Hosted by the Rio Linda Historical Society and Early Days Gas Engine and Tractor Association, this is a free two-day event for the community to see displays and demonstrations of vintage tractors, a tractor parade, antique engines, farm animals, face painting, hayrides, museum tours, and plenty of food and drinks. Photo courtesy of Rio Linda Elverta Historical Society

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - Join the fun at the 30th annual Farm and Tractor Days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 16 and May 17 at the Historic Dry Creek Ranch House, located at 6852 Dry Creek Road, Rio Linda.

Hosted by the Rio Linda Historical Society and Early Days Gas Engine and Tractor Association, this is a free two-day event for the community to see displays and demonstrations of vintage tractors, a tractor parade, antique engines, farm animals, face painting, hayrides, museum tours, and enjoy plenty of food and drinks.

A swap meet, starting at 7 a.m. May 17, with local vendors and live music will also be part of the event.

Farm and Tractor Days is sponsored by community partners, such as the Twin Rivers Unified School District, Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez, Future Farmers of America, Rio Linda Recreation and Park District, River Valley Feed and Pet Supply, and Rio Linda Lions Club.

More than 1,000 attendees of all ages are expected at this two-day event, which has been a tradition in Rio Linda for 30 years celebrating Sacramento’s rural heritage.

Friday, May 16 is kids’ day (education day) where students from the three local schools, Dry Creek Elementary, Westside Elementary and Rio Orchard Elementary; visit and learn about the history of agricultural machinery and go on hayrides. Saturday, May 17 is family day where the community is invited to come out with friends and family to enjoy the farm and tractor-related activities.

Golden State Draft and Mule Association member Mr. Colvin demonstrates how farming was done before the advent of tractors. Photo courtesy of Rio Linda Elverta Historical Society

“Two individuals, Jerry Wickman and Bob Bastian, OGs (original members) from the Rio Linda Elverta Historical Society got together and started having this annual event and brought in the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association (EDGE&TA) to show engines,” said Rio Linda Historical Society President Jason Green. “They started getting more tractors and started getting bigger over time, and 30 years later, we are still doing it.”  

Green said that folks who attend Farm and Tractor Days always look forward to the tractor parade, the hit-or-miss engines, hayrides and horse-drawn plowing demonstration. This year, the Antique Caterpillar Collector Club will show vintage construction equipment and demonstrate its functionality by digging up dirt.

Deacon Van Derostyne, in charge of the  May 17 tractor parade, said they have “a good number of members” who drive their tractors for the public to see.

“Averaging around 40 tractors for each category, some amount are of the old antique engines like the hit-or-miss that farmers used to use,” Van Derostyne said.

“We line up everybody that is there, form a line and have an announcer talk about each individual person who all have a different tractor, with different stories behind each one of them and what it could have been used for back in the day,” said Van Derostyne. “We do this to teach a little bit of history to the public to make them aware of things farmers used back then.”

Branch 13 Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association President Rich Facino has been there since the start of the first Farm and Tractor days. He said that the first Farm and Tractor days was just a small display of engines and tractors in front of the Dry Creek farmhouse. Eventually, more and more visitors began to attend, and it has become a staple tradition in Rio Linda.

“The event is all about farming, the country life and coming together,” said Facino. “There is a lot of history in Rio Linda and I think it’s a good thing for the community to see these antique tractor engines where people can see them running around, not just sitting in a museum, actually doing the things they were used for.”

Green encourages everyone to attend this free event and enjoy the festivities.