It's an idea that is brilliant in its simplicity. If you're going to conduct an agriculturally based fair, it really should include tractors.

Genevieve Adamow is the secretary and social media coordinator for the New Holland Junior Fair Board. She's also the chairperson and mastermind behind the New Holland fair's brand-new antique tractor exhibit.

"Tractors are very, very important to local farming," said Adamow. "They are the biggest and most used piece of equipment on local farms. If you're not using a horse, you're going to use a tractor. They're used for everyday tasks, and they're really a universal piece of equipment."

The new antique tractor exhibit is a tribute to the tractor's role in the development of the farm-rich New Holland area, a competition, and an attempt to return the modernized fair to its roots.

The 94th edition of the New Holland Farmers Fair will be staged over the closed streets of downtown New Holland from Wednesday, Sept. 30, to Saturday, Oct. 3. The midway will open at 11 a.m. each day, while the rides start at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and at noon on Friday and Saturday.

"We are trying to bring more agricultural aspects back to the fair," said Adamow. "It's kind of faded away and become more of a street fair. I think we need to bring back the little things and bring more eyes to the agricultural part of our fair."

Local farmers and tractor users are invited to enter their tractors in the new tractor exhibit. The tractors will be displayed at the rear of 101 Fulton St., New Holland - in the field next to the livestock exhibit - from 2 to 10 p.m. on Sept. 30; from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 1 and 2; and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 3.

The deadline to register tractors is Tuesday, Sept. 29.

"We just want to get the word out about this next exhibit," said Adamow, a resident of Stevens. "It's a very easy thing to enter. If people have an antique tractor sitting at home, we'd love to have it in our exhibit."

Through the impartial judging of experts, modest cash prizes will be awarded in six different categories: farm tractors built prior to 1949; farm tractors built from 1950 to 1959; farm tractors built after 1960; garden tractors built before 1985; garden tractors built after 1985; and all unrestored farm and garden tractors, a division affectionately dubbed "rusty, but trusty."

"This year, I just wanted to get it started," said Adamow. "New Holland is such a farming-based town. The agricultural section right now is just livestock. I felt like I could do something."

Adamow is also one of the original members of the New Holland Junior Fair Board, which was formed in February of 2024. Currently, the junior fair board consists of 10 young adults between the ages of 16 and 21.

"We are just kids who love the fair," said Adamow, "and want to be a part of it. It's just like an extracurricular activity, and we're always looking for new members."

For additional information, go to http://www.newhollandfair.org.