was provided by First Federal Bankssb. The meal was catered by Jeana’s Feed Bag of Levelland. Following the meal, Stripper Saver Fire Protection System of Silverton provided homemade ice cream made in their specially built ice cream freezer.

During the event the South Plains Antique Tractor Association members sold raffle tickets for two restored antique pedal tractors as well as caps. The drawing will be held at the annual Fall Tractor Show at the Fibermax Center of Discovery at Broadway and Canyon Lake Drive in Lubbock, Texas on October 21, 2023.

SPATA has been in existence since 1995. For more information, the association’s website is https:/ /www.spata.club. The association also has a Facebook page.