By Cheryl Boulier
Special to The Star-Herald
The Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club held its annual Awards Banquet on Nov. 5 at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center. During the meeting, awards were made for Top Pullers for 2010, Volunteers of the Year, Sponsor of the Year as well as other awards such as Restorer of the Year and the Duncan Haines Memorial Trophy.
It was announced that the “Memorial Antique Tractor Trek” held each June with the proceeds donated to Hospice of Aroostook was a great success. Antique Tractors were driven approximately 45 miles by 25 club members. Several back roads with spectacular views of Aroostook County farmland, were traveled from Bridgewater to Houlton and back to the starting point in Bridgewater. A memory board was mounted to a 1965 Chevy truck which served as the lead vehicle in the trek. Community members as well as club members could list a loved one’s name on the board for a donation of $25. This was the third year that the club has hosted the trek and a different route is chosen each year. Next year’s trek is planned to be held in Frenchville.
Over $3000 was raised with this year’s trek. Special thanks goes to member Larry Bull of Washburn who raised $1,100.
Since 1984, Hospice of Aroostook, a program of Visiting Nurses of Aroostook has provided care for those with a terminal illness. Their mission is to ensure that hospice care is available throughout northern Maine to all who need it. The Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club is dedicated in raising funds for Hospice of Aroostook each year with their annual Tractor Trek.
A new trophy this year — the “Rock Pile Tractor Award” — went to Wayne Bradbury of Bridgewater for his efforts in saving a bit of our agricultural history by taking a old Massey Harris off a rock pile and restoring it to working condition.
