The 2026 Massey Days Summer Reunion was held June 18th, 19th, and 20th at the Joe and Jo-Jo Poncelet farm East of Bellechester. The annual show celebrates the Massey Ferguson farm implement brand and all of its 19th-century companies dating back to 1847. Over 100 Wallis, Massey Harris, Ferguson, and Massey Ferguson tractors, along with numerous farm implements and other branded items, were on display across the property.
The Poncelets are members of the Massey Collectors Association and have hosted the travelling event four times beginning in 2006. In 2011 the show traveled to their farm and two others in Minnesota, and in 2020 the Poncelets hosted a delayed summer show in the fall when state COVID restrictions were lifted. This year’s show was a huge success seeing nearly 100 visitors on Thursday, over 150 on Friday (mostly Massey folks), and over 150 on Saturday (mostly friends, neighbors, and family). Hosting the show is a major undertaking and while the Poncelets seem to have perfected it, they claim it will be their last. Jo-Jo says, “It’s 20 years since our first and hopefully all had an amazing time.”
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The brand has a dedicated following around the world with the reunion drawing folks from as far away as England and Canada. United States visitors came from Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.
Previously attending Massey Days in South Dakota and Kansas, Jim Meagher, Pembina, North Dakota came to Bellechester saying, “It’s closer than most for me”. He arrived on Thursday with his Massey-Harris Twin-Power 101, his most recent restoration. Jim has collected and restored many Masseys since 1990, having grown up around his dad’s collection. He keeps all restorations as part of his own very large collection.
Meagher’s story is similar to Joe’s, whose father was a local Massey dealer. Poncelet’s collection includes a total of 145 tractors in various states of restoration. He had 18 of his 34 Massey Harris GP 4-wheel-drive tractors out and running and 16 of his total Wallis collection scattered across the yard. Many of Joe’s tractors were labeled with signs describing their unique contribution to the show including information on how many were manufactured and how many are known to still exist. Humorous signs such as “Wallis in need of repair waiting area” or “Always needing just one more wheel/rim/tire” were also found on some projects-in-progress. His 1919 Wallis K3 is considered the most rare in his collection, with only 380 ever made. It had been shedded and unseen for 60 years.
Almost 75 of Joe’s tractors were out and about with more than 30 brought in by others. Jo-Jo arranged to have Lodermeier’s bring a new Massey Ferguson tractor which sat next to Joe’s two Wallis Cub models, showcasing the difference over 105 years.
While the show mainly focused on the antique tractor, there were also Massey branded bicycles, chainsaws, snowmobiles, signs, advertisements, toy tractors, and manuals. Representatives from Steiner Tractor Parts Inc. of MI gave out some freebies. Other vendors from WI and IA were on site selling crafts and memorabilia and commemorative shirts designed by S&S Miller of MN were available to purchase. Also of interest were demonstrations by Betty Beltz churning butter and Diane Franke weaving rugs.
A Food truck from either Don’s Crumble Beef, Fiesta Mexicana, or the Goodhue Lions was available each day. Sloppy Joe’s made with burger from Goodhue Market headlined the Thursday evening meal. A Friday night banquet catered by Lake City Fresh Market took place at the Bellechester Community Center and Saturday evening’s pulled pork came from Huettles.
After the event wrapped up with dancing and live music by the band, County Line Drive—which features the Poncelet’s nephew, Brandon Stanek on lead vocals and guitar—Jo-Jo reflected, “We could not have done it without my son and his wife, Joe’s brother and partner, and my sister and hubby.”
Next year’s show is in Viroqua, WI. For more events and information, visit www.masseycollectors.com.
