WELCOME TO CANEY VALLEY ANTIQUE POWER ASSOCIATION

OUR HISTORY

Caney Valley Antique Power Association’s Annual Tractor and Engine show “Pioneer Days” is about to begin.

This years Pioneer Days show- May 31st, June 1st, 2nd - will take place on our grounds 3 1/2 miles north of Caney, KS on Highway 75, ½ mile north of the 75 and 166 overpass junction.  We have modern bathroom facilities, club house, concession stand and 2 pavilions. There will be a lot of working exhibitions, both powered and not powered.  Please come and step back in time with us and enjoy as many of these special events and festivities that you can. 

Our club has a large membership, dedicated to preserving history whether it is in stories, rebuilding machines, or restoring small farm hand operated tools.  You will be able to see various types and styles of restored grinding machines, rope machines, stock equipment, water pumps, gas engines, and a whole host of tractors, which members in our club have some of the rarest that have been seen in our area.

We have several members that collect this farm memorabilia so it can be kept alive for future generations.  A lot of these small shellers, grinders, etc. when they become of no use tend to get thrown away.  That means that our history is being thrown away, so that is why most of our club members like to acquire these special pieces of history and preserve them so that many future generations can actually witness history first hand. 

By no means are we a new club.  However, before the club started officially, several events led up to the forming the club.  In 1995 Dick Rolls SR. asked Bill Ernest to bring some tractors up for the Caney Mayfest Tractor Pull he was sponsoring.  Bill and JoAnne asked some friends to come with them.  They had a nice little show.  Later in 1995, the same group was asked to bring tractors to town for the fall Train Tour that the city had organized with the zoo.  1996 Mayfest was rained out so the tractor pull & show was rescheduled for the 4th of July on Dick Rolls’ property.  The Rolls family has continued to sponsor the tractor pull for us several years since. In 2003 we bought 40 acres for our final and permanent place of residence!

In 1997, there was another show held for Caney Mayfest but we did organize the club in the fall of this year.   The first president was Bill Ernest, vice president was Harold Allen, treasurer was JoAnne Ernest, secretary was Sue Allen, activities and membership director was Terry Brown.  The charter member roll included:  Curtis & Susan Allen, Harold & Virgie Allen, Burt Anger, Steve Baker, John & Leslie Brooks, Terry & June Brown, David Bycroft, Harold Click, John Durst, Bill & JoAnne Ernest, Bill Ferrell, Edith Brown, Doyle & Wilba Gorby, JD Gorby, Lawrence (Red) & Ann Hamilton, Jeff & Thelma Meade, Leon Meade, Harry & Jeraldine Pittman, EL & Ann Randolph, and Dean Terry.   We have current members active all year round. 

Not only with monthly meetings, they also promote exhibit in area towns, participate in many area parades, and attend shows held nationwide.  In 1998, we started choosing a tractor to feature each year.  1998 was International.  We also changed our show grounds to the high school property because of the growth of our show.  1999 featured the Allis, 2000 we featured the John Deere. In 2001 the Orphans tractor was featured and we moved the show grounds to the industrial park for more room. In 2002, we featured the Oliver and this year we purchased the 40 acres for a permanent home show grounds.  However, the 2003 show that featured Ford was still held at the Industrial park.  2004 featured the Case tractor and Fairbanks Morse Engines at our new home/show grounds.

Please come out and active club members will be more than happy to introduce you to other club members and give you directions to points of interest all over the show grounds so you don’t miss anything.

In the past, we have featured many working crafters/demonstrators.   We are always looking for anyone interested in demonstrating a craft old or new.   We have seen some of the best wood carvers demonstrating their crafts.  We have a very experienced broom making shop using all original type tools.  Another very interesting shop to visit is the blacksmith shop. We have seen everything from horseshoe nails turned into spoons , railroad spikes turned into knives, and tools of all types made.  We even get to personally witness a blacksmith welding at our show.  Our hats go off to our very talented and experienced blacksmiths.  We have also seen some of the best yarn spun at our show.  All of the individuals that I have seen have been very friendly and knowledge about their craft and love to answer questions and show you their piece of history. 

Please stop by all of our crafters/demonstrators and enjoy from them all.  We have had flint knapping, blacksmithing, saw mill and other crafts that I do apologize for not calling them by name.  They are all very important to the show and us. 

This year’s show is sure to top them all.  Our grounds allow more campers to have access to utilities and modern restrooms.   Any suggestion that you may have to make your stay more comfortable at the upcoming shows please visit with a show officer and we will do all we can in the future to make this show one of the most comfortable family friendly and safe events in this area. We built a concessions stand and also put up a couple "shade" building for your eating pleasures from our concession stand, or just to catch up with someone you haven't seen in awhile. The Bouey Mfg bldg contains the printing press and various period machinery. Also erected in 2017 is the Terry's Paraphernalia Etc building which holds popcorn items donated by the Terry Brown family. 

Our latest additions have been the Gary Gorby building, erected in 2022, which houses automobile, agricultural equipment and advertising items, farm related tools and other items. The windmill, erected in 2022, was donated by Steve Ernest and put up with the help of many club members. The blacksmith building, was erected in 2023.  And we have a new awning, which many of you will recognize as coming from the Old Gunny Sac. 

Lets not forget that we have one of the largest flea markets of this kind in our area.   The flea market offers everything from new shoes, sock, tools, furniture to unique crafts, collectibles, some things old, useful and some things nobody knew what they were.  It is possible to find original tools that may have came with your tractor to the last piece you need to get the old Maytag engine to run.   We are proud to say that we have had a very high volume of obsolete engine and tractor parts available at our flea market/swap meet.

For more information please contact Gary Gorby, 620-515-5240. But most of all visit our web site at www.cvapa.com.