RANTOUL, Ill. – The Half Century of Progress is the largest working vintage farm show around.  It is coming back to Rantoul on Aug. 26-29, 2021. The event is held at the Rantoul Airport, sight of the former Chanute Air Force Base. The show takes place the weekend before the Decatur Farm Progress Show.

John Fredrickson, of the Half Century, said that the first Farm Progress Show was held in 1953. “I was a freshman in high school, and I remember we got out of school that day. They expected 20,000 and that day 75,000 showed up.”

With just a few days between both events, plan to attend both and see the greatest in agriculture half a century ago, then the greatest in agriculture today. At the Half Century of Progress, antique tractor collectors get to experience what farming and agriculture was like 50 years ago. Many bring their own antique equipment and experience this by using their antique farm machinery during live demonstrations.

This will be the 10th Half Century of Progress and the 9th at Rantoul. The first one was at Henning, Ill.

All brands of tractors are welcome and each day there are daily parades and field demonstrations. Fredrickson shared some of the highlights of this upcoming show. “One of the highlights of the Half Century of Progress will be our Rantoul Repower Roundup, which will be a huge display of tractors with repower engines in them.”

Fredrickson had his own repower tractor which was a Ford with a V8 engine in it. This tractor will be the raffle tractor for the I & I Tractor and Gas Engine Show which is held in Penfield, Ill.

“There are a lot of tractors around that people haven’t seen so this will be an opportunity for people to see these repower tractors,” he said. “Every major brand will be on display.

“Other highlights are the demonstrations that we do,” Fredrickson said. Those demonstrations include cornhusking as well as plowing and tillage work, corn harvesting, soybean harvesting and many field activities. The demonstrations all depend on the weather. Animal lovers need not despair, there are also horse farming and machinery demonstrations.

In mid-July, the crops at the Half Century of Progress looked great. “Corn was tasseling over two weeks ago,” Fredrickson said at the time of the interview.

Graham Bradley and Sears Sold tractors are having their annual show at the Half Century of Progress this year. Most other brands like John Deere and International Harvester all have their own tents as well. “All of the major brands are represented in some fashion at this show,” he added.

Along with all the tents and displays put on by the different brands of tractors, another draw is the Big Flag which is 120 x 65 feet and weighs 200 pounds. The flag teams who travel with the flag are truly dedicated volunteers and all money raised goes toward U.S. veteran projects. The project began in 1993 with the delivery of the first flag, since then eight flags have been purchased at an average cost of $7,500 each. The project was dedicated to all who have or are still serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Half Century of Progress also offers daily entertainment.

“Jolene Brown will be back this year on Thursday and Friday at the Half Century of Progress,” Fredrickson said.  She is the author of such books as, “Holy Crap! I Married a Farmer!” “The Top Ten Mistakes That Break Up a Family Business!” and “Sometimes You Need More Than a 2×4! How-to-tips to successfully grow a family business.”

On her website she said, “Farm-born and raised, I am truly a real ‘Farmer Brown.’ I’ve made it my life’s mission to help the thousands of farmers, growers and ranchers share their stories with the wider world. I help our families build a legacy, using my experience and tools to grow, fix and transition their businesses. And always – always! – with large helpings of interaction, humor and respect.”

Famed broadcaster Max Armstrong will be present and have his show on Saturday afternoon along with some of his colleagues from This Week in Agriculture. Armstrong will also serve as be one of the show announcers.

Each year FFA chapters set up with raffle tractors. Frederickson added this year the Taylorville FFA will help man the Hog Haven food stand and offer a host of other activities. Other entertainment includes sanctioned tractor pulls on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

For those bringing equipment, after arriving, register equipment at Hangar 2. One of the bonuses of bringing equipment is that exhibitors will receive a special keepsake and they also get two exhibitors passes.  If planning to operate equipment during the show, note that the collector must attend either a morning or afternoon safety training session in Hangar 2.

The show is a terribly busy one and a golf cart is a huge help in navigating the busy show. To rent a golf cart, call 866-275-2742. Collectors may bring their own golf cart, but there is a $40 tag fee, good for all days of the show. Drivers need to maintain a 5 mph limit for all vehicles on the grounds, tractors included, and no drivers are permitted under 16 years of age.

The cost for the show is, for adults, $20 per day or $40 for a 4-day Pass. Children 12 and under are free.  For information on the show, log onto www.halfcenturyofprogress.com, or call 217-595-5000.