2024 Historic Farm Days Show Schedule
2024 I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club
BOARD
MEMBERS
President: Chuck Stelter
Vice Presidents: Dave Bosch and Barry Maury
Secretary: J.C. Reitmeier
Treasurer: Alecia Whitcomb
DIRECTORS
John Bensyl
Rick Chenewith
Derek Harms
Ed Winkleman
Roger Musson
Jim Wood
Membership: Jim Rein
Activity Directors: Russell Buhr and Marvin Johnson
ENTERTAINMENT & ATTRACTIONS
All Events Illinois Time
Gates Open at 7:00 a.m.
THURSDAY JULY 11, 2024
CHECK DAILY ATTRACTIONS
9 a.m. Opening Ceremony & Flag Raising
1 p.m. Tractor Parade
6 p.m. Antique Tractor Pull Classes
FRIDAY JULY 12, 2024
CHECK DAILY ATTRACTIONS
ABE LINCOLN ON GROUNDS ALL DAY
8 a.m. Steam Engine walk around (Learn the process of getting a steam engine fired up for the day.)
10 a.m. Tractor Games, Grandstand
11 a.m. Farm Succession Discussion with Cheryl Mitchell and Associates, Pavillion
12 p.m.- 7 p.m “Kids Day” Obstacle Course & Putt-Putt Golf, North of Log Cabin
1 p.m. Tractor Parade
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.Bingo, School Cafeteria
3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Golden Embers Band, Pavillion
5 p.m. ITPA Sanctioned Tractor Pull, Grandstand
SATURDAY JULY 13, 2024
CHECK DAILY ATTRACTIONS
ABE LINCOLN ON GROUNDS ALL DAY
8 a.m. Steam Engine walk around (Learn the process of getting a steam engine fired up for the day.)
10 a.m. Tractor Games, Grandstand
12 p.m. – 7 p.m Kid’s Obstacle Course & Putt-Putt Golf, North of
Log Cabin
1 p.m. Tractor Parade
2:30 p.m. Kiddie Tractor Pull, Pavilion
5 p.m IPA Sanctioned Tractor Pull, Grandstands SUNDAY JULY 14, 2024 CHECK DAILY ATTRACTIONS
9 a.m Tractor Drive departs grounds
9:30 a.m. Church Service at Old Penfield Church
1 p.m. Tractor Parade
2 p.m. Raffle Tractor Drawing
DAILY ATTRACTIONS
Trading Post
I&I Train
Corn Shelling
Sawmill
Potato Digging
Field Demonstrations
Old Schoolhouse
Old Methodist Church
Food Vendors
Log Cabin
Chicago Pneumatic Engine
Parts and Vendors
Threshing
Blacksmith Shop
Museum
IH Room/Parts Counter
Household Room
Tractor Pull Reunion (Schedule Subject to Change)
Welcome to Historic Farm Days
The I & I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club welcomes you to the 2024 Historic Farm Days show in Penfield, Illinois. We are looking forward to seeing all of our friends again this year.
This year we are featuring J.I. Case with the J.I. Case Collectors Association summer show and Dodge Trucks (all
brands of tractors, trucks and equipment are welcome).
While at the show, we hope you enjoy seeing all of the exhibits, vendors, food and other daily attractions.
Putting on a show like this would not be possible without our dedicated club members, volunteers, friends in the
community and you – our guests.
We hope to see you at this year’s show and again in 2025, when Historic Farm Days will be featuring Oliver and Cockshutt on July 10th -13th, 2025.
Enjoy the show and be safe!
Chuck Stelter- President
Map of Historic Farm Days Show Grounds
Farmer, mechanic to display J.I. Case tractors at
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. Rows of J.I. Case tractors will be on display during Historic Farm Days, including several owned by Dave Berbaum.
J.I. Case tractors will be featured at the show this year that is organized by the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club, scheduled July 11-14.
“My first Case was a 1936 CC Case that I acquired from my great uncle,” Berbaum said. “He had farmed with it into the ‘70s.”
Now, Berbaum owns 10 or 11 tractors
“It snowballed after the first tractor,” he said. “Restoring the tractors is fun in the beginning and then it’s work before you get it done, but there is satisfaction when they are finished.”
Berbaum worked as a Case mechanic for 17 years and then he had an opportunity to farm.
“I retired from farming about three yeawrs ago, but I still help my brother and nephew,” he said.
“So, it hasn’t changed much, I still enjoy driving tractors and they still let me do it.”
The farmer’s collection includes a Case SC and his wife has a Case 1570 Spirit of 76.
“My brother and nephew collect, as well, and they like the 70 Series 870, 1370 and 1570,” he said “They like the tractors they grew up with.”
