There seems to be a power struggle going on here and we&#039;re not looking at the right picture.  No one was out to mislead anyone.  The Smithsonian talked with several different parties concerning this project.  The ultimate decision on where this tractor would go, who would work on it, and who it would be loaned to was made by the Smithsonian.  Evidently some of the HPOCA board members are just learning about that decision and it&#039;s causing some hard feelings.  There were reasons for the Smithsonian&#039;s choosing the recipient the way they did and it has nothing to do with someone taking it away from someone else.  We need to look down the road 6 months and be proud that the oldest gas tractor in the world is going to be displayed amongest our machinery.  The Smithsonian didn&#039;t have to release that tractor at all.
As for the HPOCA not wanting to fund the project, I can list several ocassions where the HPOCA has donated money to a project similar to this and never had any control or input.  It was my understanding that there would be a special fundraiser for this project which would be conducted by the HPOCA, so the funds would not come directly out of the HPOCA&#039;s pocket.  Perhaps I am mistaken.  But as a member of this association, I whole-heartedly support the restoration of the most important tractor in the world -Hart-Parr No. 3.  - Sherry (a member of the HPOCA)