Important Information!

 Seems I write these words in every article: “How time is flying by.” It’s July 1st as I write this article, it’s 95 degrees outside with high humidity. How did we get here so quickly? It seems many of us were just together at Jack Cook’s farm on April 11th touring his 400+ tractor collection for our 2nd quarter meeting. 

If you missed the meeting at Mr. Cook’s, you missed seeing one of the biggest and best tractor collections in the country. Although they weren’t all red, he had a tractor of almost any make, model and color made in the U.S. and many that he imported from around the world. What is amazing is that Jack restored most of them himself, to showroom condition. 

At the meeting, a few of our members reported their attendance in March at the National Winter IH Convention. It was in Clemmons, North Carolina, near Winston-Salem, and they gave a report on the event. Joyce and I attended and were impressed with the meeting, exhibits, and tours. Our Indiana native, Max Armstrong, was the keynote speaker. As you know, North Carolina is a big tobacco state. Cubs, As, Bs, and IH 140s were everywhere. We drove through northern NC where the recent flooding took place. Houses were washed off the mountains, and many homes and buildings in the valleys were swept away. One member from North Carolina gave a report on the devastation and said that 9 people were still missing. Mark your calendar for next year’s IH Winter Convention. It will be March 18-20 in Shipshewana, Indiana, with Chapter 33 hosting. 

Joyce and I just got back from the RED Power Roundup in Huron, South Dakota. The official count was 567 tractors, 214 IH trucks and Scouts, 143 Cadets, and 114 IH implements. We saw many of our Chapter 7 members there, including Mark and Dawn Dieckman who manned our Chapter 7 table out there for much of the show. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication to working at our Chapter table that funds our scholarships. Luckily, Red Power will be closer in Centreville, Michigan next June 17, 18, and 19, 2027. 

I know many of you have been attending and even displaying your collections at various shows across the state. It’s good to get out and see old friends and reminisce about our red equipment and days gone by. We have a big 4th of July parade coming up nearby and we are taking the 560 and our IH barge wagon to celebrate our 250th Celebration. I imagine a lot of our members will have red tractors with flags flying on them out this week for our country’s big celebration. 

Our 3rd quarter Chapter 7 meeting and State IH show will be at the Portland Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show. The show runs from August 26th – 29th. Our meeting will be on Saturday, August 29th at 1 pm. Chapter 7 will be joined by Chapter 33 from Northern Indiana. We are hoping for over 400 red tractors and equipment to be on display. For those that will be there on Friday night, Chapter 33 has invited us to a cookout at 6 pm. Please let me (812-881-8034) or Neil Risssler (812-878-7942) know if you will be attending. They need a head count for the caterer. If Neil or I don’t answer, please leave a message telling us your name and the number that will be attending. I wish you all a safe and healthy summer. I hope to see you all in Portland. 

Don Villwock 

Chapter 7 President