CHOCOWINITY — Adrian Dudley Jr., 5, of Washington, worked his legs furiously, determined to master the challenge of moving full steam ahead on a child-size pedal tractor.

Nearby, Tripp Dunn, 6, of Washington, climbed aboard a full-size 1935 John Deere tractor owned by his granddaddy, Jesse Tripp of Blounts Creek.

And meanwhile, Hendrix Elliott, 6, of Bath, worked up a sweat competing in the children’s tractor pull.

These children, and dozens of others, enjoyed a day down on the farm May 14 during the annual Antique Tractor Show hosted by the Eastern Antique Power Association. Adults were certainly welcome, but the tractor club is focusing more and more on preserving the farming legacy of Beaufort County for future generations.

“Our club’s goal is to restore antique tractors and farm equipment, but we also want to help pass the traditions on to kids, to get them interested in farming and have fun doing it,” said EAPA President Stan Hudson.

The children who attended the show made good use of a sunny Saturday. They competed in pedal tractor races and tractor pulls, pumped water the old-fashioned way, shelled corn, examined vintage farming equipment once used throughout the area and generally enjoyed themselves without benefit of electronic devices and television.

“I liked the tractor race, and my sister beat me,” said 6-year-old Braeden Hall of Chocowinity. He didn’t mind losing to sister Avery because there were plenty of other things to enjoy during the show, he noted.

“I also liked the water pump thing and doing the corn thing, and I liked the five slushies I had,” Braeden added.

Lucas Carter, 7, of Chocowinity, was partial to the steam engine “because it squirted water and did steam.” But the show was also a learning experience for him.

“I learned that sometimes tractors from a long time ago can still be here,” he said.

For information about Eastern Antique Power Association, contact Hudson at 252-945-6150.