AGN_Half Century of Progress_081525 by Shaw Media

HALF CENTURY OF PROGRESS

Rantoul, Illinois

WELCOME & THANK YOU

Half Century of Progress Committee members of the I & I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club extend a very warm welcome to all our visitors and volunteers, local and around the world, who make this biennial show possible.

e generosity of our many exhibitors is deeply appreciated. eir sharing of antique farm machinery makes this Half Century of Progress a world-wide attraction. We are grateful for all the sponsors, organizations and volunteers who generously give of their resources and time to make the event a success.

The generosity of our many exhibitors is deeply appreciated. Their sharing of antique farm machinery makes this Half Century of Progress a world-wide attraction. We are grateful for all the sponsors, organizations and volunteers who generously give of their resources and time to make the event a success.

We want to thank Becks Hybrids for once again being the premier sponsor of the show and for the great crops we will be harvesting again this year. We also want to thank Mayor Sam Hall III and the Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer as well as the members of Rantoul Fire, Police, Public Works and Recreation Departments for all of their services.

We thank Chuck Smith (Mayor of Rantoul), Corky Vericker (Airport Manager) and the members of the Rantoul Fire, Police, Public Works and Recreation Departments for all of their services.

The theme of this year’s show is the Family Heritage Tractors. Many antique harvest machines are in the ﬁeld and on display at our show. The ﬁeld demonstrations of this equipment help make our show the largest vintage working farm show in the country.

The Class of 1973 tractors and equipment are a great addition to our show.

is year we are spotlighting Feeling the Earth Move. At one end of the grounds, you will nd the Caterpillars moving earth as they celebrate 100 years of Caterpillar. Across the grounds to the East the tractor pulls will be rumbling in the dirt. To top it o there will be all shapes and sizes of tractors plowing up the prairie in between. is year we will spotlight the class of 1975 tractors and equipment from the muscle tractor era of farming. Don’t forget all of the harvesting going on that is a huge part of the show.

Again we say Welcome to all in attendance. We hope you enjoy your visit and Thank You for joining us. Please always be mindful of the importance of safety precautions.

We want to extend a big ank You to all in attendance and hope you enjoy your visit. We encourage everyone to be mindful about what’s going on and always keep a safe distance from the demonstrations. Safety is always the number one goal so we can all do this again in two years. ank You for Attending!

Russell Buhr

Russell Buhr Co-chairman

Derek Harms Co-chairman Co-chairman

John Fredrickson Co-chairman

Half Century of Progress

Thursday, August 21

7:00am Gates Open

8:00am Half Century Tractor Ride Led by Max Armstrong Departs the Show Grounds

8:00am Flag Raising featuring America’s Largest Flying Flag

8:30-11:00am Field Demonstrations

Broom Corn, Corn Picking and Shelling, Corn and Soybean Combining, and Field Tillage

9:00-11:00am Tractor Pulls

Approx.

12:00-12:30pm Tractor Ride returns for the Daily Parade of Power North-South Runway

1:00-4:00pm Field Demonstrations

Broom Corn, Corn Picking and Shelling, Corn and Soybean Combining & Field Tillage

1:30-2:30pm Farm Legacy Panel Featuring Cheryl Mitchell

2:30-3:30pm Kraft Auction - Market Update for Collector Trucks, Tractors and Farm Toys Premier Cooperative Entertainment Tent

4:00pm Sanction Tractor Pull

Friday, August 22

7:00am Gates Open

8:00am Flag Raising featuring America’s Largest Flying Flag

8:30-11:00am Field Demonstrations

Broom Corn, Corn

Stor-Loc Toolbox to be Auctioned to beneﬁt FFA

3pm Saturday, August 23

NEW THIS YEAR: 3 Toolboxes (Blue/Gold, Red/White, Green/Yellow)

Picking and Shelling, Corn and Soybean Combining & Field Tillage

9:00-11:00am Tractor Pulls

1:00pm Daily Parade Featuring the Chicago Police & Fire Pipes & Drums Squad

1:00-4:00pm Field Demonstrations

Broom Corn, Corn Picking and Shelling, Corn and Soybean Combining & Field Tillage

2:30-3:30pm Kraft Auction - Market Update for Collector Trucks, Tractors and Farm Toys

2:00-5:00pm Wes Wheeler & the Battle Creek Band Premier Cooperative Entertainment Tent

4:00pm Sanction Tractor Pull

Saturday, August 23

7:00am Gates Open

8:00am Flag Raising featuring America’s Largest Flying Flag

8:30-11:00am Field Demonstrations

Broom Corn, Corn Picking and Shelling, Corn and Soybean Combining, and Field Tillage

9:00-11:00am Tractor Pulls

11:00am Tot-Rod Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull

1:00pm Daily Parade of Power featuring The Class of 1975 tractors made 50 years ago this year

2:00-4:00pm Field Demonstrations

BroomCorn, Corn Picking and Shelling, Corn and Soybean Combining and Tillage Field

2:00-5:00pm Back Paiges Band with 50s and 60s Music

Premier Cooperative Entertainment Tent

3:00-4:00pm Max Armstrong & Friends Show

Premier Cooperative Entertainment Tent

3:00pm StorLoc Tool Box Auctions for FFA

4:00pm Sanction Tractor Pull

Sunday August 24

7:00am Gates Open

8:00am Flag Raising featuring America’s Largest Flying Flag

8:30-11:00am Field Demonstrations Broom Corn, Corn Picking and Shelling, Corn and Soybean Combining, and Field Tillage

1:00pm Parade of Power Featuring Tractors of the FFA

1:00-4:00pm Field Demonstrations

Broom Corn, Corn Picking and Shelling, Corn and Soybean Combining and Field Tillage

2:00-3:00pm Field Demonstrations Broom Corn, Corn Picking and Shelling,Corn and Soybean Combining and Field Tillage

