Community Clicks
Museum Field Day at the DeWitt Building encourages residents to take a look back at the tractors and equipment that helped shape the agricultural history of the Dungeness Valley.
The Sequim-Dungeness Valley is known throughout the Northwest for its rich agricultural heritage.
People will have a chance to take a glimpse into Sequim’s past by attending Museum Field Day, a free family-oriented event, held at the DeWitt Building, 544 N. Sequim Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14.
The theme of the third annual event is “Historical Farm Equipment.”
“We are so excited to have the Sequim Valley Collectors participating in the event,” said Emily Westcott, event organizer and Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley (MAC) board member.
“Members of the group are bringing dozens of restored old tractors and other farm equipment to display during the event and will be on hand to answer questions, explain the restoration process and tell people how the machine was used in the field.”
The event, hosted by the Museum & Arts Center, is intended to help Sequim residents and others connect with the diverse history of the Dungeness Valley.
Admission to the event is a $1 suggested donation, which will benefit the museum.
The Sequim Valley Collectors describe themselves as an informal group of guys who love to restore old farm machinery.
The group consists of about 20 men who search high and low for parts to restore tractors and other farming machinery made before 1960.
Some members of the group meet for breakfast most mornings at the Mariner Cafe, 707 E. Washington St.
Over coffee the men discuss their latest restoration project and share repair tips and the names of parts’ distributors.
The Sequim Valley Collectors fire up their machines each spring for an event simply known as the Spring Plow-In.
“We pick a local field each year and plow it using our old machines to show people how farmers used to farm,” said Chuck Trudel.
“It is fun for people to see and it helps out an area farmer that needs their field plowed.”
Westcott didn’t have to ask the group to participate in Museum Field Day, they volunteered.
“I was brainstorming ideas for the theme and they stepped forward with the idea to highlight historical farm equipment,” she said. “The theme fits perfectly with the Museum Field Day goal, and members of the group have some beautifully restored tractors everyone should see.”
Trudel will bring a 1944 John Deere Orchard
Model B to the event as well as a 1953 John Deere Model 70.
Mel Dormaier will have his 1946 Earthmaster tractor on hand.
Dana Davis will have a 1934 Cletrac machine on display during the event.
Dennis Schleve will bring his 1948 Farmall Cub and 1946 Earthmaster to the field day.
“There will be rows and rows of old iron at the field day event,” Trudel said. “We will start them up and answer questions.”
Dormaier said it may take a little to get the machines started, but said they work just as well as they did when they were made decades ago.
“They may cough, curse and shudder a little, but once they get going you can plow any plot of land,” he said.
Event attendees will also have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the MAC storage facility to learn more about how museum staff and volunteers archive documents, photographs and other items donated to the museum.
Museum volunteers will offer advice on how to preserve important documents, photographs and personal collections.
Information about upcoming exhibits and events at the museum will be available, as well as membership information.
The Washington Old Time Fiddlers will entertain the crowd with tunes sure to make your toes tap.
The group, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting old-time fiddling and related arts, features area residents ranging in age from youth to seniors.
The Boys & Girls Club will sell snacks and lunch items to people who need a bite to eat or a cool
beverage during the event.
Westcott said Museum Field Day is fun for the entire family.
“We encourage people to come out and learn a little more about Sequim’s rich and interesting
agricultural heritage,” she said.
For more details, phone Westcott at 360-670-6294.
