Purchased this year, the VITEO new club trailer is larger, has an excellent back door which serves as a ramp, making it much easier to load and unload our golf cart. This trailer has front storage cupboards, a fold down step at the side door, and a large fold out awning to provide shade. The trailer has been wrapped with our logo and title, as well as with vintage photos. Courtesy Photo
By Sylvia Payne
AgriNews Contributor
EASTERN ONTARIO – Vintage Iron has had another active year, kicking off in February with our AGM, at which our new President Wayne Fraser and Vice President Daryle Payne were elected.
The 2026 Ottawa Valley Farm Show (OVFS) was a great success. A big Thank You to everyone who brought in displays to create an impressive showcase in the Antique Room. It takes a lot of work to gather and bring these antiques, small and large, to the EY Centre, and we truly appreciate everyone’s efforts, including those who helped transport them from quite a distance. We thank Henry Staal for coordinating all the exhibitors again this year. There were 28 exhibitors, including 8 first-time exhibitors. We received great feedback from members and visitors.
We sold all our International Harvester 1256 11th Edition Collector Tractors, thank you to everyone who purchased one! VITEO has an 11-year history of contributing the #1 collectible tractor to the Seed Grower’s Thursday CHEO Auction. Thank you to George Tackaberry for his winning bid again this year, his continued generosity benefitting so many children in Eastern Ontario.
The 7th Annual Toy Auction at the Ottawa Valley Farm Show was a resounding success. We had 131 donated or consigned items, which sold very well. As always, the auction was a fun and entertaining event for our registered bidders and audience. We thank the many members and contributors of the toys, all the volunteers, James Auction Services Ltd. for the donation of their auctioneering services, and everyone who supported the event. In conjunction with Farmers Feed Families, we will be able to provide at least twenty substantial food baskets to individuals and families in our communities in the year ahead.
Our club held a Spring Tour on May 2 in Lanark County, making visits to four locations: The OMYA Tatlock calcium carbonate quarry, the Hopetown Community Group provided a lunch, as well as Laurie Whyte’s history of trapping and pelts, we visited Tony Walsh and his collection of cannons, and the sawmill operation at L.R. McVeigh Lumber Ltd. Many pictures were posted on our Vintage Iron Facebook page of the day’s events.
Our summer picnic was on July 5, consisting of a visit to the McHaffie Flea Market and a picnic lunch at Upper Canada Village.
Many of our members are actively involved in their local fairs and events, including Farmersville in Athens, Navan Fair, Russell Fair, Ottawa Carleton Plowing Match, Middleville Fair, Bourget Antique Show and Tractor Pull, and still to come, the Carp Fair and Metcalfe Fair. Once the fairs are all over, we will enjoy a fall tour to see George Tackaberry’s fabulous collection in Athens. We will also be selecting a winner of our second annual youth initiative, and awarding the winner an engine to restore. Please refer to the attached flyer for all the details, and where to send applications to. Stop in and see us at the final two fairs for an application and to see the engine to be awarded to our winning entrant.
We have a great board of directors, who are amongst the club’s largest collectors, and have the biggest hearts. They have connections with so many other collectors and with the business community, that we are always sure to have some great events lined up for our members to enjoy each year. If you are interested in knowing more about becoming a member of Vintage Iron and Traditions of Eastern Ontario (VITEO), please call our President Wayne Fraser at 613-791-3291. We would be most pleased to have you join our terrific organization.