Schedule Subject to Change

Main Entrance

Exhibitor Entrance

Emergency Entrance

Loading Dock

Truck & Trailor Parking

Corn Fields

Soybean Fields

Entertainment Tent & Safety Meeting

Cooling Center

Corn Picker Staging

Registration Tent

Tent City Exhibits

Food Vendors

Information & Hospitality Tent

Pulling Track

Golf Cart Rental

Corn Shelling Demo

Golf Cart Overnight Parking

Pulling Tractor Parking

Field Demo Staging Area

21. Tractor Display Area

Broomcorn 23. First Aid (Carle) 24. Hangar Three (Storm Shelter)

Hangar Four (Storm Shelter)

FBO (Storm Shelter)

Dry Camping

Handicap Parking

PARKING

OVERFLOW PARKING

As agriculturalists, we are all different. It may be the crops we plant, the way we farm, or the color of equipment we drive, but we all have our own way of doing things. The one thing that unites us as farmers is our ability to understand growth. We plant in the spring and hope for growth. We make plans for how we will grow our operation in the future. And this weekend, we celebrate the growth of how far we have come at the Half Century of Progress show.

On behalf of the Beck family and family of employees and dealers, we welcome you to the 2025 Half Century of Progress show. Whether you are a visitor or a volunteer, we are so glad you could join us to experience such a historical event focused on our industry’s growth. Beck’s is honored to partner with the Half Century of Progress as this year’s premier sponsor for an event that is not only known across the nation but also around the world.

We want to thank the Rantoul community, the volunteer exhibitors, and the local fire and police departments for their assistance with the event. Without your efforts behind the scenes, this event would not be possible.

With that, WELCOME to the 2025 Half Century of Progress show! We hope you enjoy a jam-packed weekend filled with great information, fellowship, and live demonstrations of how previous generations cared for the land.

Sonny Beck | CEO Scott Beck | President

A HOME-GROWN LEGACY

A legacy of faith. A tradition of farming. A future rooted in both.

Show attracts thousands to see unique farm equipment

RANTOUL, Ill. — Visi-

tors to the Half Century of Progress event are likely to see a piece or two of farm equipment that they have never seen before.

“Everyone had two years to or on st ff th t s never been there,” said Russell Buhr, co-chair of the biennial event. “It is interesting to see some of those one-ofa-kind things.”

In the field demonstrtion area, there can be 20 to 30 collectors lined up waiting to have their turn to enter the field.

“All the brands are there in l ding st ff yo don t see anymore,” Buhr said. Th t s ne t thing.

Buhr has answered a lot of phone calls from people who have never been to the event, which was started in 2003.

It s on their et list or a neighbor has said they h ve to go, he s id. Th t s why the show keeps getting bigger.”

Typically, people from 30-some states will travel to attend the show.

“A lot of people are bringing tractors or machinery from a long way away,” Buhr said.

“We are expecting 300some IH 1260 tractors,” he said. “There are going to be some special ones there. I think serial No. 1 might even be there.”

In addition, the 100-year celebration of the Caterpillar company sparked the theme for this year — Come Feel the Earth Move.

“We have a special place for the Caterpillar equipment,” he said. “They will be moving some dirt around with about every kind of piece of equipment they have, like road graders and bulldozers — you name it and it will probably be there doing something.”

People movers will be

available throughout the show to provide rides for those ho don t h ve their own golf cart.

“The show is so large, you need to be able to go from one end to the other,” Buhr said. “You can get off the people mover, loo around, and then a little while later when it comes back, you can get back on and go to another place.”

Meeting people is a special part of the event.

“People might be waiting for something to happen

and they strike up a conversation,” Buhr said. “They might live 300 miles away, but all of a sudden they have a connection because they know someone in common.”

One year, Buhr provided a visitor at the show a ride to his car and he saw that he had Minnesota license plates.

“He told me where he was from and I have relations in the same town,” Buhr relled. It s h rd to elieve ho yo n find something in common with people.”

RANTOUL, Ill. — More than 100 tractors will line up for Max Armstrong’s Half Century of Progress Tractor Ride on the opening day of the event, Aug. 21.

“We will roll out about 8 a.m. and make a couple stops along the way,” said Max Armstrong, former director of broadcasting for Farm Progress. “It is somewhat of a leisurely ride to he o t the or and fauna of Champaign and sometimes Vermilion County, depending on which direction we go.”

The group of tractors will return to the National Aviation Center about noon.

“We plan to get back in to be the daily parade on Thursday,” Armstrong said. “Generally when we come in we’ll head south to north down Runway 18.”

Antique tractor drivers will come from many states to participate in the ride.

“There’s a guy coming from Arizona that wants to be on the ride,” the farm broadcaster said. “He is going to get a tractor from someone local to drive.”

The tractor ride, Armstrong said, is a wonderful experience.

“We get in a tractor ride and yet we don’t miss much of the show,” he said.

Armstrong plans to drive his 1953 Farmall Super M in the ride.

“I got the Super M two years after my Super H,” he said. “The Super M was a IH Collectors Club Chapter 2 project; they put it together and painted it.”

The Farmall Super M has been to many places, including the Case IH facilities in Racine, Wisconsin, and a lot of tractor rides and parades.

“It went down to my

hometown in southern Indiana and I drove it and my dad drove my Super H,”

Armstrong said. “We paraded together in 1997 and it was a really special day for me.”

Armstrong also drove the Super M in the Heritage Tractor Adventure rides during the 2000s.

“That spread the fame of tractor rides and people started doing them all over the country,” he said.

Inside the toolbox of Armstrong’s Super M tractor is a special sticker that was placed there in August 2001.

“The Schnell brothers were very involved in the antique equipment show at Franklin Grove, Illinois, and one year they had a dynamometer there,” the farm broadcaster said.

Super M tractors were rated at 44 horsepower.

“One of them was by the dyno and the other was by the carb and they kept adjusting it and got 12 more horsepower out if it,” Armstrong said. “They took it up to 56 horsepower, so they put the sticker in the toolbox that said it was checked by the Schnell brothers.”

The tractor ride during the Half Century show will be one of the last times Armstrong will be driving his Super M tractor since he has decided to sell it through Sullivan Auctioneers, a Big Iron Company.

