DUNLAP, Ill. — Founded by antique tractor enthusiasts in Stark County, the Central Illinois Farm Heritage Tractor Club (CIFHTC) remains relevant by maintaining a visible public profile and participating in popular community events that attract antique machinery lovers of all ages. Recently, the club provided the tractors and the stories behind them for Agriculture Day at Wheels O’ Time Museum, a Peoria-area repository for antique wheeled vehicles of all descriptions — including trains, planes, automobiles and farm machinery. 

“Our events are gatherings; it’s socializing,” said Dan Wiest, club president. “It’s amazing the cross-section of people we meet at these types of events.”

It was the club’s fourth public-facing event in the past calendar month, including exhibits at the Marshall-Putnam Antique Club event in Lacon, Princeville Heritage Days Parade and Chillicothe Public Library. In addition, they’ve held a regular monthly meeting and hosted a club event. 

Now around 45 strong, the CIFHTC is welcoming new members with the only qualification being a shared love and appreciation for all things old iron. 

“We accept anybody and everybody,” said Kevin Engquist, CIFHTC vice-president, adding that as the years go by it becomes more challenging to maintain membership. “People who don’t own a tractor but have an interest are welcome at our meetings, where we have learning events, trivia and food,” he said. 

At Princeville Heritage Days, the club went a step further than the standard tractor show format by offering kids’ rides and attractions. “We brought out barrel carts and a learn-to-drive-a-tractor attraction, and probably saw 100 kids. In Chillicothe, we let kids sit on or in our tractors and it was two hours of non-stop action.”

The CIFHTC also hosts a tractor show at the Peoria Riverfront Museum and participates in an annual old-time plowing day at a farm near Chillicothe each year, among other events that keep its membership busy and the club vibrant. This year’s plowing event is at Top of the Hill Farm after harvest in October. According to club treasurer Shawn Weck, the intense schedule — by average tractor club standards — can be partially credited with keeping the club moving forward with each season. 

“We don’t work all year to have a single show anymore, but we do events like this at different places. Four or five or six groups of guys will go to places like Geneseo or Mount Pleasant, so instead of focusing just on our show we can do several things,” said Weck. 

The club doesn’t restrict their activities to central Illinois or the Illinois River Valley. A group of CIFHTC members took a trip to Huron, South Dakota for the 2026 Red Power Roundup on June 25-27. In addition, a monthly club newsletter offers columns from the president and vice-president, treasurer’s report, news and calendar items, Sale Barn and other club information. Learn more about the CIFHTC at citractorclub.com. For more information about Wheels O’ Time Museum, visit wheelsotime.org.