Auction, Show, and Stops in Northern Illinois.

This weekend, we took a little trip up north, to northern, Illinois that is. Our first stop was a former Corn Museum that farmer Jim Brandt had on his rural Pearl City, Illinois farm. My husband Keith and I had the honor of checking out the late Mr. Brandt’s collection prior to it going to auction on May 25th. Rick Garnhart, Auctioneer of Pro-Auctions, who is holding his estate sale gave us a tour of Brandt’s amazing collection.

The Corn Museum

An article in the Freeport Journal Standard in 2016 shared, “When Pearl City farmer Jim Brandt was a young man, he found an old wheel in a ditch alongside a road. He took the wheel home and fashioned a lamp out of it. Brandt’s grandfather said the wheel came from an old corn planter.”

Per this article, that is how Brandt’s interest in corn planters and corn items began. Before he passed in 2021, he had amassed an amazing collection that he housed in his former hog barn. The large collections include an array of historic items, some that date as far back as an 1850s corn planter.

An army veteran, he and his wife spent most of their life on his northern, Illinois Centennial family farm. In his obituary his love of farming and his hobby come through, “When not doing his field work, he pursued his interest in archiving the evolution of corn planters.  Also, an avid reader, he used his love of history with anything related to a corn planter and enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the past with a single visitor or a group.”

Jim Brandt’s collection included 17 wood and steel 2 row corn planters. All were restored, painted and dated between 1850 and 1950. Some of the companies included Union, George Brown, Champion, Blackhawk, Parlin and Orendorff and more. Cast iron seats and corn sacks along with more items were part of this amazing collection. Best of all, information accompanying each display made this a museum that will open a hole in the agricultural preservation that won’t easily be filled.

Finding agricultural museums is like finding a needle in a haystack! Our last great find was the Tennesse Agricultural Museum. If looking for agricultural treasures, check out my Agricultural Treasures Guidebook!

Downtown Polo, Illinois

This was my first time stopping in the norther Illinois town of Polo. We were on the hunt for antique shops and my antique loving husband found a few! One cool downtown store has art on the outside wall that connects to the Louise Quick Park. This is a new mural that is still in the process of being completed. The mural honors the area’s history and is being painted by Nick Gjonala. The mural features President Lincoln, and the founder of the town Zenas Aplington and more.

On our way to Our Town Antiques, we stopped to check out a historic marker. I was excited to see the Polo Historical Society Museum, a beautiful house that had belonged to the town founder.

Sadly, it was closed. In front of the home was a marker showing that Abraham Lincoln had stayed at this very residence from August 15-17, 1856! After reaching out to the society, I have since learned there are several other great stops as well. They are open on Saturdays from 8:30 to 2:30. I need to try again!

The town was delightful. There was also a Visitor’s Center next door that I would love to tour. A fun event advertised auditions for kids for the local Polo Area Community Theatre for an upcoming show. What fun!

Fun in Oregon, Illinois

We stayed overnight in Rochelle but stopped for breakfast before heading on to A. J’s Garden Tractor Jamboree. We found a wonderful restaurant, in Oregon, Illinois, Bela’s that had amazing Swedish pancakes. My son-in-law is from the area and he and his family have Swedish roots. His mom fixed us some Swedish pancakes before, and we knew how wonderful they could be. Bela’s didn’t disappoint!

There is a lot of beauty to be found in Northern, Illinois. The same is true of the town of Oregon. There are lovely buildings, like the Ogle County Courthouse. Oregon sports wonderful art like the Soldier’s Monument created by the talented artist, Lorado Taft.

The monument is of three statues, one in bronze and two in marble. This statue was dedicated in 1916 as a reminder of those that served in the Civil War.

There is also a plaque to President Kennedy’s memory. We didn’t stop this time, at Lorado Taft’s amazing statue of Black Hawk at Eagle’s Nest in Oregon.

Being from the Land of Lincoln, another statue that caught our eye was the “Path’s of Convictions, Footsteps of Fate” by sculptor Jeff Adams. The statue is of Abraham Lincoln and Black Hawk. Per a plaque, the meaning of the sculpture says, “This sculpture is a reflection on the personal conviction, struggle and fate shared by Lincoln and Black Hawk…”.

On to A. J’s Garden Tractor Jamboree

We had stopped Friday night to see the tractor set up for this lawn and garden tractor show that I have always meant to get to. There, we had the pleasure of seeing Andy Hinrich’s northern Illinois collection during a tour in 2022 at Gathering of The Green. But this was the first time we made it to the show held the 3rd weekend in April.

The Show

Friday night, Andy and his wife Lisa served up a fish fry for those in attendance. Saturday was a great day with garden tractors and visitors from all over. I saw old friends like collector Dave Carton that I had not seen in years. Plus met a few new people along the way.

The show opened with a memorial mention of those lost in the last year like Andy’s late father Arlyn Lee Hinrichs who passed in November of 2023. There were others like Dave Carton’s friend John Derue that passed as well. Dave, who heads up the Vintage Farm Equipment Show shared a bit of advice with the crowd. He and John had planned to restore some tractors and ran out of time. “Don’t put things off because friends are gone too soon.”

More fun at A.J.’s Garden Tractor Jamboree!