“It is a great tractor and it runs like a champ, but it is time for somebody else to enjoy it,” Armstrong said.

“The auction is online and the sale will be closed on Aug. 27 during the Farm

Progress Show.”

Armstrong has interviewed numerous people during the Half Century event since it was started in 2003.

“One of the people I intervie ed t the first sho was Elmo Meiners, who was the cofounder of M&W Gear Company,” he said. “That company made parts to make International tractors work better.”

Bill Burnham, a farmer from Morris in northern Illinois, has tractors in his collection with M&W parts.

“He also has an M&W demonstration tractor,” Armstrong said. “M&W did a show of their own about the same time the Farm Progress Show started.”

Heisler in Hudson in northeastern Iowa was another company that made parts to make International Harvester tractors work even better.

“Bill is now restoring a demonstration tractor that Heisler used,” Armstrong said. “And Bill will have the two tractors side by side in his tent at Rantoul.”

Burnham’s collection includes a plow that M&W used to demonstrate the special coulters they made.

“It is actually a JI Case plow and the coulters were made to handle the trash in the field etter, Armstrong said.

“Bill is amazing the way he will repair these beat-up tractors, fabricate parts if he has to and when he paints something it’s like a work of art,” Armstrong said. “His display at Rantoul is something people will want to look at.”

RANTOUL, Ill. — Ameris l rgest ying g ill e r ised e h d y of the lf Cent ry of rogress t .m. Ne l L m ert, U. . N vy veter n nd memer of the United eter ns of Ameri , sh red the g s story.

Can you tell us the story behind the large ag at the show? e re veter ns orgni tion th t nts every Ameri n to no h t s rifi es h ve een m de so th t e n live in free o ntry. The fol s in R nto l s ed s to e p rt of the lf Cent ry of rogress sever l ye rs go. It s gre t y to sho ptriotism t the event.

What does the ag represent for you and for the Half Century of Progress?

I m N vy veter n. or me, I nt to m e s re no one is forgotten nd to e pro d to e Ameri n. There re lot of pro d Ameri ns o t there nd there re fe pro der th n the f rming omm nity.

“There are a lot of proud Americans out there and there are few prouder than the farming community.”

Neal Lambert

How do visitors typically react when they see it for the rst time?

ost nt to e p rt of the effort. There re lot st in e, nd some get emotion l.

Are there any special details about its size, installation or care that people might not know?

The si e of the tr vel g is feet t ll nd feet long, nd it eighs o t po nds. The one e y t home on o r gpole is feet t ll nd feet long. The gpole itself is feet t ll.

What message do you hope people take away when they see the ag at the event? e pro d of ho yo re.

Every day at the Half Century of Progress starts with a ag-raising event, and that ag is the largest ying ag in the United States, an incredible 65 feet tall and 125 feet long.

60th birthday of IH 1206 tractors

RANTOUL, Ill. — Several hundred IH 1206 tractors are expected to be on display during the Half Century of Progress event at the National Aviation Center near Rantoul.

“Our target is to get 350 of them there at a minimum,” said Brad Twiss, who is organizing the display together with friend and tractor collector Kristin Gall. “We’re pretty excited about it and I think we can get more, but I’m nervous.”

This year is the 60th birthday of the muscle tractor that was in production from 1965 to 1967.

“This is a once in a lifetime event to have this large of a group together,” Twiss said. “It is going to be pretty incredible.”

The last time Twiss saw a big group of IH 1206 tractors was in 2006 at the Red Power Roundup.

“I think there were 42 of them there and that is the most I’ve ever seen in one spot,” he said.

The Half Century event is the perfect place for a gathering of the IH 1206 tractors, Twiss said.

“Based on our serial number registry, Iowa has the most 1206s and Illinois is second,” he said.

IH 1206 tractors were sold with 18.4x38 rear tires th t ere spe ifi lly developed for this machine.

“When they were working those tractors on the company farm in Hinsdale, Illinois, they were having problems because of the extra horsepower,” he said.

From collecting serial numbers over the years, Twiss said, the collectors learned there were technilly fo r first ilt tractors because there were prototype tractors.

The first prod tion ilt tractor was a 7501 Farmall

and a 7501 International,” Twiss said. “There was also a 501 Farmall and 501 Wheatland International that were used on the Hinsdale farm and International did a dealer auction and sold those tractors to dealers.”

“We know that from folks that own the International 501 and they’ve had the tractor since it was new,” he said. “The tractor was bought by a dealer from the Hinsdale auction and then they bought it from the dealer.”

IH 1206 tractors have a Solar turbo charger.

“Solar was a division of International Harvester and the 1206 was the only tractor except for the 4100 four-wheel-drive tractor that used the Solar turbo,” Twiss said.

The s the first row crop tractor that was over 100 horsepower turbocharged,” he said. “The Allis Chalmers D21 was over 100 horsepower, but it was not considered a row crop tractor.”

The earliest 1206s, Twiss said, featured a fast hitch with the three point.

“There will be a display there that shows that on my tractor,” the collector said. “You can detach a piece of equipment with the operator staying on the tractor.”

Twiss, who has an addiction for red tractors, collects the 06 series.

“I collect the ‘60s vintage tractors that were quite a step up for all brands,” he said. “It was common to have six-cylinder engines and turbochargers on a lot of them.”

These tractors blow black smoke and they are somewhat like the muscle cars of that era, said Twiss, who was raised on a dairy farm in Michigan.

“They have horsepower

Brad Twiss will bring his IH 1260 tractor to Half Century of Progress.

like farmers hadn’t seen before,” Twiss said.

“I have a 606, which was a small utility tractor never made into a Farmall, a 706 Farmall, an 806 Farmall and a 1206 Farmall,” the collector said.

“I also have a custom tractor that I built and call it a 1406,” he said. “I put a bigger engine in it, that they never used in twowheel-drive tractor. I’ve got a lot of hours into that one.”

