CAMA’s annual Fall Fest goes full steam ahead in Kent

KENT — The Connecticut Antique Machinery Association (CAMA) held its 35th annual Fall Festival in Kent from Friday through Sunday, Sept. 27-29. 

Unanimous reviews were “best ever,” due in no small part to the perfect weekend-long weather. 

Crowds piled into the CAMA grounds just north of the center of town on Route 7. Tractor-drawn shuttles helped get the visitors from the parking fields below back up to the festival. 

Once there, they were faced with a bewildering variety of displays and demonstrations. Every kind of machinery, engine, tractor and tool imaginable was there and working. 

The CAMA festivals (there is one in spring at the beginning of the season and one at the end, in autumn) stimulate all the senses.“One lung-er” engines make a happy chugging sound. Puffs of steam escape from the small machines around the lawn and from the large barns that hold the massive industrial engines. There was food being cooked in a large open-sided building. The air smelled like autumn and fallen leaves. The “oohs” and “aahs” of observers of all ages added to the day’s soundtrack. 

Tractors of every vintage and manufacture were on display. Familiar names like Deere and Farmall were side by side with lesser knowns like Rost Vandervort, Reeves and Rumely. The Tencza family always brings a fine collection of farm machinery and their 1872 Baldwin Corn Chopper did its job all day long. 

Lumber Jack and Jill demos were handled by Shannon Strong of Kent and her capable crew. 

At the popular sawmill demonstration, logs were trimmed into planks.

It seemed like there was an acre or more of vendors with their “tag sales” spread over tables and lawn alike. Actually, “tags” were rare and prices seemed to be flexible and open to negotiation. 

Chances are if you couldn’t find it, “it” doesn’t exist — but a close option that was almost just like it was usually readily offered. 

Just when you thought you’d seen it all, there was Linda Reynolds with a miniature Shetland pony standing in the back of a teeny vintage Crosley pick-up vehicle. 

The pony was fully life size and was shaking his head, turning his ears to sounds, flicking his tail and whinnying when petted. The only thing different: This was a toy. 

His name was “Butterscotch” and he was produced years ago by Hasbro. Again, a one-of-a-kind discovery at the memorable CAMA Fall Festival.

In spring, check the website at www.ctamachinery.com for the dates of the annual power-up weekend when the ancient machines are wakened from their winter slumber.