We actually didn’t have a John Deere tractor. We had a Farmall. At least we did until my brother, Ken, broke it in half; but that’s a story for another blog. It didn’t make any difference what kind of tractor you had for John Deere Day, or even if you had one; everyone showed up for the social event of the year. As I remember the day, it happened once a year in the spring. The John Deere company sponsored food and games and, no doubt the main reason for the event, a display of new tractors. All this took place on the grounds of my elementary school, State Center.
The games were silly and the food unexceptional, and we all crawled over the tractors, and generally ran around like idiots. But the part I remember most vividly were the movies. Of course, we lived in the country and had only one movie theater in the area, a tiny theater in Jones, Oklahoma, which showed second string movies (but they also showed the wonderful Flash Gordon serials!). So it was the highlight of the John Deere Day when, as the sun set, a sheet was stretched out (between trees? poles? I don’t remember), the school’s 16 mm projector was brought out, and the movie began. There was a pause between each reel as it was rewound and the new reel strung up. And I don’t remember a single movie! It really wasn’t about the movie; it was about the event, the time away from studies and chores. John Deere Day was more fun than the State Fair, which, since we exhibited a variety of things, was always about work. And John Deere Day was about innocence and laughing. I have no doubt that my memory idealizes the whole event. That’s okay; I’ll keep those memories, reality be damned.
I never heard of John Deere Days, but I know John Deere tractors! One of my nephews worked on farms off and on and LOVES John Deere tractors. "Nothing runs like a Deere!" Never heard of Farmall--was that a southern brand? I love what you wrote--a day for innocence and laughing. I had days like that as a kid, too. Running free, just being, not doing. We need more days like that even now--when reality and memories start getting mixed up in our heads. And as you said, reality be damned! hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteHow nice! Thanks for sharing.
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