In addition to his 1206 tractor, Twiss may bring another tractor if he can get it all together before the Half Century event.

At the IH 1206 display, there will be several special items for sale including hats, shirts and koozies.

“All the extra funds from the sale of these items will be donated to the Make a Wish Foundation,” Twiss said. “My son was in a bad auto accident and he got a Make a Wish trip to Alaska many years ago.”

In addition, a special IH 1206 toy will be auctioned online through Ken Girard Auctions in September and the money raised through that sale will also be donated to Make a Wish.

“We’re pretty excited about the IH 1206 Half Century of Progress Roundup. e ve got gs nd h ppy birthday banner made,” Twiss said. “Who knows if and when this will ever happen again.”

Four generations operate same D17

RANTOUL, Ill. — Over 200 Allis-Chalmer D21s were on display at the Half Century of Progress two years ago in celebration of the tractor’s 60th anniversary, and another large turnout is anticipated at this year’s Rantoul show.

“That was really impressive to see that many,” said Ron Repking, Triple A (All About Allis) Tractor Cl president, of ngham.

The D21 was the first Allis-Chalmers tractor to exceed 100 horsepower and the largest row-crop tractor available in the industry at that time.

Repking was among those working the Allis-Chalmers booth at Historic Farm Days, promoting next year’s show when Allis-Chalmers will be the featured brand and the Gathering of the Orange National Show will also be held.

If yo y over t next year’s Historic Farm Days it will look orange,” he said.

Repking plans to bring his Models 200, 210 and 220s to the Half Century of Progress.

The Triple A Tractor Club is also finalizing plans for its annual show the third weekend of September near Watson.

“It’s a working show. We cut beans, we thrash, we plow, disk, dig potatoes. Two years ago, we started a new feature with a steam engine that does a sparks show on Saturday evening. It’s a small show, but it’s a good time,” Repking said.

His interest in Allis-Chalmers goes back to his youth on the farm. His dad, Alf, purchased an Allis-Chalmers D17 in 1963.

“My dad passed away in 1969. A unique thing about dad’s tractor was my brother, Dan, got to farm and he had the tractor and then my son bought the

1957 Allis-Chalmers restored by

E ngham,

was on display at Historic Farm Days to promote next year’s show when it will be the featured brand, and the Gathering of the Orange National Show will also be held. Repking will bring several machines from his A-C collection to this year’s Half Century of Progress.

tr tor off of him. No my son has a son who’s named Alf. The tractor never left the family,” he said.

“Between my brother and his son and my sons, we have, if you count lawn mowers and everything tractor-wise, we’ve got over 20 to 25. We normally do our own restoration.”

Repking believes it’s important to preserve these tractors from yesteryear, “especially with the Allis-Chalmers,” he said.

“They’re no longer in existence as far as the orange. It’s just great to see,” he said. “They’re tractors that you can no longer buy, but they were good tractors. A lot of them are still out running.

“We’ve had people walk by the booth at Historic Farm Days and say, ‘Oh, an Allis-Chalmers gathering next year? I’ve got some at home.’ Well, how may you got? ‘I don’t know, 10, 11, we’re bringing them all.’ And we said, the more the merrier, just bring them on up.”

Repking enjoys spend-

ing time at these shows whether it’s working at a booth or at his tractor displays.

“I enjoy sitting around talking to people because, like Rich Bergeson said earlier, everybody’s got a story and they want to tell it and that’s true,” he said, citing the Allis-Chalmers collector from Ransom.

“We had a gentleman here the other day. He was from Indiana, three hours away. I’m going to say he was in his mid 80s, something like that. He had stories. This was here and his dad had this tractor. It was really fun and you meet a lot of people like that.”

Every tractor also has a story.

“‘Oh, yeah, dad bought this new in such and such a year.’ There’s a lot of people that say dad bought this tractor new, he sold it and there’s people out there that’s saying, ‘I want dad’s tractor back.’ They’ll go out and do a search, and sometimes they can find them and sometimes they can’t,” Repking said.

This

Ron Repking of

Illinois,

Can-Am Presents Half Century of Progress Farm Show

“On behalf of the whole Can-Am team, I’m proud to welcome you to the Half Century of Progress farm show. As a proud presenting sponsor of this event, we’re pleased to be a part of a gathering that celebrates the heritage, innovations and unstoppable spirit of American Agriculture.

At Can-Am, we understand the vital role that farmers and rural communities play in shaping the past, present and future. That’s why we build vehicles that are as tough, versatile and dependable as the people that use them. Whether you’re hauling feed, checking ﬁelds or just enjoying a well-earned ride, our lineup of side-bysides and ATVs is built to meet the demands of the farm and beyond.

We’re excited to connect with you in person at our display and demo area. You’ll get an up-close look at our latest machines, talk with our product experts and even take Can-Am Defender and Outlander vehicles for a test ride. We invite you to stop by and experience the power, performance and capability that sets Can-Am vehicles apart.

Thank you for being part of this amazing celebration of agricultural history and progress. We’re proud to support the farming community and look forward to meeting you throughout the show.”

Warm regards,

Julie Tourville Director, Global Marketing, Can-Am O -Road

About BRP

BRP Inc. is a global leader in the world of powersports products, propulsion systems and boats built on over 80 years of ingenuity and intensive consumer focus. Through its portfolio of industry-leading and distinctive brands featuring Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and pontoons, Can-Am on and o -road vehicles, Quintrex boats, Manitou pontoons and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts and recreational aircraft, BRP unlocks exhilarating adventures and provides access to experiences across di erent playgrounds. The Company completes its lines of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and apparel portfolio to fully optimize the riding experience. Committed to growing responsibly, BRP is developing electric models for its existing product lines. Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, BRP had annual sales of CA$7.8 billion from over 130 countries and employed approximately 16,500 driven, resourceful people as of January 31, 2025.

Passion for restoration

‘I always liked the old things’

ILL TA T, Ill. — Cliff McNames was a “city kid” who inexplicably found an interest in classic farm equipment and items from yesteryear.

