FAIRBURY, Ill. – On July 8 the Burr Oak Sibley Tractor Drive took place. This is the 19th year for the drive that started after a tractor drive in Utica, Ill., in 2004. The drive, led by famed farm broadcaster Max Armstrong, happened after a tornado tore through this northern Illinois town. During the tractor drive, the drivers took up a collection for the storm victims.

This resonated with Russ Tjarks, who was one of the drivers. “That drive was where the idea came from for a tractor drive. The first one was originally for my sister.”

Tjarks was personally affected by cancer because his sister Shirley Abel was suffering from cancer at the time. Tjarks was driving his 1952 John Deere B and another tractor he had was his Farmall H, which was painted purple by the Prairie Central ag classes several years ago. The purple tractor is titled the Purple Cancer Eater. “Purple is the ‘all cancer’ color,” he said.

The John Deere B that Tjarks drove in the tractor drive was a 59th birthday present, he said. Today he drives this tractor in memory of his sister Shirley.

From fees collected from the drivers, and other donations, the drive raised money for the American Cancer Society.

The drivers route began at the Down by the Lake bar in Sibley, then headed toward Livingston County and paraded past the Zehr farm. Next stop was Ziegenhorn Timber. This lovely property is just outside Fairbury. It belonged to the Ziegenhorn family. They originally immigrated to the U.S. from Germany. The family farmed this land. “Great grandpa, Aaron Ziegenhorn, came here on a ship to avoid the Prussian Wars. He went to France, then got on a freighter that arrived in Peoria in 1865,” Steve Ziegenhorn shared.

“They stayed in Peoria where he was a wood worker, then they became tenant farmers when they moved to Fairbury in 1868,” Steve Ziegenhorn said, adding that the family quit farming in 1930. “The family migrated to Muscatine, but grandpa stayed, and started working for Walton’s Department Store, selling John Deere equipment. Then in 1939, he bought the John Deere business for five pounds of sausage. No one had any money then; everything was done by bartering.”

When Aaron Ziegenhorn’s sons returned from World War WII, the family needed more property. In 1946, they purchased over 400 acres with 75 acres of timberland. The land served as a place for animals that were traded for machinery. “In the 1940s, everyone traded animals. Grandpa was an Apostolic Christian, and tight.  He was everyone’s banker,” Steve Ziegenhorn said. “It was also a place to hide equipment. Grandpa only wanted new equipment to be seen. So, he put whatever farmers traded in the woods.”

For 53 years, the Ziegenhorn family operated the John Deere dealership until they closed, and it was auctioned in 1998.The John Deere dealership is gone today.  It was located on Route 24, where R.P. Lumber now sits.

Steve Ziegenhorn bought the property when it was auctioned. Keeping the timber, he opened the land for fishing, camping and family outings. Ziegenhorn Timber opened in 2020 as a place for cabin rentals and special events. Steve Ziegenhorn shared the rich farming history of his family with the tractor group. He ended by sharing, “This is our heritage, grandpa would be so proud to see this.”

Pointing out Tjarks’ John Deere B, Steve Ziegenhorn added, “That 1952 John Deere was bought here from us. It was sold by our family and is the oldest one. It is a reminder. We often see our tag on equipment.”

Friends of Green were part of the drive with a John Deere D tractor, which was the feature tractor. This year the D is celebrating its 100th anniversary at the Historic Days show in Penfield, Ill., and the upcoming Half Century of Progress in Rantoul.

Two friends were driving International Harvester tractors. John Schoffer and Barry Koehl were in this together. Koehl said, “We switched tractors. I drove my dad’s old M. I wish I had the picture of me in 1951 on the M, I was 2. My son’s driving the F20 that I bought in high school.”

Chuck Mattingly also had a 1941 Farmall M that he drove in the drive. “I live in Roberts, but the tractor is from Strawn.”

Richard Sanders had another Farmall M, a 1953. “This came from just across the creek here,” he said. “This is about my fourth tractor drive. The Farmall is what my dad had.”

There were all colors at this event. A group of Oliver collectors calling themselves the Oliver gang brought some lovely tractors as well. The gang was comprised of the Friedman, Fehr and Zehr families.

One of the most unusual tractors of the day was a 1928 Model A Doodle Bug owned by Jim Slagel and driven by his son Kevin and grandson, 14-year-old Rustin.

After leaving the VFW the group of tractor drivers proceeded past the Fairview Haven Nursing Home before heading to the VFW for lunch. After lunch and the silent auction and taking time to honor three members that passed over the year, the group headed past Dave’s Supermarket and to Kilgus Farmstead Country store, then on to Strawn Park and back to Sibley where the drive began. Anyone wanting more information about future Sibley Burr Oaks tractor drives should contact Tjarks at 217-249-2377.