Some Ag Talkers have said this will be their first visit to the "Half Century" @ Rantoul IL on Aug 24-27. Some are veteran visitors, some are veteran participants. Keep in mind, it only occurs every other year to coincide with the Farm Progress Show being held @ Decatur IL in Sept. Looks like we should have good weather for the HCOP. If it hasn't rained there lately, plowing might be a little tough. That's OK...we've been there before. Those that have plowed there before know to throw on a couple extra weights & to leave their "big plow" at home. If you normally pull 5 btm @ home, just bring 4 to Rantoul. It'll be much easier to smile for the camera when you're able to keep moving forward.

We'll be there with our red lineup, hopefully. Friends & neighbors have green stuff & orange stuff & off-green stuff...that's OK, we all get along fine. Below are the tractors we are bringing to plow. If you see us, yell, wave, or throw a clod of dirt.....whichever is easiest. I hope I'll get to plow when I'm not photographing or video-ing. Brother Larry & Son Kurt are full time plowers & tractor pullers....no camera stuff for them. We'll also have a couple of display only tractors in the exhibit area. Actually, we will have the IH 400 on the "piggy-back" this year.

There are probably another 25 guys from this NE IL area that hang together & plow down there. In fact, we're all going for warm up day  tomorrow @ Manteno IL. Some like to get their plows scoured before hitting the serious dirt @ Rantoul AFB.

First here's some links to 2015 videos:

https://youtu.be/jGFHIqIwtPY

https://youtu.be/K19XQ2WWHvk

https://youtu.be/EGe8Vi5K4tI

Here's link to 447 photos from 2015:

http://imageevent.com/lukowphotos/halfcenturyofprogress2015;jsessionid=a2eq03ba31.goose_s

Our red plow stuff: