Chapter 33 hosted the International Harvester Winter Convention in Michigan City, Ind., March 5-7. It was an arresting sight to see Farmall Red tractors parked in front of the Blue Chip Casino; outside the Star Dust Ballroom, vendors were set up with interesting tractors, as well, that had to have gamblers doing a double-take!

One high-gloss, high-up machine on display in the vendor area belonged to Jeff Greer, who brought his Farmall 400 LP cotton tractor. Jeff, who hails from Westville, Ind., said his dad, Darryl, found the tractor at one of Aumann Auctions’ sales. “I had been looking for a 400 LP tractor,” Jeff said. “I have a gas and diesel and a few other LPs at home.”

The tractor originally sold at Baker Implement, in Kennett, Mo., and was used in the southeastern Missouri cotton fields. “It was in its original clothes and not restored,” Jeff quipped.

The tractor came to life under the hands of restorer Greg Short of Valparaiso, Ind. Once it was mechanically sound, the tractor was painted and finished by Jim Benson of Benson Tractors of Morris, Ill. Jeff and his girlfriend, Trisha Steffel, even had a cotton bale on display underneath this cool tractor.

One vendor put the “International” in Harvester – Larry Smith from Mt. Hope, Ontario, was set up with IH collectibles. Besides being an avid collector, he has history with IH that begins early in his life and career: “I grew up on a farm; my family farmed since 1843.”

After high school, Larry worked for IH at the Hamilton Plant, which at that time served as the headquarters for IH in Canada. He ordered and kept track of what he called “accommodation merchandise.” He did the job for seven months, then moved up to a stock supervisor position for 18 months.

In 1962 the Hamilton plant was closing and he was supposed to move over to Toronto, but had mixed emotions because at that time his father was home on the farm alone and his soon-to-be-wife, Lindy, was a registered nurse, and they loved where they were.

Before his job ended and he transferred out, he got a call that changed his career path. “I was getting married in 30 days and took an order from a local dealer. He asked where I was going now and I told him Toronto.”

The dealer, O’Neil’s Farm Equipment Ltd., just happened to have an opening and this was just the opportunity Larry was looking for: “In 1962, I went to work in parts and sales. Then I bought the dealership out in 1971.”

The Smith family kept the O’Neil name and still run the dealership and farm. Larry is an avid collector who, along with two others, is compiling a book on IH Canadian history.

The IH winter show offered a couple of tours, one a sold-out tour of a tractor collector’s private museum. That Friday night a consignment auction brought a large variety of items that sold to a full house. Items varied from a set of IH Cub Cadet hubcaps that sold for $325, to an IH stocking cap that sold for only $20.

During the daytime, collectors enjoyed several workshops. One of the sessions was provided by Steve Henderson, whose family ran a dealership in Wabash, Ind. “Dad had a dealership from 1942 to 1962. After Dad graduated from college, it was the height of the Depression and he worked in Kentucky at an oil refinery.

“He quit, then taught school before becoming a block man for International Harvester. He learned that the dealership in Wabash was for sale and he bought it and the property.”

Memories are plentiful for Steve, who went on to be a schoolteacher. He remembers when the 1955 National Plowing Contest was held at “ground zero in our county, and we were the only dealership in the county. Dad got me out of school to help.” The dealership closed in the spring of 1962 and today it is the site of a Chevy dealership.

At the Saturday night banquet speakers Rodney Miller and Jan Karl of the hit show “Small Town Big Deal” put on a presentation about their series, which brings stories about real people in small towns of rural America into living rooms all over the country. Next year, “Small Town Big Deal” is offering the first Vintage Tractor Caribbean Cruise, Jan. 10-17; to find out more about this trip, log onto www.smalltownbigdeal.com

With the winter show behind IH collectors, their next big hurrah is the 26th Red Power Round Up where Missouri Chapter #1 is preparing to welcome them to the Historic Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, June 10-13. Log onto http://rpru2015.com for details about this big Farmall Red Show.

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