WELD — A few years ago, Mike Pratt attended a Maine Antique Tractor Club festival and caught a dose of “classic tractor fever.”

Since 2000 he’s accumulated nine Cockshutt tractors and a few others.

Pratt, now vice president of the club, is ready to talk tractors as he prepares to haul several to Farmington for this weekend’s 16th summer festival.

Cockshutt is the featured brand of tractor this year, and a 1957 Cockshutt Golden Arrow is the featured tractor. Only 135 of the featured tractor were created as a demonstration for a Model 550. They were destined to go back to the factory and be revamped, but most were sold first. Two members in the club of about 600 members own one, but they are pretty special and hard to find, he said.

Growing up on a farm in Washington County, Pratt always had an interest in tractors. After attending a club festival at Windsor Fairgrounds, he became “very interested” and particularly liked the Cockshutt design and look, he said. His first purchase and restoration was a 1948 Cockshutt 30.

A game warden for 25 years, he now does real estate research for local attorneys. He also does most of the tractor restoration work himself, he said.

For people involved in restoring antique tractors, there’s always just one more or another design they want, he said. It’s known amongst collectors as “classic tractor fever.”

Fortunately, his wife, Laurie, enjoys and participates in the club. She also drives in tractor pulls right along with him.

“We’ll pull the same tractor in the same class, and she fairly consistently beats me,” he said with a chuckle, while admitting she’s a good driver and has a good sense of what she needs to do.

The Cockshutt has a long history, dating back to the early 1800s in Brantford, Ontario, he said. The company first produced agricultural implements like plows, harrows and combines. When the tractor came along, the Cockshutt company imported Oliver tractors, painted them and put the Cockshutt name on them.

They began to engineer and manufacture their own tractors in 1946. Canadian tractors were then sold in the U.S., but many were painted and bore other brand names like Co-Op.

Along with the fun of tractor pulls, games, parade and vendors found at the festival, the club has a purpose for holding the weekend event. This is their main fundraiser of the year. They provide scholarships, this year three for $650, to graduating seniors.

They also set aside funds with plans to eventually purchase land and build an agricultural museum. They’re looking for property centrally located and near the interstate, he said.

During the festival, they raffle an antique tractor. This year, it’s a restorable Oliver-built Cockshutt 60. It was quite a find, he said.

After children of two club members were granted wishes by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the club decided to dedicate everything they make on Friday to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine. A 1952 Farmall Cub tractor will be raffled at 7 p.m. Friday night. The club wants to do things for other people, he said. All Friday proceeds will go toward fulfilling the wishes of Maine children facing illness.

Hundreds of tractors will be on display. The tractor pulls and games attract a crowd, he said. The festival also offers machinery demonstrations, vendors and food.

Local crafters and flea market sales will fill the Starbird building. New this year, a corral of tractors available for sale, he said.

Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 11 to 17 and free for those under 10. It’s a fun, family-oriented event, he said.

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WHAT: Maine Antique Tractor Club’s 16th Festival

WHEN: June 24, 25 and 26. Gates open at 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 8 a.m. Sunday

WHERE: Farmington Fairgrounds