Nelson Caldwell won the original plowing contest in 1947 at the event that would become the farm show.

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Anyone attending the Butler Farm Show will be greeted by a piece of history this year: the original McCormick plow that won the plowing contest in 1947, back before the farm show was officially the farm show.

Ken Metrick, owner of Harvest View Farm and Markets in Mount Chestnut and a farm show board member, originally acquired the McCormick No. 8 Little Genius plow that was owned by the late Nelson Caldwell.

Caldwell used the plow to win the first plowing contest, which inspired the farm show’s creation, Metrick said.

“That (plowing contest) was the birth of the farm show,” Metrick said. “It wasn’t actually called the farm show, it was called the plowing contest.”

Caldwell, a farmer from Butler Township, participated in the contest for years after, although Metrick is not sure when he stopped competing. By the late 1960s or early 1970s, the plowing contest ended.

The plow was sold to Caldwell’s neighbor, who Metrick later bought the plow from. Metrick, in similar fashion, resold the plow to his own neighbor, Guy Daubenspeck, with one stipulation.

“When (Daubenspeck) was done with it, I wanted it back,” Metrick said.

The plow returned to him this spring when Daubenspeck discussed donating the plow back to the farm show, “as a reminder of our heritage and how we started this,” Metrick said.

Metrick guessed that the plow was built back in the 1940s.

With the help of Mitchell Kerr, a member of the junior board, and Mitchell’s uncle Dennis, the plow is in the process of being restored. Metrick said Dennis and Mitchell Kerr, with Kerr Farm Equipment out of Harmony, are cleaning and painting the plow, putting it back together. Skander Tire in Evans City also donated new tires, Metrick said.

“We’re pretty excited to have it,” Metrick said. “I wish (Caldwell) could’ve seen that … he would’ve been tickled to see it on display there.”

The plow is expected to be placed on display in front of the farm show office with a plaque detailing the history of the show and the plow.