NEAT club wraps up summer tractor tours near Wellesley

From left, Meagan and Sloan Gerber, Hope, Nathan, Fiona and Shannon Cressman join Eli Blackler, on the tractor, in welcoming North Easthope Antique Tractor Club members to Ron Gerber’s farm south of Wellesley for the club’s final summer farm tour. Gary West photo

By Gary West

The North Easthope Antique Tractor Club (NEAT) wrapped up its summer farm tours with a visit to a picturesque property south of Wellesley on Thursday.

The final destination of the summer was the farm of longtime NEAT member Ron Gerber, located along the Nith River.

Gerber has been a member of the antique tractor club for a number of years, and family members and friends joined him in welcoming fellow members to the property.

Visitors had the opportunity to look over a number of tractors from the 1950s and 1960s parked in the yard while enjoying the company of fellow antique-farm-machinery enthusiasts.

Another North Easthope Gerber family was also on hand, serving breakfast to club members from their food truck.

Gerber shares the property, located about two kilometres south of Wellesley, with his son Terry and daughter-in-law Christa.

Before retiring, Gerber drove a milk truck, picking up milk from area dairy farms. He also worked for Wellesley’s Progressive Farming Equipment when the business was owned by Don Green.

The Thursday gathering brought another summer of NEAT farm visits to a close, giving members one final opportunity to bring out their tractors and enjoy some fellowship before fall.