When the big machines started pulling, there was dust everywhere, at Tractor Jam 2.0, held at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm. Tinkess Photo

EDWARDS – It’s a great location, and a great cause, and can you believe Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm has been around for thirty years?

A huge crowd converged at Stanley’s on Sun., June 11 for Vintage Tractor Jam 2.0, a friendly competition for local owners of vintage tractors of all sizes. The event was co-hosted by Vintage Iron and Traditions of Eastern Ontario. Admission was by donation only with proceeds going to supporting mental health in agriculture.

The event, which ran from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. had something for just about everyone. There was an antique agricultural show with equipment of all kinds, a swap meet, a tractor parade, the always popular Countryside Petting Farm, live entertainment and of course the lawn mower and tractor pull. As always, there was an opportunity for a bite to eat and drink as well.

Donations supporting agricultural mental health seemed to have been pretty good, as of the time of this report, they were still being counted, According to Stewie James of James Auction Services, who was handling the announcing duties for the tractor pull, some of the participants had agreed to donate their winnings to the cause as well. Who would win? Obviously agricultural mental health came out on top, but the grudge match between Andrew Zanbelt and Earl Stanley kicked up quite a bit of dust as well.

Musical entertainment was available throughout the day with Bill Wilson, Jai Vinyl, The Gallaghers, and Ginette Hamilton all keeping things moving.

Time passes quickly, but it is difficult to believe that three decades have passed since the Stanley family, three generations of them, have turned a working farm into one of Eastern Ontario’s tourism gems. There were surely a few people present on Sunday that were there for the first time, but you would have a difficult time finding even one that wouldn’t come back again.