The Berbaums plan to display at least 15 of their tractors during the fourday event.
“Since we’re close and members of the club, we’ll probably take most of our tractors,” the collector said “My brother has a semi so that makes it a lot easier to move them around since he can haul three at a time.”
Berbaum joined the club in the late ‘80s
“We went to one of their shows one summer and I knew some of the guys,” he recalled.
“We thought it would be fun so we joined and have been in the club ever since.” In addition to Case trac-
“My brother and nephew collect, as well, and they like the 70 Series — 870, 1370 and 1570. They like the tractors they grew up with.”
Dave Berbaum
tors, Berbaum also has a few plows in his collection
“My brother has a Case chisel planter that came out in the mid-’60s, but it is not show-ready yet,” he said “It’s a little different and way ahead of its time
as far as no-till goes.”
Berbaum found a couple of the chisel planters in the area
“We acquired a second chisel planter that is torn apart,” he said. “The guy took it apart and stored it in his shed.”
As a member of the club, Berbaum said, he has met a lot of good people.
“Some days it’s work, but it’s enjoyable to be around the guys,” he said about the annual show.
“I guess we put Penfield on the map,” he said “When we first started the show, people asked where Penfield was located, but they don’t have to ask anymore.”
Farm succession discussion
PENFIELD, Ill. An educational discussion about farm succession planning will be part of the program during Historic Farm Days
Cheryl Mitchell will facilitate the discussion with a panel that includes an accountant, attorney, banker and insurance agent on Friday, July 12, starting at 11 a.m. at the Pavilion.
This is the second year this panel will be at the event to provide a place for farm families to start the conversation about developing a succession plan for their operations
“These four professionals have expertise in agriculture,” Mitchell said
About 70% of farm families, Mitchell said, do not have a farm succession plan in place. That’s why
gathering information about various strategies for protecting a farmer’s legacy is so important, she stressed
“There will be no sales our focus is education and providing information about various strategies and tools like gift giving,” she said
Many times farm families avoid working on succession plans because they don’t know where to start or who to trust.
“From our past discussions, I’m now working with five families to facilitate the process of developing a succession plan,”
Mitchell said.
“So, this panel of professionals is working to solve a problem for farm families,” she said “This is the right approach to provide families a way to move forward in the process because this team knows how to protect ag assets.”
Currently, Mitchell said, the team of ag professionals is assisting families located in Ford, Iroquois and Douglas counties.
“And we are making waves in other areas of the state as far north as Chicago,” Mitchell said.
“I would love to do this in other places and vet some more professionals to work with farm families,” she said For more information, go to www.cherylbmitchell com.
Mitchell
Former Case mechanic Dave Berbaum plans to display several of his tractors, including this Case 1370, at Historic Farm Days.
Golden Embers perform July 12
FAIRBURY, Ill. A trio of central Illinois musicians will entertain Historic Farm Days visitors Friday, July 12, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Pavilion
The Golden Embers band is comprised of Brian Steffen, Robin McPherson and Rick Metz, all originally from Fairbury.
“Brian is our lead guitar on a Martin acoustic/electric. He’s just phenomenal what he can get out of that guitar We try to work minimum equipment if we can, travel light,” Metz said
“Robin plays bass and drums, and I play drums and bass Robin and I are siblings and we switch off We also get a little fiddle here and there and a little bit of harmonica here and there.
“We play a lot of 1970s music. We do a lot of songs and when we’re playing we can see the lips in the crowd singing along with us.
“We perform three hours straight. Every individual in the band picks a song I’ve been with bands where you have a honcho out front and they say we’re doing this, this and this, and you don’t have a say. Everybody has a say in this outfit. Everybody does bookings It’s just like a tripod, you have to have three legs for it to stand.”
The trio first played together just as the COVID shutdown began in March 2020.
“We were at a jam session and Brian asked if we wanted to try some three-instrument music. I said I was game if my sister is, so away we went,” Metz noted.
The Golden Embers play throughout central Illinois and have a busy schedule leading up to Historic Farm Days
“I think we have seven gigs scheduled in June and for a little garage band that’s almost too much, but
Golden Embers members Rick Metz (left), Robin McPherson and Brian Steffen.
Gene Schmidt steps down from role as I&I treasurer
GIFFORD, Ill. Gene Schmidt will get to enjoy this year’s Historic Farm Days without having to keep tabs on the books.
Schmidt, of Gifford, stepped down late last year from his role at I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club treasurer after 23 years of service. Alecia Whitcomb has assumed the treasurer’s post.
He took time to reflect on his role and the I&I organization
How did you get involved in the I&I?
