At this year’s Half Century of Progress Show in Rantoul, Ill., one tent was set up just for corn pickers. Bob Johnson, who has held several of his own corn picker reunions, was on hand to share information about pickers with the operators and visitors who stopped by.

Bob, who is writing a book, had an array of information available to everyone who had questions about the pickers that are not often seen today. Besides being a place where visitors could learn about pickers, this was also an informal headquarters for those who own and operate them.

One owner, Kevin Bos of Geneseo, Ill., brought his 1948 John Deere B with a 226 corn picker and a Minneapolis Moline Uniharvester with a picker and sheller unit on it to the show.

Kevin is a busy man. Just on the heels of the Half Century Show, he was heading up the Antique Tractor and Engine Assoc. show in Geneseo. He had a chance to practice driving his corn picker at the Half Century Show, because he was probably too busy in Geneseo to drive anything!

Kevin had a unique story about his picker: “I bought the 226 corn picker from Bob Johnson. He bought it from a guy at the Half Century of Progress in 2009.

“Today, that guy was here, and all three of us were here at the same time with that picker.”

This show was special because so many were able to work with their machines in the field. Kevin is one of the lucky ones, with space to operate his corn picker at home as well. He said he sets aside a bit of his field for his corn pickers.

“My wife, Karen, says I was born in the wrong century,” Kevin laughed. “I was born in 1961, so I remember the group working as a family. It was a neat time.”

Working with his old corn picker, Kevin enjoys the questions and camaraderie with observers. “I run an ag repair and excavation business (Bos Farm Repair),” he said. “I have a few pieces and farm the home farm.”

He was part of Bob’s corn picker show in 2010. The next picker reunion will be in 2012, and they anticipate it in Walnut, Ill.

Along with Kevin his friend, Jeff Briggs, who is also from Geneseo, came along to drive a corn picker. “We were looking for a hobby,” Jeff said.

For more information about corn pickers, Bob suggested Googling the “corn picker forum,” where he said there is always interesting information online.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.