Seventeen years ago, Edwin Karg and his son, Larry, hosted the first Orange Spectacular at their farm three miles northwest of Hutchinson. The show continues to attract about 230 tractors and about 6,200 people from across North America.

Edwin died several years ago, but Larry and the other members of the Upper Midwest Allis-Chalmers Club’s keep the all-AC tractor show alive. The 17th annual show will take place July 26-27, 2008.

The show and the Karg’s own collection of about 40 A-C tractors have been featured in books about Allis-Chalmers, while one hour of 2006 show highlights were shown on the RFD cable television network.

In addition to a farmyard filled with more than 230 orange tractors, the 2008 show will have a few new activities, including traction booster demonstrations and a display of snap coupler implements from the 1950s. Other field demonstrations will take place both days.

The Orange Spectacular has a large tractor, implement and equipment swap meet and 150 tables of toys and memorabilia for sale. Larry Karg also displays his extensive collection of A-C toys.

The Great Pretenders, a 1950s and 1960s cover band, will be back by popular demand to perform both Saturday night and during the Sunday morning nondenominational church service. A picnic-style sweet corn and hog roast begins about 5:30 p.m. Friday, while sweet corn and pork chops are on tap Saturday evening. Nearby Immanuel Lutheran Church is putting on the meals and will receive most of the proceeds.

Pedal tractor pulls for kids are scheduled both days, while a stock and modified tractor pull for adult drivers is 10 a.m. Sunday. For the third consecutive year, a tractor parade takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Admission to the show is always free. Money needed to put on the show is raised through the vendor tables, a percentage of food sales, and by raffling a tractor. The 2008 prize tractor is a D-12 Series II Allis. The drawing takes place Sunday afternoon.

If you go
Anyone with A-C equipment or toys are welcome to exhibit. The public may view all the exhibits from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free. Lunch is available on the grounds, 22243 200th St., just off State Highway 7 in Acoma Township. For more information, call Larry Karg at (320) 587-3771.