Schmidt: I knew a lot of the guys in the club, and
when I retired from Gifford State Bank I guess they thought I needed a job. One of the guys called me and I thought that would be a nice thing to do for a couple of years, and 23 years later, I was still treasurer.
What were some of the changes you witnessed in the club over the years?
Schmidt: They started out in 1987 at the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve north of Penfield. As far as the grounds here, they’ve added so much to it, buildings, one-room schoolhouse, the church it’s just really grown to
“The members really get in there and pitch in when something needs to be done.”
Gene Schmidt
make the grounds really nice
That board is a group that if something needs to be done, they get it done. The members really get in there and pitch in when something needs to be done
Of course, everything is in really good condition, so
it doesn’t required all the work it did several years ago to get a show going. Some of them have been doing the same job for several years, so I think they just really enjoy it.
I really enjoyed working with the men and women of the group. They’re a great group to work with.
What is the importance of having this organization that focuses on preserving past farming practices to pass the history along to another generation?
Schmidt: With all of this new equipment and fewer farmers, a lot of the
Club purchases caboose to add to show grounds
PENFIELD, Ill. In addition to a special featured tractor each year, new items and events are added to the Historic Farm Days to give those attending lots of things to do during the show set for July 11-14.
This year, a caboose is planned to be added to the show grounds at Penfield.
“I tried to get the caboose two years ago,” said Kenny Knight, a member of the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club.
“The Wheeler Foundation had an auction and a couple of guys and I went and looked at it,” Knight said. “We called the president of the club and said we need to buy the caboose, so we placed a bid and the tractor club ended up with it.”
A cement pad with rails is ready at the show grounds for the Missouri/ Pacific railroad caboose to be placed
“It is going to be south
of the grandstand building,” Knight said “The ground has been too soft to move it, but we’re hoping to have it moved for the show.”
The trucks are scheduled for the move, once the conditions make it possible to be completed.
“They need to get under some overpasses, but they got it all figured out,” the I&I Club member said “It’s about a 15-mile trip.”
Knight has been a mem-
ber of the tractor club for about 20 years.
“I walked around the show awhile and I thought I had a couple tractors that my family ran,” he recalled. “So, I’ll take about 10 tractors to the show this year.”
The collector owns from 25 to 30 antique tractors
“We used to collect Minneapolis-Moline because that’s what our family farmed with east of Bismarck,” Knight said.
younger people don’t realize what some of the farmers went through years ago. So, it’s just good for them to kind of know what they’ve been through.
I think some are really interested, some aren’t, but I think it’s just important they know what these farmers went through, how they farmed, and not only farmed but they had dairy cattle and all that other stuff They worked hard
Do you collect any classic cars or tractors?
Schmidt: I’ve had several cars, but I’m down to three right now. I have a 1958
Chevrolet Bel Air with 62,000 miles on it It’s all pretty much original I have a 1962 Corvair which I’ve had for years. It was my second car back in the 1970s. It only has 60,000some miles on it. I recently over the last few years got a 2002 Thunderbird. I started out with a Ford Model A 40 years ago and I’ve had a few cars since. I do have a 1948 Allis-Chalmers G which my dad bought new. I acquired that after he died In fact, I’m going to pass it on to my brother in a few days I can’t keep up with that stuff anymore.”
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Horsepower heats up Historic Farm Days tractor pulls
PENFIELD, Ill. Derek Harms hopes to be seeing red when the tractors get ready to pull during Historic Farm Days.
“We run red equipment and I’m looking forward to seeing some more Case tractors,” said Harms of the featured tractor at the 2024 Historic Farm Days.
The show will feature tractor pulls each evening, starting with antique tractors pulling at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 11
FEATURED BRAND SCHEDULE
2024 J.I. Case and Dodge Trucks
2025 Oliver, Cockshutt and White
2026 Allis-Chalmers and the Gathering of the Orange National Show
2027 IH/Farmall
2028 Minneapolis Moline and B.F. Avery
2029 Hart-Parr/Oliver National Show
2030 Massey 2031 Ford
On Friday, the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association pulls start at 5 p.m. An additional class this year on Friday will be the ITPA’s farm stock class.
“It’s a farm stock tractor, a souped-up farm tractor, with more of a factory look than the pulling tractors The class is new for us this year so it will be interesting to see how it turns out,”
said Harms, organizer of the Historic Farm Days tractor pulls.
On Saturday night, the Illiana Pullers Association pulls will start at 5 p.m. Registration for the pulls is the day of the event.
“We will have scales on the grounds and we go by weight classes for the antique pulls, from 4,500 up to 10,500 pounds For each of the pulls, they need to show up, weigh in and go for it,” Harms said.
