Big Bud Is Here!

Big Bud 16V747 arrived in Rantoul mid afternoon July 2, the trip was long but safe. A crowd of fans was on hand to welcome the big tractor on it's visit to Illinois.

Big Bud 747 is on the way!

Big Bud 747 is on it's way to Illinois, and you can follow it's journey with updates on the short message site Twitter. You can find the updates at twitter.com/Bigbud747



Tonight, Monday June 29, Big Bud is bedded down for the night in Bismarck, North Dakota.

2010 Feature Announced

International Harvester will take center stage at the 2010 Historic Farm Days. Plan now to see best group of IHC machinery ever assembled in one place.

Their Coming From Down Under

A group of Chamberlain tractor enthusiasts from Australia are traveling across the US, driving their tractors, and will be passing through Penfield to visit Historic Farm Days on their journey.

The Chamberlain brand originated in Australia, enjoyed fair success in the marketplace, and in 1970, John Deere purchased a significant stake in the company, eventually making it a wholly owned subsidiary, as the name changed to Chamberlain John Deere . As time passed, transmission and engine technology from John Deere was incorporated into the designs. Around 1990, the Chamberlain name disappeared into history.

Win This Tractor

Some lucky winner will be driving a beautifully restored 1948 Allis Chalmers G home after the show. Tickets are $1.00 each, or 6 for $5.00.

(I am trying to get a picture)

For raffle information, call Skip Kirkland at 217.369.1859, or write to:

I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club
Attn: Tractor Raffle
PO Box 65
Penfield, IL 61862

Biggest Big Bud Comes to Penfield

The famous Big Bud 16V-747 is coming to Penfield for Historic Farm Days 2009. Checking in at 900 horsepower, the behemoth will be on display at Historic Farm Days this coming summer. The one of a kind tractor was custom built for deep ripping on a California cotton farm, and later sold to a grower in florida who also used it for deep ripping before retiring it. The Williams Brothers of Big Sandy, Montana acquired the tractor and it now resides about 40 miles from where it was built.

Later in August 2009, fans of the world's most powerful tractor will get a chance to see her in action at Half Century Of Progress IV at the Rantoul National Aviation Center in Rantoul, Illinois. A special plow rig of at least 24 bottoms will be assembled to give the big tractor something to play with.

Special arrangements have been made with the Williams Brothers of Big Sandy, Montana to make this appearance possible.

2008 Show Report - Coming Someday

I hope to get a report on the show and some pictures here in the not too distant future. Some time soon, I will sit down and review my pictures and write up a report on the past year's event.

The Big Case

A rare 110 HP Case Stema Engine appeared at the show this year, courtesy of the Jansen Family. The engine, formerly owned by Graham Sellers was the lead engine on the 60 bottom plow at the 2005 Half Century of Progress in Rantoul, Illinois.

If your reporters ears and memory were operating correctly, this tractor started life pulling a 16 bottom plow on the Canadian prairie, a job it held for many years. It eventually found it's way into the Northwest US powering a sawmill and other jobs. Today, the old engine lives on among people who appreciate the role these machines played.

2008 - J I Case and Silver King

J I Case and Silver King take center stage at the 2008 edition of the show at Penfield. The J I Case Collectors Association will be holding their national summer show at the show as well.

Case enthusiasts all over the country will be heading for Penfield in July to show off their prized machines, share stories with fellow Case fans, and maybe find that rare part they've been searching for. Case steam engines and threshing machines built the company that developed into a full line manufacturer. As time went by, especially following the acquisiton by Tenneco, the Case line gradually diminished to tractors and construction equipment by the time International Harvester line was incorporated after that acquisition.

Silver King tractors are the second feature this year. Silver Kings were well regarded, described by a sales manger for John Deere as "the best made, poorest sold" tractor on the market. Starting life under the Plymouth name, about 8,800 Plymouth, Silver King, and Mountain State Tractors were sold before the line disappeared into history. Oddly enough, not all Silver Kings were silver! Various shades of blue and green were used as well, and even a few red ones have been located.

So, make your travel plans, get your room reservations and head for Penfield, Illinois July 10-13 for the best antique power show there in the midwest.

In Memoriam - Paul Gehrke

Paul Henry Gehrke

May 16, 1925 - December 1, 2007

Born in Chatfield, Minnesota, Paul spent his early years on a small farm, before his family moved into town. Paul led a varied life, serving in the Merchant Marine in World War II, running a mobile feed grinding business, and eventually entering the farm machinery business as a salesman at a dealership. He later moved on to become a sales reprentative for several companies during his career, including Allis Chalmers, M&W, Stover-Winstead, and Krause Plow Company. Over the years, he serviced territories ranging from central Illinois to portions of the east coast. In 1991, he retired and moved from his then home in Columbus, Ohio to a small acreage near Armstrong, Illinois, where he delighted in helping his son in law Jon Fourez (wife Dee) on the farm.

Paul was a member of the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club for many years. He served the club in several capacities, serving on the show safety committee for several years, and spent many long days on the lawn mower keeping the grounds looking good.

In 1947, Paul was joined in marriage to Nora Augusta Dobberfuhl of St. Paul, Minnesota who preceded him in death. Paul and Nora had four daughters, Jan, Jill, Faye, and Dee, one son, Hugh, many grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.