ROANOKE - Bundled in coveralls and coats, fans of antique tractors plowed their way through a Roanoke field to relive memories and share stories.

"It's not cold when you are doing something like this," said Eldon Harms, before he used his son's antique John Deere tractor. "This brings back the old times."

A smiling Harms reminisced about farming when he was younger and how much fun it was to try it again for a few hours. Earlier this season, he used a one-row picker to harvest the last few rows of corn.

Roanoke-Benson FFA Alumni Chapter sponsored the Plow Day as a fundraiser. The chapter re-organized in spring 2007 after being active in the 1970s, said chapter President Karen Jones. She estimated current membership at 15 to 20.

The chapter wants to award a scholarship to one student each year. Other fundraisers include a breakfast.

Event co-organizer Scott Holliger, who brought his 1937 Huber, has spent "a few weekends in the fall for the past few years" with friends farming with their antique equipment.

Tractor tales

"Every tractor has a story, and that is half of the fun of this hobby is hearing those stories," Holliger said.

His Huber was owned by his grandfather and was used to haul logs at his saw mill in Goodfield and for farming. Holliger thinks the last time it was used for farming was in the 1950s.

"Back then, they advertised the Huber could plow an acre an hour," Holliger laughed. "That was fast for the times."

Its other "selling point" is not minding the cold or sitting for long periods of time, said Holliger. "It always starts on the second crank."

Roanoke-Benson FFA members offered a food stand before the event and during the lunch break. Junior Derek Isaia said FFA competitions have been his favorite thing about FFA. Although he plans to study computer science in college, his FFA experience has taught him "how to work as a member of a team."

The alumni chapter is open to anyone who wants to work with the FFA members.