Harms will not only be doing organizational work, but he will be driving his own 6850 Pro Farm tractor, Ol’ Yeller #2, on Friday night.
Historic Farm Days will feature tractor pulls.
Museum features wide variety of historical items
PENFIELD, Ill. New items are added each year to the exhibits at the museum located in the former Penfield school on the showgrounds of the Historic Farm Days, set for July 11-14.
“This year we are going to have corn pottery,” said Betty Bensyl, who is cochairwoman of the museum with Jane Berbaum. “And we are featuring teacups and teapots.”
The household area includes a wooden tabletop model radio and a Singer sewing machine.
“There will also be a display of different maps,” Bensyl said “And our pink stove seems to be popular.”
“Our household exhibit has an old-fashioned kitchen area with several washing machines,” Berbaum said
In the hallway, visitors to the show can view a display of toy implements that Glenn Miller made during the war when people could not afford to purchase
these items.
“Glenn’s granddaughter is coming to the show this year and she probably hasn’t seen these toys for years,” Bensyl said
Blacksmith items are on display in the hallway, as well as some Penfield history.
“The Penfield grade school had band uniforms,” Bensyl said. “There is a tag inside of the uniform that says it was made in Illinois.”
Bensyl enjoys spending time in the museum each year at the show.
“Every time someone comes in, I learn so much from people who are talking to their grandkids or spouses,” she said
A large variety of farm-related items, ranging from hand tools to implements, fill two floors of the building that once was a place for learning for students from the Penfield area
This general store is part of the museum on the Historic Farm Days grounds.
MUSEUM
Most of the items in the museum have been donated, and some are on loan from members of the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club.
“Sometimes, items appear and I may not even know what they are or who donated it,” Berbaum said. “So, then I do a little Sherlock Holmes work.”
Occasionally, Berbaum will hold up an item at an I&I Club meeting to ask members if they can identify an item or how it was used
“It is a never-ending process for our museum workers to catalog the items that come in to document who was the owner and a little information about the piece,” she said.
Visitors have the opportunity to see two very special items in the museum
that are on loan from the Smithsonian Institution.
“The first one we got is the 1961 International Harvester HT-341 Turbine Tractor,” Berbaum said “The next year, we got the 1903 Hart-Parr tractor.”
In addition to the two tractors, the former gym features a couple of additional tractors, as well
as larger items such as a sheller, hay equipment and a couple of buggies.
“The stairway to the second floor goes to the small farming items,” Berbaum said “We display tools that might have been used for farming from the 1920s to ‘50s.”
MUSEUM
The four former classrooms on the main level of the school have been transformed into exhibit areas by the club members.
One room in the museum is a replica of an International Harvester store.
“It has shelving, and there are displays of all kinds of IH things,” Berbaum said. “I remember
going with my dad to buy parts at a store like it.”
The members of the IH Collectors Club Illinois Chapter 10 staff this area of the museum during the show
“The club members like to gather there because that room has a nice cool breeze,” Berbaum said.
In the corn room of the museum, visitors will see items like planters, seed corn sacks, signs and shellers.
The I&I club uses the former cafeteria in the school
as its meeting room.
“On the walls of that room we have posters and memorabilia from the Historic Farm Days from the beginning and also the Half Century of Progress show since day one,” Berbaum said “There is lots of stuff to look at in that room.”
Visitors to the show also have the opportunity to tour the former Penfield Methodist Church on the showgrounds.
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Illini FS continues to fuel long-term partnership with Historic Farm Days
URBANA, Ill. Illini FS and Growmark continue their longterm partnership with Historic Farm Days as the official fuel suppliers to keep the vintage equipment running.
“We love these sponsorship opportunities to be able to work with these groups. It’s really fulfilling to be a small part of it and donate fuel to help them fuel their generators and whatnot across the property,” said Brian Neukomm, Illini FS energy management specialist.
“It’s a collaborative effort between Illini FS and Growmark. We do the fuel, but then we also advocate farm safety throughout the show We have signage everywhere across the showgrounds promoting farm safety. Even though it is a fun show to be around, people still have to keep safety in mind.”
Neukomm
He estimates that about 90% of those in the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club who run Historic Farm Days are Illini FS customers.
“So, why wouldn’t we want to support a group like that and the show they put on? And, quite frankly, it attracts a lot of people and they’re the type of people that we want to be in front of,” Neukomm noted.
Illini FS and Growmark have also been long supporters with fuel for the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club’s biennial Half Century of Progress.
