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Andy Shireman of Chapin came to the biennial Half
Century of Progress ready for field work. The event, held in Rantoul, was a
lead-up to this week’s Farm Progress Show in Decatur — but
1957-style. This year’s show included field demonstrations, a new
plowing record set by 48 Belgian horses pulling a specially created tillage
tool, and a display of lots of old iron. His 3010 John Deere diesel
tractor — which pulled a Model 237 John Deere corn picker — in
tow, Shireman headed to the field demonstrations. He knew that the picker
was in good shape. “The guy we bought the
picker from two years ago was still using it to pick corn,” he says. The Half Century show gave
Shireman a chance to try out some of his antique tillage equipment in
preparation for his own farm day, to be held at his Morgan County farm on
Oct. 20. “We will be plowing and picking corn and harvesting beans,
plus we will have a static display,” he says. “This is the
first of what will be an annual event.”
Charlie Shireman started his son
out on farm equipment at an early age. “I was just a kid, and
I’ve been running a tractor ever since,” the younger Shireman
says. Love of farming and old farm
equipment is what brought Shireman and his group of friends, all members of
the recently formed Western Illinois Tractor Club, to what has grown into a
national event. “We brought three wagons and made five trips
here,” he says. Families from all over the United
States and some international guests gathered to play in the dirt, watch
the beautiful Belgians break a plowing record, and remember when.
Cindy Ladage of Virden is a regular contributor.
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2007.