“I always liked the old things as a kid. The funny story that I tell is I was raised in the St. Louis citycounty border. There were eight kids in my family, and there’s nobody in my house can spell farm. I have absolutely no farm or agricultural background, but my dad always said he had seven kids and a Hoosier,” said McNames, of Millstadt.

“I became a machinist as a young man, and somebody handed me a gas engine magazine one day. That was over 35 years ago and it’s been non-stop ever since.

“I like to restore things that probably shouldn’t be restored — the bad.”

Many of the artifacts he has restored over the years are on display at McNames Yesteryear Museum at his home.

His collection includes a rare 1905 wood-framed tractor that he hopes to bring to the Half Century of Progress. It was displayed at Historic Farm Days in 2024.

“I found it in the woods and it took 20 years to restore it,” McNames said, noting the biggest challenge was finding an engine and other parts.

He had a David Bradley Tri-Trac tractor and a David Braley Tri-Cut mower on display at Historic Farm Days.

I only olle t odd st ff. The Tri-Trac and Tri-Cut are both real odd. Everything I olle t is different nd I ild lot of st ff, he said.

Cli McNames’ grandson, Waylon McLean, sits on the Oliver 77 at Historic Farm Days that his grandfather built from scratch. McNames, who has a knack for restoring unique “stu ,” hopes to have his rare 1905 wood-framed tractor on display at the Half Century of Progress.

McNames not only restores odd st ff, he lso has constructed some “mini” classic tractors from scratch that are a big draw for show spectators.

The Oliver 77 he built for his grandson, Waylon McLean, was featured at Historic Farm Days, and Waylon drove the motor-operate mini tractor around the grounds.

Oliver was the featured brand during this year’s enfield sho nd the was on display with its larger versions.

“I built this Oliver 77 from scratch. I think I started building it in 2022 for my then-2-year-old grandson. It has an early wheel horse rear end. So, it has three forward speeds and reverse. There’s just one belt going back to it. When he presses the ped l, he goes. e lets off the pedal, he stops. I completely made the wheels, the fenders, all the sheet metal. I’ve never done any sheet metal work before.

This s my first ttempt, McNames said.

“He started driving it at two and a half before the sheet metal was on. Now he’s five nd h lf nd he tries real hard to wear it out.

“It has a six and a half horsepower Predator motor from Harbor Freight, and e se I o ldn t fit the recoil on the other side, I had to machine and put in a rope start, but you’ve got to start backwards. So, I had to put arrows on to make sure I started the right direction.

“He’s got a choke and a throttle, and he knows what they do. The nose cones were made out of an early round top lawn and garden gas can. I just cut it in half, took a piece out and put it back together.”

This sn t the first mini tractor he’s constructed from scratch.

“I built a Farmall F12 for my daughter over 20 years ago. Then I built a Schwinn bicycle built for four,” he said.

SHARON SPRINGS, NEW YORK

This collection has 50+ rare original and restored tractors from around the world, plus vehicles, engines, signs and literature. Jim’s sheds are still bulging! With much thought and selection, we will be offering some unique and high-quality tractors from the USA & around the world.

OPEN HOUSE: AUGUST 2 & 31 10AM-4PM NDST

ONLINE AUCTIONS

OPEN HOUSE: Aug. 16-18 During Mid MI Old Tractor Assoc. Show!

OCT 1, 2 & 3 LEONARD, MICHIGAN

This will be one of the most exciting auctions of the year for Old Iron Enthusiasts! Not only is this auction filled with a beautiful collection of antique tractors, steam engines & gas engines that have been cared for and stored for years, but also signs, literature, implements and farm primitives! Gary was a well known collector that had the privilege to acquire some one of a kind items! There will be three total days for this collection full of hundreds of items!

OCT 28 - NOV 1 LE

OPEN HOUSES: OCT. 24TH, 9AM- 6PM & OCT. 25TH, 9AM-3PM

The Koski Vintage Tractor and Implement Collection will feature a fantastic selection of Pre ‘30 tractors, along with implements and more! Rumelys, Cases, Aultman Taylors, Hubers, Twin City’s, Hart Parr’s, Allis Chalmers and more! We are going to be having our open house during the Mid Michigan Old Tractor Association Show as well, come and take a look at these beauties!

The Bright Museum Liquidation Auction showcases a stunning array of 50-60-yearold treasures, including 300 tractors, mainly crawlers. An 1873 Aveling steam traction engine and various projects and cast iron items are also featured. Not only that, but various vintage vehicles, long horns and more. There will be multiple catalogs for this collection! Visit the website for details and the full catalog. ONLINE AUCTION SEPTEMBER 1ST

Extensive food menu from vendors

RANTOUL, Ill. — A burrito truck will be a new addition to the food court at the Half Century of Progress event, set for Aug. 21-24.

“We’ve got around 32 different vendors for food items,” said Larry Barry.

“There will be kettle corn, pies, cobblers, ice cream, barbecue meals, rack of ribs, pork sandwiches and steak sandwiches,” he said. “And we’ll have fair food like corn dogs, funnel cakes and french fries.”

In addition to the food court, food trucks will be located in the tractor pulling area and near the corn shelling field.

“They are going to be in areas that haven’t been serviced before, so we’re trying to spread it out a little bit,” Barry said.

He sent out contracts to the food vendors who have been involved in previous Half Century events.

“We probably have a 95% retention of previous vendors,” he noted. “I think there are two church or community groups left and I’d like to have more, but they don’t have enough volunteers.”

About 50,000 people are expected to attend the fourday event. “We have people oming from to different states and three or four foreign countries.”

Those attending the show, Barry said, like to reminisce about old times.

“You see a lot of families,” he noted. “It’s pretty hard to get five generations, but we’ll have a lot of four generations on the grounds.”

“There will be something you can eat, you’re not going to starve,” he said. “There will be plenty of drink stations with water, soda and lemonade.”

“There will be plenty of drink stations with water, soda and lemonade.”