Neukomm noted the importance of preserving agriculture’s past for future generations with
shows such as this “Dads, grandpas are taking the new generation to the show and showing them the history of farming and how it was done back in their days. It just gives them such a different perspective and a deeper appreciation for what they did and what they’re currently doing to preserve those family farms,” he said
“This is a total advocation of preserving family farms. We’ve got to keep the family on the farm, and while I understand corporate farming has its place in the market, the family farm is what really drives the interest in agriculture to the next generation.
“This is just a small way to show the history of farming to the younger generation and helps establish a better appreciation for what farming is all about.”
MUSEUM
FROM PAGE 14
“This year, we are planning to have family photos and wedding photos of our club members,” Bensyl said
In the past, displays in the church have featured crosses, nativity sets, hymn books, bibles, baby pictures and Christmas ornaments.
“We always have some church
plates on display,” Bensyl said. Berbaum has been involved with the ladies auxiliary since it was started.
“My husband, Dave, and his brother joined the club in the early ‘90s, and the men kept talking about a ladies auxiliary,” she said.
“When Dave was president of the group, he asked if I would help start the ladies auxiliary, and I’ve been involved ever since we started in 1997.”
Step back into time at the McCormick-Deering International store at the I&I Farm Museum during Historic Farm Days.
Steam engines a ‘real family affair’
DIETRICH, Ill. Farm machinery used over a century ago continues to bind families together across generations.
Bill Jansen, of Dietrich, a member of the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club, has been a steam engine enthusiast since he was a youngster. That interest has now been passed down to his children and grandchildren.
Jansen and his wife, Phyllis, have four sons and a daughter who all know how to run a steam engine.
“When they were all younger, it was a real family affair,” Jansen said. “My oldest son has four girls and one boy, and they’re all interested in it. So, even though it’s hot and dirty, it’s a good family hobby.”
“Right now, there’s three generations, myself, my boys, and my oldest grandson is in it. My son’s oldest
daughter has operated a steam engine and after we bought a small steam engine about a month ago his two youngest girls were all excited,” he said, citing the 30-horsepower Case
“They said, ‘When we get a little bigger, maybe we can run that.’ It’s fun for grandpa to hear that.”
EARLY INTEREST
As with his children and his grandchildren, Jansen was a youngster when he caught the steam engine bug, sparked by attending the American Thresherman Association’s annual gas and threshing show in Pinckneyville.
“The thresherman shows started in the late 1950s, early 1960s. When I was 4 or 5 years old, I started to go to the thresherman shows with my dad and uncles,” he said
See STEAM, Page 19
This 1911 110-horsepower Case steam engine was featured by owners Bill and Phyllis Jansen of Dieterich, Illinois, at the 2021 Half Century of Progress Show. Operators of the steam engine at the show were Bill Jansen, as well as Rick Cook of Louisville, Kentucky.
STEAM
FROM PAGE 18
“My dad was the engineer for my Grandpa Jansen’s steam engine, so he kind of favored the steam engines while the other uncles favored gas tractors.”
Six decades later, Jansen has several of his own working steam engines. He bought his first steam engine in 1988.
“We have the biggest production Case steam engine that was built, a 1911 110-horsepower Case It’s been at Half Century of Progress quite a few times. The wheels are 4-foot wide and 7-foot tall and it’s 13-foot wide and 12 1/2-foot tall. So, it’s a deal to haul down the road,” he said
“That’s the oldest steam engine we have It’ll do everything that it did back 113 years ago. All of our engines can do what they did back in the day. We keep them up, fix them, do whatever it takes, so we can show the younger people how our ancestors made a living with steam-powered tractors.
“My son has two of the next size Case and they’re 80 hp. My wife and I also own a 65 hp Case, and we own a 30 hp Case, which is the smallest steam engine Case built
“We have some other makes and models. This year, Historic Farm Days is featuring Case, and I hope to have the 1923 65 hp Case there.”
KEEP RUNNING
Jansen’s collection isn’t just for show They all operate as they did back in the day.
Most of the parts that wear out are custom fabricated, and the boilers must past a safety inspection before operating.
“Illinois has some strict boiler laws, so we have to keep them up,” Jansen said. “Two of our engines had new boilers put in, one was in 2015 and one was 2017
“We did not buy steam engines to put in the shed We buy them so we can show people what they did back in the day. It’s important for us to keep them up for that reason
“There’s a lot of maintenance.
“I have a lot of people come up to be and talk about steam engines and they enjoy actually seeing the equipment work.”
Bill Jansen STEAM ENGINE ENTHUSIAST
Most steam engines were designed for 10 years of service. Even today, like at Half Century when we plow with our steam engine, when we get back we have to tighten things up and check this and check that It’s just part of running a steam engine
“This is a labor of love because it’s a lot of work.