Friend Carl Davis a David Bradley collector from Ashland, Illinois was on hand with a nice variety of lawn and garden tractors. Carl and others were saying that the garden tractors are affordable these days, but the implements are out of sight. “I’m just glad I got into this 30 years ago because today the accessories are expensive.”

His lineup included a Springfield, two Planet Jr’s, a George, a Bradley Little Farmer, a David Bradley and a Handiman tractor.

Gary Pankratz from Davenport, Illinois had a beautiful 1964 John Deere 110 garden tractor that he restored. Retired, Gary said, “I worked for John Deere for 43 years.”

After retirement he restored this beautiful 110. His family came to the show along with Gary.  He brought his son Bryce, his wife, Becky and his granddaughter Kinsley who is eight along. Check for a future Green Magazine story for more details!

Sears fun

Casey Raymond from Bourbonnais, Illinois had a very cool Roper with a cab. This little Sears 11 HP tractor with a snow thrower was one of my favorites. His father-in-law said they were on a mission to bring as many of the David Bradley and Sears related lawn and garden tractors back to the area.

Next to Casey’s Sears, Tyler Elschide, from Lake Village, Indiana had his 1962 Suburban 725 that was made by David Bradley. “I got this in Wabash, Indiana,” he shared.

The Carlson’s hospitality and more

The evening, we came to the show, we met up with Dave and Debbie Carlson. This couple from Terre Haute shared their tent with us. They allowed us to park our chairs in their shady space. Thanks!

Growing up in Minnesota, the Carlsons moved to Terre Haute to be with family. Dave is a David Bradley guy. “Evan Speicher and I started the David Bradley Facebook group,” he said adding he cannot believe how big it has grown since its inception.

Debbie and Dave brought Brutus and Miss Brutus to the show. “Brutus is a modified tractor, modified by a guy in Ohio. It is a 1951 David Bradley Suburban with a modified 10 hp motor, electric start, and electric 3 point. I found a suicide knob and put it on. My wife Debbie told me not to change it, she said it has character. “

Miss Brutus is a Suburban 1951! Debbie along with tractors also likes cool vehicles. She told me the story of how Dave surprised her with a Chevrolet SSR! Married for 43 years, Debbie said, “My sisters and I all met and married guys from Pine City, Minnesota and we met them at the roller rink”

They are still rolling, only these days on garden tractors.

Cliff’s cool stuff.

The night we set up with the chairs under their tent, we also met Cliff and Sharon McNames from Millstadt, Illinois. Cliff has so many cool tractors that I am planning a trip his direction. At the show they had their 1931 Centaur 2G. “It was found in St. Louis County. It was used on a truck farm, and was rusted awful,” Cliff said.

His best friend Ernie actually bought the tractor. When they went to load it, the owner said, “I’ve got something in the basement,” Cliff said. He had two crates of lugs for the wheels and was just missing one. The two took a casting class and made a brass lug that is now on one wheel. Cliff, a retired machinist helped Ernie redo the tractor.

Because Cliff said Ernie was “old school” he didn’t use antifreeze, and thus the tractor froze and busted. After Cliff purchased it from him after Ernie went to assisted living, he had a friend fix it. “A friend of mine a blacksmith/welder framed the whole side.”

You can’t even tell there is a patch on this beautiful piece of agricultural history!

Leigha and Laci and the Shaws

Friend, author and blogger at Antique Iron Media Rick Shaw had a lineup of his beautiful Shaw Du-Alls at the show. Rick has been working on restoring these beauties with a bit of assistance. He had his 1954 N5, 1951 R12T, and a 1947 R8 Shaw Du-All models. They were the only Shaws I saw at the show. Sisters Leigha (13), and Laci (11) Kersten from Sterling in northern, Illinois had a chance to ride on a few of Rick’s tractors during the show. These girls from Sterling, Illinois have grown up on tractors, and are fans.

While IH is their favorite at home, Rick gave them the opportunity to learn about the cool Shaw Du-Alls that match his last name. “I like getting to see more tractors,” Laci said about coming to shows.

“I like meeting new people,” Leigha said. She got the chance to drive the N5 Shaw Du-All in the parade at the show, and later drove around the RT12. “It is easier to drive the RT12 Shaw Du-All. The gears are different than mine.”

The RT12 was her favorite, while Laci drove and liked the1947 R8 the best. At home, Leigha owns her own Farmall F14, 125 Cub, John Deere 110, and the girls share a Panzer

Laci drove her dad’s Super Cub in the parade, then drove Rick’s Shaw a little later. Rick is helping encourage the antique tractor hobby by allowing this interaction! Keith and I both wonder how many girls 11 and 13 could say that they have driven different models like this? What an accomplishment!

Keith also drove one of the Shaw tractors, and I did too with a lot of assistance. When I drove, the Kersten girls kept close by, and I think since they have been driving since before kindergarten, Rick probably trusted them with his prized tractors a bit more than he did me!

While there I also took advantage of the chance to act like a kid and tried out the swing set.

The wrap!

People tell me if there is a tractor somewhere, that I will find it in the most unexpected places like stops in northern Illinois. These days, history, art, antiques, agriculture and road sign stops all call my name. We had a great time in Northern, Illinois and now just count the days until our next adventure.

Have you been to Northern Illinois lately? If not, where have you traveled? What have you found what did you do?