Best of the West brings history to life at Santa Margarita Ranch

By Camille DeVaul · Wed May 27 2026

Families, antique equipment enthusiasts, and history buffs gathered for steam trains, tractor parades, and military tributes

NORTH COUNTY — Over Memorial Day weekend, the rolling hills of Santa Margarita Ranch transformed into a living time capsule as the Best of the West Antique Equipment Show welcomed visitors to step back in time and experience the machinery, traditions, and spirit that helped shape the American West.

Held May 22-24, the annual event was hosted by the Paso Robles Pioneer Day Committee in partnership with the Rossi Foundation. Best of the West once again drew families, history enthusiasts, and antique equipment lovers from across the region for three days filled with demonstrations, exhibits, and patriotic tributes.

Pioneer Day Tractor Committee Chair Austin Sligh shared, "Our Sunday was the best Sunday we've ever had."

Set against the backdrop of the historic Santa Margarita Ranch, which dates back to 1774, the event offered visitors an immersive look into California’s agricultural and transportation history. Guests explored portions of the original El Camino Real, the historic Asistencia building, and the former Wells Fargo stagecoach stop while taking in a packed lineup of activities throughout the weekend.

Tractor parades, earthmoving demonstrations, antique harvesting displays, and blacksmithing exhibitions brought history to life, while vintage cars and military vehicles added to the atmosphere of stepping into another era.

One of the weekend’s most popular attractions was the ranch’s historic steam train. Families lined up for rides aboard restored passenger coaches, while children enjoyed hands-on activities in the Kid’s Corral, including gold panning, butter making, and model train displays.

This year also marked the return of aircraft displays from Estrella Warbirds. Visitors had the opportunity to view historic planes, including the C-47 and T-28, up close on the runway for the first time in several years. When the weather permitted, paratroopers were even able to demonstrate jumping out of a plane.

On the ground, this year’s featured equipment highlighted International Harvester tractors, drawing attention from collectors and longtime tractor enthusiasts alike.

Sligh shared that his highlight of the weekend was watching families, new and returning, come out to enjoy the event.

"[We had] more families through the door than any other year," Sligh shared.

At its core, Best of the West continued its mission of preserving antique equipment and passing that appreciation on to younger generations. What originally began as a way to keep tractors active beyond a single annual parade has evolved into a full weekend experience where families can camp, explore, and connect with local history in a hands-on environment.

Patriotism remained a central part of the weekend. Each day at noon, attendees paused for a military salute featuring the national anthem and a flyover honoring the nation’s service members in recognition of Memorial Day.

Behind the scenes, local trucking companies once again played a major role in making the event possible. In the weeks leading up to the show, approximately 20 to 30 trucking companies helped transport antique tractors and equipment from the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum to the ranch grounds.

There are several events coming up throughout the summer to support and join in on the Pioneer Day fun.

"If people had fun at Best of the West, and they've never been, I definitely recommend coming to Pioneer Day and any of our other events," Slight said.

You can keep up to date with all of those events and find more information on Pioneer Day at pasoroblespioneerday.org