WORKING SHOW
Jansen has been a member of the I&I Club since the early 1990s and enjoys the “working show” aspect of Historic Farm Days.
“They do a lot of stuff with the equipment to show people how it
was actually used instead of just a static display like a car show or a museum piece. Spectators can see how things were done back in the early days of farming,” he said.
“Not every show is a working show Some shows do more work than others. Penfield is a very good working show to come and see things work
“The Half Century of Progress that’s every other year is the world’s biggest show that actually has so much work being done because there are so many acres to do it on
“I have a lot of people come up to be and talk about steam engines and they enjoy actually seeing the equipment work.
“One thing about these antique shows, you’re not competing for money or anything. You meet a lot of good friends and that’s really the nice part about it because we have friends in a lot of states who are in the antique hobby.”
CRASH COURSE
Jansen plans to offer something new at this year’s Historic Farm Days by hosting educa-
tional seminars.
“If people want to know how a steam engine works, I’m going to give them a crash course on how you clean them up in the morning, how you build your fire and why you build a fire with wood and not coal. Once we get up the steam, we use coal instead of wood,” he noted.
“A lot of people see them, but they don’t know a lot of the functionality of them because they’re a lot different than any tractor where you just turn the key or crank start it
“We’re going to maybe try that for like an hour every morning before I have to go do something with the steam engine.”
SPARK SHOW
One of his favorite parts of Historic Farm Days and a spectator favorite is the spark show after sunset.
“We’ll hook up to the pulling sled and put in either ground-up sawdust or ground-up corncobs and pull the sled It’s like a giant Roman candle down the track,” Jansen said.
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THOMASBORO, Ill.
One of the longest-running sponsorships in U.S. motorsports is also one of the largest.
Hall Brothers Racing, headquartered in central Illinois, has been sponsored by the Dodge brand since 2001
Their business has grown from the two street trucks that brothers Tim and Mark Hall raced in local mud bog races and mud drags, then drove back home, to eight monster trucks.
The Hall Brothers Dodge RAM team includes names famous to generations of monster truck race fans, names that also celebrate the team’s sponsor Raminator and Rammunition.
“The monster truck stuff was just taking off, so we thought, well, if we could get a job doing that, we could put off the real world for a few more years. It’s 40 years later and we’re still doing it,” Tim Hall said.
The partnership between the Hall Brothers Racing team and Dodge dates back more than two decades. The Hall Brothers were doing monster truck racing with their first two trucks, mainly at county fairs and at some arenas and stadiums.
“We built our first couple of trucks and went from there,” Tim Hall said.
In 2001, Chrysler called. The major automaker previously sponsored a monster truck, but had gotten out of the sport.
The Hall Brothers’ Dodge monster trucks had gotten the attention of Chrysler’s motorsports team
“We sat down with them and pretty soon we had a contract to work with what was then Dodge and Dodge Motorsports,” Tim Hall said
That new sponsorship grew the brothers’ relatively small motorsports team almost overnight.
“We expanded from a ‘Tim and Mark operation’ with one and sometimes two trucks to having eight trucks. We had to get employees and semis,” Hall said
The relationship with Dodge and Dodge Motorsports has remained strong and steady. The team now includes the two brothers and 10 employees.
“It is one of the longest-running motorsports sponsorships We’ve been very fortunate that our program works well with them and we get to do so many cool events,” Hall said.
The racing, show and appearance schedule keeps the team busy all year. In the winter, the trucks race with the Monster Jam Circuit
During the rest of the year, it is fairs, shows and the Four Wheel Jamboree Series, as well as various events for Ram, including dealership open houses, farm and trade shows, NASCAR races, fishing tournaments and college football games.
Even now, Hall said he still is amazed when he sees where the team has been.
“With Monster Jam, we go to different stadiums and arenas and then I’ll watch a football game or a basketball game on TV and I’ll think, ‘Oh, yeah, I changed a transmission right in that corner,’” he said.
Along with the popularity of the monster trucks and monster truck racing, the trucks themselves have grown
“The first monster truck we built had 500 horsepower and about six inches of wheel travel. Today’s truck has 2000 horsepower and 30 inches of wheel travel,” Hall said.
While the trucks may resemble Dodge trucks, in the Dodge emblems,
body shape and grill, that is about all that is “stock” about these monster machines
“They are custom-built racing vehicles They have a tubular chassis. We jokingly say they are part farm equipment, part dragster and part off-road Baja truck,” Hall said
The driver behind the wheel of the Hall team is Tim’s brother, Mark
“The guys that drive these trucks are remarkable What they have learned to do with them over the years, sometimes successfully, sometimes unsuccessfully, is incredible,” Tim Hall said
The partnership between Dodge RAM and Hall Brothers Racing Team has been one of the longest in U.S. motorsports. Dodge representatives approached Champaign County brothers Tim and Mark Hall in 2001 about sponsoring their two monster trucks, Raminator and Rammunition.