Larry Barry

Safety for attendees, exhibitors

RANTOUL, Ill. — Safety is always a top concern at the Half Century of Progress, where crowds of people gather to see vintage machinery in action.

Craig Long, safety director for the show, said the combination of pedestrians, golf carts, side-bysides and large crowds requires everyone to stay alert and courteous.

“It’s always about slowing down, being courteous as you travel and leaving enough room between you and pedestrians,” he said. “Then there’s safety out in the field here demonstrtions are.”

Carle Health will be on-site, providing minor health-care services for bumps and bruises.

The show also operates several cooling stations, including a cooling center in the old AT&T building and shaded trams with canvas

tops to help attendees stay out of the sun.

“Stay hydrated and get in the shade when you can.”

He also emphasized the importance of respecting the airport property where the show is held.

This year, exhibitors who attend safety meetings will receive an orange button to show they’ve completed the training.

In previous years, attendees received a ribbon.

Safety meetings will begin Wednesday.

Long also encouraged attendees to call 911 in case of an emergency.

“Older machinery doesn’t have the safety feat res th t ne st ff does, he said. “We’re trying to make sure everyone keeps their hands out of things and operates equipment with responsibility.”

His advice?

“Five miles an hour,”

Long said. “Respect the airport property. Don’t run over the little blue lights. If you do, it’s not a disaster. Let us know. “Hydrate a lot. Watch out for other conveyances and pedestrians.”

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RANTOUL, Ill. — Ranging from antique farm equipment parts and tools to farm toys and crafts, visitors to the Half Century of Progress will have the opportunity to shop for a wide variety of items.

“We will probably have vendors from different states,” said Barry Maury, owner of B&B Farm Toys. “There should be something for everybody.”

Maury expects eight or nine toy vendors at the show this year.

“I’ll be set up there and I carry all brands of toys,” he said.

The toy collector started at a young age.

“As I got older, I would buy a toy and I already had one at home so I decided I would sell a few,” he explained. “So, that’s what

started my business 37 years ago.”

Maury collects all brands of farm toys.

“Right now John Deere is my favorite because that’s what we farm with,” said the farmer who grows corn and soybeans on his farm near St. Joseph in central Illinois.

The collector is not sure how many toys are in his collection.

“A bunch of them are the 1/64 scale, so those add up pretty quick,” he said.

“As far as the other ones, I probably have about 1,000.”

During the wintertime, Maury typically travels to about 15 farm toy shows, mostly in Illinois, as well as a couple in Iowa and one in Indiana.

VENDORS

“I sell toys from $10 and up, but just like the rest of the economy, the toys have really gone up in the last three years,” Maury said.

“I think a lot of collectors get hooked on anything new,” he said. “But there’s a lot of collectors that st olle t the older st ff.

Special Half Century of Progress toy tractors will be available for purchase at the B&B Farm Toys booth.

Draft Horse Pulls & Country Tractor Drives (Saturday only)

Worship Service (Sunday only)

“There will be Oliver, IH and Minneapolis tractors for sale,” Maury said. “The 1/64 scale tractors will cost $30 each.”

Three-day lineup of tractor pulls

RANTOUL, Ill. — Tractor pulls will be a highlight of the 2025 Half Century of Progress, running Aug. 21-24 at the Rantoul National Aviation Center.

Andy Buhr and Derek Harms coordinate a threeday lineup for the event. The pulls start at 4 p.m. and end around sundown.

“On Thursday, we have our show classes for the tractors that are at the event,” said Buhr, Illinois Tractor Pulling Association president.

“We’ve also got the Central Illinois Brush Pullers. They have turbo tractors and an antique class, as well as some naturally aspirated tractors.

“On Friday, the National Tractor Pulling Legend Series is going to be there. Then we have the Illiana Pullers Association and Indiana Pulling League.

“On Saturday, we have the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association bringing seven classes.”

The show classes for Thursday’s pull include 4,500 pounds, 5,500 pounds,

6,500 pounds, 8,500 pounds and 10,500 pounds.

Classes for the Central Illinois Brush Pullers include 12,500 12 mph, 12,000, 9,700 with no V8, 13,000 open mph, 5,500 antique, and 12,500 8 mph.

On Friday, IPA sanctioned classes including Outlaw and Field Stock.

IPL-sanctioned classes include Farm Stock, Light Pro Stock and Hot Farm.

On Saturday, the Illinois

Tractor Pulling Association sanctioned classes are: 6,850 Pro Farm, 8,500 Limited Pro, 10,500 Farm Stock and Light Super Stock. Additional classes include 5,500 Classic, 5,500 Antique and 10,000 Pro Stock.

The pulls adds an evening feature to the show, complementing a full schedule of daily field demonstrations, tractor rides and the popular Parade of Power.

Buhr looks forward to catching up with friends at the event. “I look forward to seeing people I haven’t seen in a while,” he said. “The camaraderie is special. They are some of the best people.”

John Deere 4020 tractor. At one time he owned three 4020 tractors, but now he is down to one along with seven other John Deere tractors in his collection.

Big turnout of John Deere tractors expected to mark 60th anniversary

RANTOUL, Ill. — Numerous John Deere 4020 tractors will be on display during the Half Century of Progress to mark the 60th anniversary of the tractor that was in production for more than a decade.

“The 4020 tractor replaced the 4010 and the first ye r it s ilt s 1964,” said Ed Winkleman, president of the Friends of Green group. “The last year was 1972, so they were made for 12 years.”

He is expecting collectors to bring a couple hundred of the 4020 tractors to the event.

“I’ve had a lot of calls from all over the country, so hopefully we will get a big turnout,” Winkleman said.

“This was one of John Deere’s best built tractors — it lasted forever,” he said. “They are still being used today, so there are a lot of these tractors out there.”

The medium-sized tractors were mostly used as a utility tractor.

“They are really simple to operate and they could do the work that most farmers need to do,” said Winkleman, who has several John Deere tractors in his collection.

“I used to have three 4020s, but now I am down to one,” he said.

The John Deere display will be located on the northeast side of the runway of the National Avia-

tion Center.

