Western Missouri Antique Tractor and Machinery Association Project

By Staff
Published on September 1, 1988
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View of the sorghum press operating at Adrian show last October.
View of the sorghum press operating at Adrian show last October.
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View of the sorghum press operating at Adrian show last October.
View of the sorghum press operating at Adrian show last October.
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Memorial to Willis Sexon at the Sorghum Works
Memorial to Willis Sexon at the Sorghum Works
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Flora Sexon and son Ferrel
Flora Sexon and son Ferrel

511 Graff Way Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64081

Each fall for the past several years, this club has had a fall
get-together and festival, on the first weekend in October at
Adrian, MO.

As with all growing clubs, one project has come to the front and
is an increasing pleasure to watch and be a part of. Your club
could also gain from this one’s experience.

The project-sorghum molasses- from the field, to the press, to
the boiling vat, to the capped jar on the breakfast table. It
returns the club at least $1000 each year and is only limited by
the available man and woman power. They sell out before it’s
ever made!

The Adrian club had a very active member and his wife who had
moved into town from their farm, Mr. and Mrs. Willis Sexson.

He offered his old sorghum press from the old farm. The club
said ‘sure, bring it on.’ Willis supervised rebuilding the
old press, bearing, etc. and putting it on a base for use. He then
built a new boiler vat and his family supervised the cooking off
required to make molasses.

This all came about during the past three years.

Last summer, to the sorrow of the club, Willis passed away. His
family followed in his footsteps and the sorghum cook-off went off
as usual, this past October. Plus, the club made a memorial to
Willis and mounted it near the sorghum works.

Well done Adrian!

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