“I host the event for my project,” explained Adam Waldeck a Lincolnwood High School senior.

At Heritage Days, the FFA chapter had a food stand where it sold hot dogs, pork patties, hamburgers and chips.

Last year’s event was rescheduled twice due to rain, but a few locals made it to the day. They were still able to make apple butter, and do a bit of corn picking and shelling.

“We had guys plowing until 10 o’clock at night,” Waldeck shared.

Last year also proved to be an award-winning project for Lincolnwood Chapter member Kaitlin Wietekamp of Raymond, Ill. “She won the Heritage Award based on this event,” Waldeck said. Wietekamp graduated from high school last year and has taken a year off before going to college to serve as the 2007 FFA State President.

As for Waldeck, he works all year planning this annual event and records his activities.

“All year long I keep a record book showing what I have done through the year, the money I have spent and the money I made selling the corn we shelled,” he said.

Waldeck said Heritage Days usually makes money. He said the proceeds toward a loan for a vehicle. At last count, Waldeck was the proud owner of a 1974 four-wheel-drive IH pickup, a 1950 Farmall MD and a 2000 Camaro he is paying off.

At Heritage Days, Waldeck’s project falls into the Home and Community Section because he said, “I’m educating the community about antique equipment.”

The idea began originally when Waldeck and his friends were talking about plowing and thought it would be a great idea for an FFA project. They were right. This year’s day was moved a mile south of the old one, and everyone showed up to play and plow. At the conclusion of the day, the group put their hot dogs on to roast and ate the food everyone brought, and toasted to another successful Heritage Day.

With local visitors bringing their antique equipment, and visitors just stopping by to see what was happening, this has become what Waldeck hoped his project would be - a community event.