“When we featured the John Deere Ds, we had an expert give a live demonstration,” Winkleman said. “We’ve talked about having him do a presentation about the 4020s.”

In addition to many states, Winkleman said, there will also be visitors from other countries traveling to attend the event in Rantoul.

“There is a lot of interest in the show this year,” the collector said.

“They like to bring a plow, a disc or something they n se in the field, he said. “Nobody plows anymore, so about the only chance they get to plow is at the Half Century show.”

Thurs., AUGUST 28

• Ring #1 - New/NOS/ Used Tractor Parts

• Ring #2 - Toys, Pedal Tractors, Signs, Literature, Memorabilia, Primitives, Clocks & More!

Fri., AUGUST 29

• Ring #1 - Over Non-Running

• Ring #2 - Equipment, Farm Machinery, Implements & More Sat., AUGUST 30

• Beautiful Collections of Gas Pumps, Globes, Petroliana, Select Signs, Collectibles & More

Ed Winkleman drives his

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Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 2025 Half Century of Progress Show—a one-of-a-kind celebration of our agricultural heritage, innovation, and enduring commitment to the land. Here, we come together not only to witness the power and progress of farming over the past ﬁfty years, but to honor the people behind it—those who live, work, and love rural life. From the roar of classic tractors in the Parade of Power to the excitement of daily ﬁeld demonstrations and tractor pulls, this show is a tribute to the generations of farmers who have shaped the way we grow, harvest, and feed the world.

Agriculture is more than a business—it’s a calling. And whether you grow crops, raise livestock, support agribusiness, or simply have a deep appreciation for the land, we share a noble and essential purpose: feeding a growing world through sustainable, responsible farming practices.

As you explore the grounds, enjoy the live equipment demos, and take in the latest ag technologies on display, we invite you to connect with fellow enthusiasts, reminisce about the past, and look ahead to a future rooted in innovation and stewardship.

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the legacy—and the promise—of American agriculture. We’re proud to share this experience with you.

God Bless,

Jim Meinhart

Sunrise FS, General Manager

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RANTOUL, Ill. — At the Half Century of Progress, the past and present of agriculture come together — rows of vintage iron stirring p d st in the field.

It’s a celebration of heritage and hard work, the same values that have guided Beck’s for generations.

As a proud sponsor of the show, Beck’s is excited to share its new campaign, A Home-Grown Legacy — a tribute to the family farms, deep roots and forward-looking vision that have shaped the company since 1937.

Ahead of the show, Beck’s president Scott Beck discussed the new campaign and his family’s story.

What inspired Beck’s to launch the Home-Grown Legacy campaign and how do you hope it connects with the farmers you serve?

Every family farm has a story. In spite of differen es in family members, farm size, region of the country and crops grown, farm families face many of the same challenges in their relationships and succession to the next generation.

preparing to support farmers not just today, but decades from now?

We continue to invest in facilities and other capital investments for research, production and technology, sometimes before we need them. This allows us to better stay ahead of the growth and demand we are experiencing from farmers.

Through estate planning involving trusts, we have allowed ownership to remain in the family while reducing burdensome estate taxes for future generations. We have a clear purpose that we continue to focus on — honor God, help others, help farmers succeed.

I hope that other farm families will see themselves in our story in ways that help them to make progress in their own family story and farm succession.

Beck’s has been family-owned since 1937. What does staying independent mean to you and your family and how has it shaped the way you work with farmers?

Staying independent means freedom, responsibility and opportunity — freedom to make decisions as a family in a responsible way that creates opportunities for farmers, for family and employees and our partners to enable us to survive and thrive long term.

The campaign emphasizes building for future generations. How is Beck’s

When you look back over Beck’s history, are there any moments or milestones that feel especially meaningful in shaping the company’s legacy? In the early 1990s, when consolidation in the seed industry was starting to happen, my father, Sonny, wrote a paper about the future of small- and medium-sized seed companies. In that paper, he stated that Beck’s would be a survivor and focus on helping farmers succeed.

Since then, we focused on investments in Practical Farm Research, FARMserver digital platform, improving seed quality and Escalate seed enhancements, rewarding farmers for their commitment to buy Beck’s with Commitment Rewards and customer trips, accessing diverse genetics and traits, fin n ing to ens re f rmers can better manage risk and recruiting and investing in a competent and engaged dealer force to provide exceptional local service.

All of these investments, and more, shape the value we bring to farmers to be the best value per dollar spent.

What do you want your “Home-Grown Legacy” to be? Faith, family and farm-

ing — to have lived in a way that inspires others to love God and love others and inspires our kids and family to want to be a part of and support our family business where we create an environment where employees and dealers can live their faith, passion and purpose as we all work to help farmers succeed.

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100 Caterpillars for 100 years

RANTOUL, Ill. — One hundred years of Caterpillar Tractor Company will be celebrated as part of the Half Century of Progress.

“We’re trying to put together displ y of different Caterpillar products over that 100-year history,” said Clayton Smith, of Mahomet, a member of the Yellow Power Caterpillar Community Club board.

“We’re going to have some early Caterpillar machines from the 1920s when they were more of agriculture-centered and then machines through the 1930s and newer when they became more of the construction equipment company we know now. Our goal is to get 100 pieces of various Cat product lines there.”

Smith will bring his 1953 D4 to the show that he’s had for o t five ye rs.

“I got into the Caterpillar equipment through a friend, Chuck Ehler. He has quite a few Caterpillar machines and I helped him work on them over the years,” Smith said.

Dave Tallon, president of the of the Heartland Earthmovers, a central Illinois antique Caterpillar enthusiasts group, will bring his 1929 Caterpillar 10, the smallest tractor the company ever made, and

his 1937 800G engine, the smallest engine ever made by the company.

“The 800G is a single cylinder air-cooled engine that was used on pull-behind graders. We’ll have a couple of those at the show with the engines installed and functioning as they originally did,” Tallon said.

Leading up to the show, Tallon, Smith and other organizers are spreading the word in hopes of hitting that 100 goal.

