Summerfest: Antique tractor festivities roll through Clinton

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Clinton Local

Even though the calendar says the official first day of summer arrives Sunday, June 21, many people in Clinton would probably say summer is already here — now that Clinton’s Summerfest and Antique Tractor Show took place over the weekend.

Tate Park was transformed into an antique tractor show, a vendor’s market, an entertainment space and much more June 13 during the 17th annual edition of Summerfest, which is made possible each year by numerous sponsors and a handful of volunteers including elected officials from Clinton Township.

In fact, Clinton Township Supervisor Walter Murphy just completed his first year as Summerfest chairperson.

“We made it and got through the day,” Murphy said Monday. “I’d say it was a success.”

The Clinton Summerfest and Antique Tractor Show volunteer committee consists of Murphy, Basil Greenleaf, Kim and Dennis Scott, Tonya Couture, Barb and Don Merritt, Barb Pope, and John and Tuesdee Schiel.

Summerfest festivities included nearly 40 vendors selling their goods and wares, all-day musical entertainment, a kids tractor pull competition, food trucks and, of course, the annual tractor parade along Michigan Avenue to wrap up the one-day festival.

A total of six regional tractor clubs participated in the antique tractor show and parade, said Phil Barr, president of the Rolling Generations Antique Tractor Club. The participating clubs included the Jackson Area Antique Tractor Club, Saline Retired Iron, Wauseon Antique Ford Tractor Community, Southeast Michigan Antique Tractor & Engine Association, and the Farmers Antique Tractor and Engine Association.

“We had an awesome day at Summerfest,” Barr said. “We had 78 tractors and raised scholarship money for 11 Clinton High School graduates.”

Manchester resident Bob Novess, who is approaching 100 years of age at 99 1/2 years, was named an honorary member of the Rolling Generations Tractor Club during the Summerfest festivities.

The kid’s tractor pull competition, which awarded trophies to the winning entrants shared these results:

• 25-50 weight class pull: First place, Wesley Johnston; second place, Hunter Spittler; third place, Colt Rennick.

• 51-75 weight class pull: First place, Quinn Molnar; second place, Connor Owens; third place, Beau Rennick.

• 76-100 weight class pull: First place, Zoey Deere; second place, Peyton Ahearn; third place, Morgan Owens.