Calvin Elder’s farmhouse in Mount Auburn, Ill., was the scene of the Ansar Ag Corps’ annual tractor drive, an event near and dear to Calvin and his wife, Sandee’s, hearts. When their daughter Brianna was born she was missing her hip socket and required surgery at age 15 months and then again at the age of 12.
At the time of the surgeries, the Elders were unaware of the Shriners and the help they offer parents and children. "I thought, no parent should ever have to go through what we went through," Calvin said.
Joining the Shriners has given him and other members of the Christian County Shriner Club and the Ag Corps a chance to help raise funds that, after expenses, go to the Ansars, which distributes money to the hospitals. "It is all for the kids, everyone in the area is very supportive," Sandee said.
"We are pretty passionate about where the money goes," Calvin echoed. "Anything to help the children."
The word "Ansar" means those who give, and last year the group raised between $2,000-$2,500. Calvin hopes they were able to match or beat that this year. The ride started in 2008; "This is the seventh year," he said.
The ride began in Springfield at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, with the first ride 48 miles and at the beginning of June. The group decided 48 miles was too far and that early June was too early for many farmers who participate in the ride. So, the following year the drive began at Lincoln’s New Salem – but the venue for the past five years has been at the Elders’ farmstead, and the time was moved to the last Sunday in June.
This year there were 47 tractor drivers with almost every general brand represented. There were Farmalls, John Deere, Massey, Minneapolis Moline, Case, Cockshutt, Ford, Allis Chalmers and Oliver. "Many of the drivers were from the regular crew," Calvin said, "and there were some new faces."
Besides the variety of tractors that went on the 27-mile drive, there was also a pickup truck hauling the Christian County Ansar Club Fez, plus a number of Gators and other support vehicles.
The tractor drive is put on through the efforts of Calvin, Ed Derler, Rodney Franklin and Brian Mitchell, along with their spouses. "Our wives helped put this on," Calvin said, "(and) there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work."
With torrential rainfall in central Illinois the week prior to the drive, the Ag Corps group were able to finish the ride in partial sunshine and eat their pork chop dinner before the rain came. Driver Mark Dozier from Morrisonville, Ill., was at the ride along with his dad, Duane.
"I have been doing this for the last three years," Mark said. "I’m a Shriner and like to try to help and support."
Being a Shriner is in the genes for the Doziers. "I have been a Shriner since 1984," Duane said. "I’ve made all the rides but this one and I did everything but ride in the tractor drive because of back trouble. Mark drove my 1958 Cockshutt 550."
Joe Mateer of Edinburg, Ill., was part of the drive and said this was his third or fourth year. He drove his 1966 Allis Chalmers D17.
Gene and Ginger Hardee were also at the tractor drive. This couple are from Mount Auburn and Ginger said Gene was a charter member of the Ag Corps. He drove his 1964 MM 602, adding a spot of Prairie Gold to the predominately Farmall red. Besides MM, Gene also collects Deere.
A collector of another green, Oliver, was Dick Hitchens, at the drive with his wife, Karole. The couple hail from Oreana, Ill., and Dick had just wrapped up a tractor drive in Rockville, Ind.
"We stayed in the Jailhouse Inn," Karole chimed in.
After serving their time, the couple wanted to be part of the Ansar drive, but the tire on both his tractor and trailer didn’t cooperate, and Dick said, "We just didn’t have time to get them fixed."
Not everyone brought their tractor. Joe Sinnard from Illiopolis just came to admire the tractors, talk tractors and see some of the cool items on Calvin’s farm, like the wooden wagon that graces the entry to his drive.
"That was my grandfather’s," Calvin said. "Grandpa told the story of taking corn one time to town and bringing back coal. The coal was higher than the corn, so he took the corn back home and burned it instead."
"There are a lot of people that don’t call us. Anyone with a child with orthopedic need can come to us," Calvin explained of the Shriners. "Our hospital doesn’t have a billing department. They take insurance if you desire, but you don’t have to."
Log onto www.ansarshrine.com/index.html for more on the organization.
Readers with comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.