“We’re really beating the bushes and we’ve got some committed from Iowa, Indiana, even North Carolina. We’re trying to bring them in from all over,” Tallon said.

There will be a dedicated area for the 100th anniversary displays.

“That was part of the attraction to putting the effort into doing this at Rantoul. Obviously, Rantoul is a very big show, but they had a large area that they o ld offer p. R ntoul is always a working show and our area will be no different, T llon s id.

“We’re going to have an area dedicated for plowing and another area for earth-moving. We’ll even have plows, graders and st ff here lot of people, if they have a tractor but they don’t really have any way

to put it to work, can do so. So, at this show we’ll have some of those supplemental pieces where if somebody wants to see what their tractor can do, we’ll have something for them to hook up to it and give it a try.”

Tallon is in his 26th year at an engineer at Caterpillar and currently is a member of the Tract-Type Tractor group commercial team.

“I’m very passionate about the crawler tractors. I st rted off olle ting some models of the antique Cat st ff nd the rrent st ff. One thing led to another and now I’ve got a couple antique real machines, a bunch of models, memor ili , th t ind of st ff, Tallon said.

“My grandfather farmed and had a bunch of antique tractors, so I grew up around antiques. When I came to working in the Track-Type Tractor group at Caterpillar, the group that started Caterpillar basically, there was a lot of pride in the history of that. So, that kind of merged or melded with my existing interest in antiques, and I kind of caught the antique Caterpillar bug that way.”

For more information, Tallon can be contacted at heartlandearthmovers.il@ gmail.com.

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RANTOUL, Ill. — Cliff Schaefer’s Oliver 770 isn’t just used for a static display or antique tractor parades. He still uses it on his farm for planting and light tillage.

Schaefer, Heartland Oliver Collectors Association president, is carrying on his grandfather’s legacy of the Oliver brand.

“I collect all Olivers and I farm with Olivers and Whites. It’s been in my blood. My great-grandfather opened his first Oliver dealership in 1936. He had it from 1936 to 1969. We’re just keeping the brand alive,” Schaefer, of Greenville, said during Historic Farm Days.

Schaefer, who previously served on the National Oliver Collector Association board, has between 11 and

13 classic tractors.

“I do all the restoration myself. I fix everything, do the body work and paint it. We never send anything out to be worked on in our shop. We do it all,” he said.

He’s a strong believer in preserving the past for future generations, but with that are challenges.

“ If we don’t get the younger generation in it, our past is just going to die and nobody will be there to take it on,” he said.

“It seems like it sometimes skips a generation.

My grandpa collected tractors. My dad didn’t, and then I got the bug even worse than my grandpa did. But when my grandpa passed away, my dad did buy the family tractors and didn’t allow them to be sold. I’m glad for that.”

Historic Farm Days features a large number of Olivers every year, and Schaefer looks forward to when it will host the national show in four years.

He’s also a regular participant in Half Century of Progress.

After using it to plant this past spring, Cli Schaefer displayed his Oliver 770 at Historic Farm Days in July. Schaefer, also a regular participant at Half Century of Progress, serves as president of the Heartland Oliver Collectors Association. He said passersby stop for a closer look while he’s using it to plant. “I think they’re more surprised that somebody is still using stu like this.”

Dear Friends, Exhibitors, and Guests,

On behalf of Kraft Auction Service, I would like to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to all of you at the Half Century of Progress here in Rantoul, Illinois!

As proud sponsors of this remarkable event, we are thrilled to be part of celebrating the rich agricultural history and the incredible advancements that have shaped the farming industry over the past ﬁfty years. This event is more than just a showcase of vintage tractors; it is a testament to the dedication, passion, and ingenuity of generations of farmers and agricultural enthusiasts.

At Kraft Auction Service, we believe in honoring tradition while embracing innovation, and this show mirrors that spirit. Whether you are here to see the iconic tractors in action, learn about the history of farming equipment, or simply connect with others who share your love for agriculture, we hope you leave with newfound inspiration and appreciation for the journey the farming community has taken to get to where we are today.

Thank you to all the volunteers, exhibitors, and attendees who make this event possible. Your participation helps preserve the legacy of agriculture and ensures that the stories of those who built this industry are never forgotten.

We wish you a fantastic time at the show, and we look forward to visiting with all of you. Please feel free to stop by our booth to say hello, learn more about what we do, and discover how we continue to support the agricultural community in meaningful ways. We also hope to see you in Valparaiso, Indiana November 13th-15th for our Annual Fall Antique Truck and Tractor Auction or at one of our 250+ auctions we host annually across the Midwest.

Thank you for being a part of this extraordinary event!

Warmest Regards,

Jonathan Kraft

Kraft Auction Service, LLC

the biggest draws of the Half Century of Progress show are live demonstrations such as corn picking (above) and tillage (below).

Stor-Loc toolbox auction to beneﬁt FFA

RANTOUL, Ill. — Vis -

itors at the Half Century of Progress will have a chance to bid on three StorLoc toolboxes and support the future of agriculture at the same time.

An auction to raise money for FFA is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, in the Entertainment Tent.

“This started back in 2023 with Stor-Loc wanting to help the show and FFA,” said Larry Barry, I&I Antique Tractor Club member and Half Century of Progress planning committee member.

“They generously donated one toolbox. It was bought by Randall Broth-

ers out of Ohio.”

This year, the company donated three toolboxes.

“The two smaller ones are John Deere and International colors,” Barry said. “We hope we’ll get a little bidding war between those two.

“The showcase is the large blue and yellow FFA toolbox, which we’ll sell last. All the proceeds go to FFA in Illinois and Indiana.”

Specifically, proceeds will be split:

• 40% — Illinois FFA.

• 40% — Indiana FFA.

• 10% — winning bidder’s local FFA.

• 10% — contending bid-

der’s local FFA.

Three st te o ers from Indiana and three state offi ers from Illinois ill ttend the event on Saturday, s ell s sever l lo l ocers, Barry said.