The Red Power Round Up at Du Quoin, Ill., offered an opportunity to meet up with those who bleed Farmall red and love antique tractors and their stories.

One such guy is Rodney Miller, who is now hosting the new show on RFD-TV, “Small Town Big Deal,” which debuted Sept. 6.

Rodney has explained the show focuses on “life in rural America and why people outside the Beltline live there and why those that don’t, dream of it.”

This is not an overnight show that came together willy-nilly. “The show has been in development for six years and we did a pilot nine years ago,” Rodney said.

Before hosting “Small Town Big Deal,” Rodney – who originally hails from Benton, Ill. – served as CEO of McCormick International and Montana Tractors. He was instrumental in establishing U.S. operations for Valtra tractors, and territory management for Long and Mahindra tractors.

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy helped develop the show, which is based in Atlanta, but it is filmed in states all across the country – although Rodney admits it has a bit of a Southeast flavor. “The stories are about anything, people, places and events with a rural flavor.”

Rodney said he is awed by the patriotism of those who hail from rural areas. “Only 23 percent of the people live in rural America, but 40 some percent serve in the military,” he added.

The Red Power Round Up made sense as a place for Rodney Miller to debut his new show. He brought the 1978 International Harvester 1086 that once belonged to his father, Gene. The tractor was purchased new in 1979 from Gene’s brother, Charles, who was an IH dealer in McLeansboro, Ill.

This tractor means a lot to Rodney not only because it was his father’s, but because he was with Gene the day he bought it, so it takes on new meaning that he has followed the tractor since the day it came to the farm.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.