Residents cheered and gazed in awe as more than 200 tractors rolled through the Village of Montgomery during the community’s Tractor Parade and Engine Show, an annual tradition that pays tribute to the area’s farming history.

This tractor tour started in 2007 thanks to the combined efforts of Norbury “Skip” Chambers, the owner of Chambers Tractor Sales, and Grand Hollow Old Time Power Associate, an antique tractor club that provided much of the equipment for the event.

“We decided to have a parade 16 years ago, and it worked out good. And we have it the same time every year, on Labor Day weekend,” said Chambers.

“It’s an opportunity for the community to get together and showcase their old and modern equipment. It reminds everyone of Montgomery’s farming heritage,” said Seth Warren, a member of Grand Hollow.

Around 12:30 p.m., tractor drivers took off from Railroad Avenue and drove around the village until parking at Chambers Tractor Sales. Residents crowded the sides of the street and waved on as 240 tractors of various colors, sizes and models cruised by. The oldest of these vehicles date back as far as the 1930s and ‘40s.

At 1:30 p.m., hundreds of residents and drivers converged at Chambers Tractor Sales to continue the celebration. Attendees marveled at tractors up close, watched hit-or-miss engines in action, browsed booths selling food and goodies and even whisked through Chambers’ fields on a hayride.

“It’s cool,” said Robert Reynolds, owner of Maybrook Honey. He and his staff provided honey samples and informed attendees about honey bees with their own observation hive. Reynolds mentioned his favorite tractors are “probably the ones with wood burner steam engines.”

Grand Hollow also held a raffle and raised money for its youth club, a program for young tractor enthusiasts looking to learn more about the machinery.

“It helps teach them about the equipment and builds confidence,” said Nicole, another member of Grand Hollow.

The party continued with a barbeque dinner at 5:30 p.m. and concluded with square dancing at 7 p.m., capping off another successful tractor get-together in Montgomery.

“I think it was very good,” Chambers remarked. “The weather was perfect.”