SIXTH SHOW

By Staff
Published on July 1, 1975

1050 Les Villa Lane, Manchester, Missouri 63011

The Illinois- Missouri Tractor & Engine Club had its first
show, July 20 & 21, 1974 at St. Peters, Mo. This was our 6th
show but the first show since our re-organization.

Friday evening was hot and dry as Clarence Sitton, Gene McAtee,
Ray Hartge, Jim Washek, Bob Lyle and Ken Gronewald drove the posts
for the safety fence around the exhibits. Chuck Rhoads had done a
fine job of laying out the exhibitors space with chalk dust so the
only part left was to drive the posts. This was made difficult due
to the drought. Those who drove the posts agreed that the ground
was harder than the posts! After the posts were driven, Ron Loos,
Roy Grob, and Charles Humphrey strung the ropes and all was ready
for Saturday’s crowds.

Those who camped on the grounds were awakened by thunder, wind
and rain, some 1-1/2 inches of it, which broke the drought that had
been burning the Midwest since early June. No one complained, as
all were glad for the moisture. The rain stopped by 10:30 and fair
weather held forth for the balance of the week-end.

Carter Freeman organized demonstrations and scheduled them so
all could see, a task made doubly difficult by lack of a sound
system. Nevertheless, wood-sawing, corn grinding and rock crushing
plus threshing and the other ‘jobs’ were done on time and
as scheduled.

Eileen Kreutzberg, Chairman of Button Sales, was assisted by
Virginia Loos, Helen Hartge, Rae Ann Hartge and Mrs. Shane. These
gals worked hard and sold all the buttons by Sunday noon.

Ollie Gaillard and his two sons were helped by a platoon of
younger members as they inflated, tied and sold balloons through
both days of the show.

Chuck Humphrey and Mark McAtee kept ice and water in the cooler
for all to drink.

Bill and Lucy Martin kept a roster of the exhibitors and made
identification cards for all the equipment shown.

Charlie Bethamann had his boom tractor on the grounds early and
together with John Bethamann and Mike March, unloaded and loaded
many engines thereby saving uncounted sore muscles and aching
backs.

Special thanks go to all those who exhibited and thereby made
the show possible, and a humble apology to anyone who helped make
our show the success it was but who were omitted from this
list.

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