BigIron big booster of I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club
HAMILTON, Ill. BigIron Auctions provides a modern online platform, but continues to stay close to agriculture’s early roots with its support of the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club
The business, in its 40thyear, is a major sponsor of the club’s biennial Half Century of Progress with the next show set for August 2025 at Rantoul.
In 1984, brothers Ron and Mark Stock founded Stock Auction Company, which quickly gained a reputation for fair dealing, honest representation and prompt payment.
The company primarily focused on live auctions, but Ron and Mark saw the potential for online auctions as the internet became more widely available in the 1990s.
Stock Auction Company officially launched BigIron in 2009, its online-only auction platform
BigIron quickly gained popularity among farmers and equipment dealers, thanks to its user-friendly interface and transparent bidding process.
In 2001, Stock Auction Company broadcasted its first online stream of a live auction This was the beginning of a new way for bidders to participate in an open outcry auction over the internet from anywhere in the world.
“Today, BigIron is the trusted partner in online auctions with thousands of items sold every week,”
according to its website.
“From a farmer who is looking to upgrade their equipment or may be considering retirement, to an equipment dealer looking to sell inventory, the
company’s user-friendly website and mobile app make it easy for buyers and sellers to browse, bid and manage their auctions from anywhere at any time of the day.”
BigIron acquired Sullivan Auctioneers, based in Hamilton, in July 2022 and now has 305 sales representatives across the United States.
“Our shared philosophies of transparency, trust and hard work solidified our decision to combine organizations Together, we are better,” said BigIron CEO Mark Stock at the time of the purchase
Beck’s research into ground, aerial fungicide applications
ATLANTA, Ind. —Inthe showdown betweenground andaerialfungicide applications, planes anddrones hadaslightedge over ground equipment, according to research from Beck’s Hybrids.
AaronCarmer, PFRlocation lead,and Collin Scherer, PFRoperationsmanager, discussedPractical Farm Research studiesduringan episodeof“TheDig.”
“Overthe last fewyears, we’vetestedsomething new:how to applyfungicides by comparingground andaerialapplications,” Scherersaid.
“Our two-year,multilocation data comparingfungicide applications on corn atthatR1growthstage showsaslightadvantage of theairplaneapplication.
“However,weneedto point outthatthisdatahas been mixedoverthe last twoyears of testingasmost of this research hascome from centralIllinois, which hasbeendrier andexperiencedlower diseasepressuresin2022and 2023.”
Last year,theyadded a droneapplication to trials at twolocations —and the resultsweresurprising.
“It wasprettyinterestingtosee that thedrone didhaveaslightadvantage over both thegroundrig andthe airplane application,” Carmer said
“Now,it’simportant to notethatthisisonlyone year’s worthofdatathat came from agrowing seasonwithlower disease pressure.But it wasinterestingtosee thedrone have that slight edge over the ground applications.”
Corn plotsthatused drone applications sawa 3.4-bushel advantageversus ground machines.Soybean plotssaw an increase of 1.8 bushelswhenusing adrone.
Thestudies were replicated at four PFRlocations,with drones applying 2gallons an
acre and theground rigspraying20gallons anacre carrier.
“I was definitely surprised to seethe dronecome outontop in this head-toheadcomparison, mainly because we’vealwaysbeen told that carrierrateis key when it comestomaking fungicideapplications,” Carmer said
“Somepeoplethink me beingone of them theremight be something to do with having ahigher fungicideconcentration foundinthe fewerdroplets from thedrone andtherefore it mightbealittlebit more effective andbethe reason whyithas aslight advantage.
“Between thedowndraft and thedrone’s abilityto maintain aconsistentdistancefrom thetop of that copcanopy— that might have somethingto do with it,too.”
Basedonthe 2023 research,Beck’sisimplementinga newdrone carrierratestudy for2024.
“We’re goingtocontinue to test thesefungicide application methodsthissummer in multiple locationsto help buildarobust, multiyear dataset,”Carmersaid.
Preliminary data suggests that drones area promisingway to apply fungicide—especially if planesorgroundmachines aren’t an easy or timely option on your farm.
“However youdecideto applyfungicide,makesure youare hittingthe righttiming,” Schererremindedlisteners.“As aquick reminder, our PFR-proven timing on cornisthatVT-R1 growth stageand R3 on soybeans.”
