FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Every Saturday morning, from December to early March, a small group of friends and antique tractor enthusiasts get together at the home of Phil Kilcollins, president of the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club, in Fort Fairfield to take part in one of their most important restoration projects of the year.
This year the club is restoring a 1946 John Deere Model H tractor to display at the first annual Kiwanis Spring into Spring show at The Forum in Presque Isle on March 23 and 24. Members will sell raffle tickets until October and draw the winner during their November meeting. All proceeds from raffle sales will go toward the Aroostook House of Comfort in Presque Isle and Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery, also known as C.A.N.C.E.R.
Norman Driscoll of Presque Isle, a member of the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club, works on the restoration of a 1946 John Deere Model H tractor on Saturday, Jan. 26. Club members have been meeting at the home of club president Phil Kilcollins since December to restore the tractor for their annual raffle fundraiser. (Staff Photo/Melissa Lizotte)
Contributing funds to local organizations is just one of the reasons why Norman Driscoll of Presque Isle enjoys taking part of the tractor restoration project.
“They’re people who provide good services locally,” Driscoll said about the two organizations receiving funds. “In the past we’ve been able to raise around $5,000 to $6,000. The raffle is our biggest fundraiser of the year.”
Club member Chris Langille purchased the antique tractor from its previous owner in Danforth. For the past month, six of the club’s members have spent a good portion of their Saturdays repairing rusted parts of the tractor such as the carburetor, clutch and generator, and installing brand new brakes and tires. On Jan. 26, they began sanding the tractor parts in preparation for painting and priming.
Meredith Folsom, of Monticello, a member of the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club, restores one of the wheels of a 1946 John Deere Model H tractor, for which the club will sell raffle tickets for beginning this spring and showcase at the first annual Kiwanis Spring into Spring show in March. Also pictured is club member Norman Driscoll (far left). (Staff Photo/Melissa Lizotte)
Kilcollins estimates that the group will finish restoring the tractor just in time for the Kiwanis show. He said that one of the most enjoyable parts of the project is simply getting together with friends and having fun.
“The camaraderie within the group is really great. We know how to joke around with each other and have a good time,” Kilcollins said.
The Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club was established in 2008 and focuses on the preservation of Aroostook County agricultural heritage through restorations of old tractors and equipment. They operate an agricultural heritage museum on the Northern Maine Fairgrounds in Presque Isle, hold tractor pulls throughout the summer and raise funds for scholarships given to club members or relatives of club members who plan to major in agriculture or related fields during college.
