Frank Olten doesn’t look away when he reveals that farmland his father toiled with the first John Deere tractor in the state in 1928 is now part of the Falmouth Country Club.

Olten, 83, is now a resident of Cumberland but still considers himself a farmer, even though the only green vehicle he commands is a riding mower.

“Most of the farmers I know are out and gone,” Olten said March 20 at the annual John Deere Night at the Hall Implement tractor dealership in Windham where farmers meet to share stories, shake earth-stained hands and watch films of the new tractor models. More than 200 people showed up to the 48th annual event.

Olten, 83, said he still has a tractor in his garage, even though he doesn’t farm with it.

“It sits around mostly and has a log splitter hooked up to it,” he said. The power take off unit at the back of a tractor runs the splitter while the tractor wheels sit idle.

Farmers say a lot of tractor wheels are idle while the industry they dedicate their lives to slowly dies.

“Every year there’s less and less dairy farms,” said Doug Parker, 79 of Windham. He started the Southern Maine Tractor Club eight years ago and said the state of modern farming is tough.

“Prices are going up but revenue isn’t,” said Alan Fernald of Standish. He operates a horse rescue farm with his wife Cassie and said the high prices of feed and bedding are filling their stable with animals.

“We get a lot of calls from people who can’t afford their horses any more,” he said.

The dwindling agricultural scene in Maine seems to have brought farmers closer together. Steve Hall, the Hall Implement store manager, said the annual John Deere Night is more about bringing people together than generating sales.

“It’s a way for our customers and friends to get together,” he said. “A lot of people don’t see each other but once a year and this is it.”

“It’s a social event,” said Gary Winship, a dairy farmer from Windham. He said the free popcorn, chocolate milk and ice cream are great, but he comes for the social aspect.

“It’s a night to get out, it’s always good to see the people you know,” said Peter Castonguay, 32, of Livermore, while leaning against the large rear wheel of a tractor. He traveled an hour to be there and said while the cost of farming is up and profits are down, the price of old tractors is increasing.

Castonguay said newer tractors have a lot of electronic components and are harder to fix, so a market has developed for tractors from two decades ago. The $35,000 John Deere 4455 he purchased five years ago is now worth $40,000, he said.

JDeere1-3: More than 200 people turned out for the annual John Deere Night at Hall Implement in Windham. The family-owned tractor dealership provides free food and a video presentation of the new John Deere models, but attendees said what they look forward to is seeing old friends.JDeere1-3: More than 200 people turned out for the annual John Deere Night at Hall Implement in Windham. The family-owned tractor dealership provides free food and a video presentation of the new John Deere models, but attendees said what they look forward to is seeing old friends.JDeere1-3: More than 200 people turned out for the annual John Deere Night at Hall Implement in Windham. The family-owned tractor dealership provides free food and a video presentation of the new John Deere models, but attendees said what they look forward to is seeing old friends.