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THE END OF THE FIGHT

Just like it would be hard to picture Tony Simon without a John Deere, it’s hard to picture an Oakley tractor Show without Tony. After 36 years, he was as much a part of the fabric of the organization as any. There must be hundreds (probably thousands) of spectators who attended our shows over that many years that didn’t know Tony, but they certainly recognized and remembered him. He was hard not to notice. He was the guy having more fun than anybody else. He was the first guy up in the morning, and the last one down at night. He was, alternately, outrageous, unpredictable, unconventional, and pretty much, one of a kind. If there was a prank to be played on someone else, it was likely to have his fingerprints all over it. If there was a job to be done, you never had to go look for him, he was there ahead of you. If you wanted help, you’d have to hurry to keep up with him. If you wanted a partner in the cross-cut saw contest, well…...you could plan on a workout and probably a trophy. If you wanted to extend your day well into the next morning, you could try to convince him that an Oliver or a Farmall was superior to a John Deere. In all those years, I recall nobody who won that argument with him.

We all enjoy our “brand loyalty” battles, but Tony really lived his convictions in that regard. He spent decades accumulating not only tractors, but anything with the name John Deere attached to it. In and around the Mecosta County area, he was well-known as the go-to guy for those in need of repair or advice on anything pertaining to older John Deere’s whether it was a puller, a collectible, or a working piece of farm equipment.

As we approach the 37th annual MMOGTA show, we are all mindful of the empty stool beside us, the empty tractor seat on that old John Deere, the quiet moments that will surely happen around that campfire. It ended too soon for Tony, and too soon for us. What doesn’t end, is the legacy left of dozens of Tony’s family, friends, and associates who still make the annual pilgrimage from Remus to Oakley and set up camp (their own little village, really) in advance of our show. We look forward to seeing them all again.

Rest in Peace, Tony Simon, 1944-2011

 

 


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