Hickory Ridge Farm History
This story is more about a place rather than a tractor. In 1980 a husband and wife decided to have an antique tractor show at their home. Just like any event the first was small but successful. The duo had a unique love and common hobby of antique farm equipment. Together Horrace and Norma Potter owned over 300 pieces! They easily could have shown their own equipment and had an amazing show, but they chose to open it up and share the hobby with other restorers.
Annual tractor show
The annual tractor show went on for 20 years in Milford, Delaware until the Potters hung up their hats in 2000. Now this is where two lives collide. In 1991 on the 10th annual Hickory Ridge Farm Show a 15 year old named Russell Geyer III started showing his own farm equipment. Russell showed equipment and participated in the tractor pull competition. Russell being a part of a farming family loved Hickory Ridge. Horrace taught him how to compete. Russell competed at Hickory Ridge for 4 years.
Purchasing and restoring antique farm equipment
After high school graduation he, like most graduates, joined the working class. In 2014 Russell purchased and restored a tractor his family bought new in 1963 which appeared in his wedding to his wife. In 2015 Russell and his wife began purchasing and restoring antique farm equipment. Again a husband and wife team up to rescue these long forgotten power houses. By 2018 the Geyer’s had 18 tractors. Nothing compared to the Potter’s but its a goal to work towards.
A new legacy
After Norma Davis Potter passed away in 2017 the farm was prepared for a new legacy and going up for sale. Friends of the family connected Russell with the Davis/Potter family and in October 2018 Mr. Geyer purchased Hickory Ridge. Vendors, tractors, and exhaust had not filled the show grounds in 20 years. Children had not ran through the property eating hot dogs. People from surrounding states had not taken in Hickory Ridge’s beauty. Russell remembers the smells, the roar of a tractor pulling a load down the track, the American flag whipping in the wind. Russell and his wife vowed to the family the show would come back to Hickory Ridge.
Hickory Ridge Antique Tractor Club
On November 3rd 2018 the first Hickory Ridge Antique Tractor Club held its meeting. Bylaws and rules were formed, positions were filled, and a sense of pride fell over the 5 members and even 2 junior members in attendance. The club is working hard to have the second Annual Hickory Ridge Antique Tractor Show in August 2019. We are looking for more members, including youth members, more vendors, and more sponsors. The family and club want the show to be just like it was. It was a place where history came alive, festivities were affordable, and memories could be made. Hickory Ridge is back and ready to get the show started!
For my tractor stories read on here.
