Tractor club honors members, raises funds for Hospice

15 years ago

Tractor club honors members,

raises funds for Hospice

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.

BS-TractorClub-dcx1-sharpt-47Photo courtesy of Cheryl Boulier
TOP PULLERS for 2010 who were recognized by the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club during its annual Awards Banquet held on Nov. 5at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center included, from left, front row: Tami Kilcollins, Dennis Quint, Whitnie Bradbury (Top Youth Puller), Logan Brewer and Larry Kingsbury. Back row: Larry Bull, Phil Kilcollins, Keith Kingsbury, Roger Quint, Meredith Folsom and Richard Carter. Bill Fitzherbert was absent when photo was taken.

 

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.

BS-TractorClub-dcx2-sharpt-47Photo courtesy of Cheryl Boulier
SPECIAL AWARDS — Richard Carter of Castle Hill (Restorer of the Year) and Dr. John Bouchard of Fort Kent (Duncan Haines Memorial Trophy) received special recognition during the Nov. 5 annual meeting of the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club in Presque Isle. Other awards given were: Sponsor of the Year, Beryl Kenney; and Volunteers of the Year, Sandra and Barry Bartley, James Pelletier, Dennis Quint, Roger Quint, Chris Langille, Don Akeley and Sandra Haynes.

 

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.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Boulier
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RIDE FOR CARE — Robin Haynes of Hospice of Aroostook presented Larry Bull of Washburn a special award for raising over $1,200 during the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club’s annual Tractor Trek for Hospice to raise funds for Hospice of Aroostook. This year the trek was held in June and 37 antique tractors rode over 42 miles and raised more than $3,000.