Summer tractor shows!
I get the comment a lot, “Are you ever home?” The answer is yes, and no! Yes, I spend a lot of time going, and I spend a lot of time writing about the exciting places (exciting to us that is) that we have been. It is fun to relive our summer tractor show travels as I write about them, research them, and share them. Sometimes, it is almost like traveling twice!
The fourth of July has already come and gone. Summer is more than half over and summer tractor shows for the first half are a memory.
The Strawberry Festival
The Macoupin County Historical Society and agricultural association have a spring festival every year. This show is kind of the kickoff to summer shows, and we try to make it here every year. This year Allis Chalmers was the featured brand, and Kenny Reichert had his beautiful D17 at the show.
Rain seems to be a theme this summer for us. The grounds in Carlinville were so wet that many vendors were not able to come. This was a fun show though where we saw our friends the Elliotts, and others we had not seen for quite a while.
Pawnee Prairie Days Tractor Show
The Pawnee Prairie Days summer tractor show was a washout with tons of rain, but the show still took place. In honor of the late Larry Boblitt that headed up this show for years, several collectors like our friend Carl Davis and Mark Dozier and Don Nowak made it to the show. Keith took his tractor as well.
I made it to the Prairie Days in time to watch one of our favorite bluegrass bands, the River Ramblers with our friend Mark Bourne playing.
Red Power Round Up
The Ladage tractor drive 2024 took place while I was at the Midwest Travel Network Conference in Shipshewana. Keith and his family and friends drove tractors around the countryside in what is becoming an annual event.
This Red Power Round Up summer tractor show the granddaddy Farmall show of the year, and this year, it was held in Spencer, Iowa, a beautiful little town. This past February, we hit the winter show in beautiful Salina Kansas!
The 2024 Red Power Round Up celebrated 100 Years of Farmall, the 100th Anniversary of the Farmall Regular, 70th anniversary of the 5 millionth Tractor and more!
We found lots of roadside attractions during our travels. Hosted by Iowa Chapter 5 of the IHCC group, the location was the Clay County Fairgrounds. This beautiful show was well planned. Then the rains came and ended the event early. Floods caused some emergency evacuations.
Thankfully, we stayed south of town in Laurens at the Lodge Inn, a quiet place overlooking the main street. This was a great oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the Round Up, and later from the floods that ravaged the area north of town. During our stay, when the rain came, we checked out fun stops around Northwest Iowa.
During the show, we saw lots of great tractors like Larry Maasdam who had a hi-crop Super MTA from the 1950’s, a diesel 400 hi-crop all fuel, and a 350 hi-crop all fuel as well. I admired Chad Carpenter’s hi-clearance Cud Cadet that he built. My favorites were Ed Sohn’s limousine Travelalls! He even has a business Redneck Limo!
Something New!
Another cool sighting at Red Power was Tracto, the “talking” robot.
Made to draw attention to International Harvester at county fairs, and events. Tractor was made with IH parts. He was introduced in 1960. Now he has a new home with the International Harvester Collectors Club. They acquired him from the Darst family!
There were seminars, vendors, and tours. All went well until Friday night when rains came causing massive flooding and closing the show a day early.
Flooding in Northwest Iowa
The Governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds issued a disaster declaration for 21 counties in the region. Northwest Iowa State Patrol and Iowa 511 warned against travel there because of flooded roads. The town of Spencer was shut down. Several Red Power folks couldn’t come or go. Doug Hbrek of the IHCC National Board shared; “I am proud to report that the National Board of the IH Collectors will be accepting donations for flood relief in the immediate Spencer area. Credit card payments can be made on our website: www.nationalihcollectors.com. Checks can be mailed to me at: IH Collectors Club, 220 E. Grant, West Point, NE 68788.
Prayers go out to all!
Penfield a Summer Tractor Show favorite!
A tractor show favorite is the Penfield, Illinois Historic Days! Held right after the 4th of July, this fun show has daily parades, tractor pulls and more. Since we have been going for so long, like the Strawberry Festival, and Pawnee show, this is where we meet many friends!
This year the feature was J.I. Case, and there were several beauties at the show.
Dave Berbaum brought several of his tractors to the show. Abraham Lincoln was at the show, and Keith had a chance to pose with our 16th President.
Lawn and garden tractors were prevalent at the show, and we brought our David Bradley tri-track. At the show, my favorite find belonged to Cliff and Sharon McNames. From Millstadt, Illinois, they brought their 1905 Wooden tractor!
At Penfield they have an amazing agricultural museum and save many historical items. One section is set up like an IH dealership. This year they have a new addition, a replica anvil and anvil stone similar to the ones used by Cyrus Hall McCormick on his Walnut Grove farm around 1831.
The anvil came from the IH Burr Ridge factory and was just added days before the show!
We have many more shows on our agenda before fall arrives! Summer shows come and go as fast as garden produce, but they are as wonderful as good corn on the cob! Where have you been this summer? What has been your favorite thing to see and do?
