By Cindy Ladage

PALMER, Ill. – While tractor shows have always been popular, this summer has been a great one for tractor drives. Two of the drives have been rather special in central Illinois because they were drives that made a difference. The drives had collectors gathering for a reason beyond their hobby.

On June 18th, the Sangamon County Farm Bureau Young Leaders hosted a tractor drive in honor of Russel Miner. Miner and his wife Billie were avid tractor collectors. It was easy to see how well thought of he was by the number of collectors that came out to ride in his honor. Miner lived on a farm that he called “What Next Farm” in rural Pleasant Plains. He passed away in March 2022.

The tractor drive provided an opportunity for collectors to have a little tractor fun and remember Miner, a man who loved to smile and tell stories. The drive began at the New Berlin High school and headed to the Miner homestead. It was a lovely day for a drive and Glenarm driver Bud Redeford shared, “It was like Russel was looking down on the day of the drive and planned the weather.”

The $25 fee covered lunch, a T-shirt, and the drive, plus entrance into the Sangamon County fair. Any extra money went to the Sangamon County Farm Bureau.

Billie Miner sat with family members in the people mover that led the drive and waved at people she knew along the way. She grew up in the area. She said she is from the Franklin, Ill., area and that Russel grew up near Nortonville. They met on the 4th of July in Franklin and were married Feb. 11, 1955. Together they had two daughters, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

One of the things that made this drive special was that many of the tractors on the drive had belonged to Russel Miner, such as the 1934 Model A Doodle Bug and Graham Bradley driven by his grandsons. There were also tractors that collectors had purchased from him over the years that they decided to bring on the drive in his memory.

Many tractor drivers shared stories about him along the way, then when the drive was over, they enjoyed a lunch at the in-progress Sangamon County Fair. The Sangamon County Fair queen posed with tractors at the end of the drive.

A few top-voted on tractors will be on display at the Illinois State Fair to help the Sangamon County Farm Bureau celebrate its 100-year anniversary.

Many of the same collectors that took part in the Sangamon County Fair tractor drive were on hand June 26th for the Shriner drive that took place in the small town of Palmer in Christian County.

The drive was sponsored by the Ansar Ag Corp., which raises money for Shriner’s Children. Their motto is, “Come Ride With Shriners So Children Can Walk.”

A donation was accepted since there was no charge to join in the ride. The drive began on the Palmer square near Duane Dozier’s tractor building, where he and his son Mark keep part of their antique tractor collection. The drive had 30 tractors, side-by-side vehicles. The tractor drive was led by Mark Dozier’s beautiful 1937 Dodge Bros. truck.

During the drive collectors had the opportunity to visit two buildings and enjoy viewing the Dozier collection. Their collection includes many rare tractors like a Frazier tractor that is the only one known to currently exist. Duane Dozier was on hand during the event and available, along with Mark, to greet and visit with collectors. “I opened two sheds. We went around 28 miles,” Mark Dozier shared.

Dinner was supplied by the brothers of Mason Morrisonville Lodge #681. “We do this every year,” Mark said.

Each year the donation raises money for the Shriners hospital, making a difference in the lives of children suffering from cancer.

Jay Germann, of the Ansar Ag Shriners, shared the group of sponsors that provided prizes for the drive. The list included Sievers Equipment, Battery Specialists, Dollar General, Central IL Ag, Jenner Ag, Buzzard’s Roost, Donnelly Automotive, Agri-Gold, Dozier Farms, Roland Machinery and Commodity Central FS.