Learnmoreatwww. beckshybrids.com
Scherer
Traditions to continue at Gordyville
GIFFORD, Ill. Gordyville USA has been a destination for countless of visitors for horse shows, flea markets, charity fundraisers, craft shows, auctions, rodeos, the annual Midwest Ag Expo and other events since 1988
Ownership of the 160,000square-foot indoor event space and adjacent grounds on the 31.1-acre property near Gifford recently changed hands, but the name and events will continue
The property has been owned and operated by the Hannagan family and was sold in May to a group of four out-of-state investors
The center was owned by siblings Jim Hannagan, Jody Quiram, Mary Hannagan and Eddie Hannagan, and Randy Frerichs and Hillary Hannagan, spouses of two of the deceased Hannagan children, Patty Frerichs and Buddy Hannagan.
Gordyville USA was the vision and namesake of Gordon Hannagan, who founded his auction business in 1952 Hannagan and his wife, Jan, purchased the property in 1986 to be used as an equine and auc-
tion showplace. After two years of renovations, the facility hosted its first event in 1988.
Hannagan passed away in 2012 and his wife died in 2020.
After the sale was finalized, the Hannagan family posted the following message on Facebook: “For 37 remarkable years, Gordyville USA has been our pride and joy a place where dreams were realized, friendships flourished, and memories were etched into the fabric of our lives. From its inception in 1988 by our visionary father, Gordy Hannagan, Gordyville has evolved into a thriving hub of events, welcoming guests from all walks of life
“Today, we share a mix of emotions as we announce the sale of Gordyville USA. This decision was not made lightly, but we are filled with gratitude for the journey we’ve shared and the countless moments of joy and celebration. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who has supported us over the years. Your unwavering loyalty and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind Gordyville’s success. We are immensely proud of the milestones
we’ve achieved together, from the initial expansion to the diverse range of events that have graced our venue.
“As we pass the torch to the new owners, we look forward to witnessing the next chapter of Gordyville USA unfold We are confident that they will build upon the foundation we’ve laid, infusing new energy and ideas into this beloved event center. To our loyal patrons, dedicated staff, and the entire community, thank you for being part of our story. Your contributions have left an indelible mark on Gordyville, and for that, we are forever grateful.”
‘A
GOOD TIME TO SELL’
“I lost my brother, Bud, first and then my sister, Patty, went second, but all six of us kids were owners We owned it together, so that’s the way we sold it I’m the youngest out of six. Everybody is getting up in age and it is a lot of work Some of them wanted to retire, so we just thought is was a good time to sell it,” Jim Hannagan told AgriNews
“We’re happy for all the good customers and all the good people who came to see us at Gordyville.
The annual Midwest Ag Expo draws thousands of visitors over two days to Gordyville USA. The popular facility that hosts events year-round was sold in May, but will continue many of the same events under the Gordyville USA name.
We couldn’t have done it without the community and everybody that came there and bought stuff and sold stuff, showed horses, ate and drank in the bar and the concession stands We couldn’t have done it without them.”
“Our vision is to maintain and elevate Gordyville USA as a premier event center with continued support and enjoyment from the local communities for years to come,” the buyers said in a statement.
“I’m sure they keep all the
events that do well. They have ideas for things themselves, too, and so I’m sure they’re going to keep the ones that make good money and probably shuffle around some that don’t and get some new stuff in there,” said Hannagan to AgriNews.
“It will remain an event center which we were all happy with that They wanted to keep it Gordyville, so we let them do that, too. They wanted to keep it in my dad’s name, Gordyville USA.”
AGRINEWS PHOTO/TOM C. DORAN
Vendor show offers wide variety of items
PENFIELD, Ill.
Whether it’s toy tractors, tie rods or tea towels, the vendor show at Historic Farm Days offers something for everyone.
Guests can take a shopping break and browse through the more than 30 booths, located inside and outside on the show grounds.
“The ladies like the crafts and the guys tend to go for the parts and tools,” said Joann Warner Warner, along with I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club co-vice president Barry Maury, coordinate the vendor offerings at the Historic Farm Days and the Half Century of Progress shows.
While the vendor show at Historic Farm Days is smaller than at the Half
Century event in Rantoul, Warner said there will be a wide variety of items available in Penfield.
The vendor show will feature tools and parts vendors, antique and farm toy vendors, a flea market and crafts.
“While the show is smaller, we pack a lot of interesting things into the vendor show space. Our visitors will see a wide variety of unique items,” Warner said The vendor show booths will be open starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 Hours for the individual vendors vary, and Warner said most vendors close around 5 p.m. each day of the event.
Some outdoor booth spaces still are available. To rent a space, contact Warner at 217-202-6598
