This year at the Sublette Toy Show, International Harvester was the chosen brand. Among the beautiful Farmall red tractors lined up and down the streets of Sublette, Ill., there was a surprising splash of other color.

One was painted soft pink and another was painted black with pink accents. These tractors were part of a movement called “Pulling for the Cure.” The color and the message is to remind people to “think pink” and remember breast cancer; the mission is to raise awareness about breast cancer and funds for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer fund.

These lovingly restored IH pulling tractors can be accessed on Facebook at the Pulling for the Cure site. The most recently restored tractor was completed right before the Sublette show. Randy Wilkening from Hinkley, Ill., said this tractor is a 1959 M Farmall Puller that belongs to his father, Rick.

Lovingly named Pinky Too by this father-and-son duo, it had just been restored with the fuel tank, grill and hood painted by Hayes Body Shop from Dekalb, Ill. The hood was shined to a high gloss and visitors to the Sublette show could literally see their reflection in the shiny hood.

“I did the pink accents,” Randy added.

The group that put together Pulling for the Cure are all personally affected by breast cancer. “I lost my aunt to breast cancer and my grandmother is in remission,” Randy said.

“We started with the first tractor, Pinky, that was restored last year,” he shared, pointing out the 1958 M painted in bright pink. “We finished the M last summer. The tractor is owned by Jeff Hart. His mom and a friend of the family and an aunt all had breast cancer.”

Jeff and Randy go way back. Jeff said they grew up close to one another and that they have been friends for a long time. On Jeff’s tractor, the FFA logo is also prominent.

Randy said both he and Jeff and Randy’s dad are all FFA alumni. “We are all three involved in the restoration. Last year we had Pinky at the County Fair and we got our picture taken with Orion Sameulson.”

Jeff’s mom, Kim, shared that she has been cancer-free now for almost two decades, so she is a beacon of hope for those who learn they have breast cancer.

“Our Facebook page … goal is to get 1,000 ‘likes,’” Randy said. “We take donations and they go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. We accept donations at the Hinkley Bank, where we have an account called Pink Ribbon Tractor Fund.”

Rick Wilkening, who owned the tractor, lost his sister to breast cancer and his mother, who is in remission, also suffered from breast cancer.

Restoring an International Harvester tractor to represent this worthy cause was ideal for Rick because, “I worked for International Harvester in Sycamore, Illinois, for 15 years. I farm in Hinkley on a four-generation farm, and we used all IH, growing up.”

Besides the two Farmalls, there was also a miniature that was part of the display – a little pink pedal tractor that Rick said he won in a benefit raffle. Randy’s children, Bridget, Natalie and Kayden, all enjoy the lovely smaller version.

The exhibit at the show was through the efforts of many. One friend donated marshmallow-rice treats made in the breast cancer ribbon form, and Randy’s employer, Keene Transport, allowed him to use its trailer to transport the tractors to the show.

These words from their website pretty much wraps up what Randy and Jeff are trying to accomplish with their lovely and colorful tractors: “Pinky and Pinky Too are taken to personal show events, sporting events, truck pulls, parades and breast cancer fundraising events.

“We are very active with both tractors all year long. Breast cancer has affected our families, so that is why we put SO much of our own time into these tractors.”

Facebook members may access this related account at https://www.face book.com/#!/pages/Pulling-for-the- Cure/132093023546391

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