An older gentleman walks through the Yorkton Farm Toy Show, passing booths showcasing miniature barns, vintage Dinky Cars, and classic magazines. He stops in front of a three-row display rack. It’s filled with tractors, one of which is similar to the machine from his farm.
Scott Warrington steps around his booth and approaches the man. He grabs the tractor that caught the man’s eye and they talk shop. They swap stories and jokes, reminiscing. The man thanks Scott and he continues through the show.
For Scott, exchanges like that are why he’s taken his extensive collection of model tractors on the road.
“[They] bring back old memories,” he said.
Scott, who’s from Lloydminster, began collecting the tractors when he was 10-years-old. Gary, his father, who amasses model trains, encouraged Scott with his hobby.
“I decided he could have the model tractors because he couldn’t really play with the trains,” he said. “He started saving them.”
Over the decades, Scott’s collection has ballooned to dozens upon dozens of tractors. Some are in top condition while others required a bit of maintenance. Luckily, Scott is a mechanic.
“A lot of [it is] paint touch-up,” he said.
As a kid, Scott used to put his tractors on display, but his collection’s been private for a while. This year, he decided to take his hobby on tour.
Scott loaded his truck full of tractors and headed out with his father. They visited a show in Saskatoon last month before visiting the Yorkton Farm Toy Show last weekend.
Scott’s display consisted of international tractors from 1940 to 1958. He’s gathered them from around the world. Some of them went for a pretty penny. A brass tractor cost $400.
None of the tractors were for sale. Scott just wanted to share his passion with like-minded people.
“The people are all so great,” Gary said. “They come to talk to you and tell you stories.
“That’s what I really enjoy about [the show].”
Scott will be bringing his tractors to a show in Lloydminster next month.
When asked to choose his favourite tractor, Scott points to one which is a replica of the tractor his grandfather bought in the 1950s.
“We still have it today,” he said. “That’s what started it all.”
