Newsletter and the USPS
The Directors are noticing a delay in receipt of your newsletter. They were mailed the first week in March with the stated delivery by the USPS in 7 to 12 working days not including weekends or holidays. Needless to say they have fallen behind miserably. We depend on their commitment to their schedule. Hopefully it will improve.
The Allis Connection is Moving
Ron Sexton, Theresa, Bonnie and I have spent several hours working with the Kalona IA Chamber of Commerce, Mennonite Village Museum Staff, Pleasant View Nursing Home and area businesses, as well as caterers and our food trailer vendor in the effort to make this a great move for our club. One of the things that makes this easy is the attitude of the people of Kalona and their willingness to work with us and sincere desire for us to make this a positive experience. The Wayland tractor club is planning an Allis Chalmers tractor drive from just north of Mt Pleasant to the Kalona Park on Friday the 19tth. We are again advertising on KILJ radio station a one minute promotional spot. We have been doing this for the last three years with good success. Things are coming together. The Kalona area offers tours of Mennonite and Amish farms and businesses for those interested in alternative life styles and farming methods. The Allis Connection attendees will be offered special rates for guided and unguided tours of the Village Park adjacent to the museum. Kalona surrounds the park facilities with two hardware stores, quilt store, Firestone tire store, grocery store, motel, restaurants and several gas and diesel service stations as well as convenience stores, a museum and historical village. Other shops in the surrounding area offer many unique opportunities. There are more motel rooms available 13 miles south in Washington for around $100.00. The Kalona local government is allowing our attendees to drive side by sides and golf carts on local streets without the purchase of a permit. Please conduct yourselves accordingly and be sure you are covered by insurance.
Scholarship Banquet and Auction
This years scholarship banquet and Auction Saturday June 20th, 2026 will be held in the Kalona museum adjacent to the historical village, 715 D Ave, Kalona, IA 52247. Tickets will be available at the Club trailer Friday and Saturday, still $25.00 per person. Definitely one of the best banquet meals in the US. Doors will open at 5pm, dinner will begin serving at 6pm. A local caterer will cater the meal in typical Amish style, with the scholarship auction afterwards. The museum is very nice and our members will find it very interesting and can identify with many of the displays, with a large display dedicated to area veterans of past conflicts.
This year we awarded eleven $750.00 scholarships the subject of the essay was; “What Allis-Chalmers innovations are still being used today”. It is always interesting to see how much they really seem to understand the topic. This years Hall of Fame award went to Dave and Heidi Clausen, owners and editors of The Old Allis News. The Allis Connection has been lucky enough to have inducted Club members who influenced, developed, created and produced The Old Allis News magazine, Richard and Nancy Sleichter, Norm and Donna Meinert, Nan Jones and Dave and Heidi Clausen. These individuals insured that there was a periodical that promoted and showcased our hobby, and provided a method of communication throughout our hobby.
Arland and Carolyn Lepper Museum Auction
On May 30th 2026, Arland and Carolyn Lepper and their family will be dispersing the museum that they had established and dedicated to the Allis-Chalmers row crop combine. Auction will be on-line and live, more information will be forth coming. Our own Gerry VandeVorde will be the auctioneer and sale manager. It is a great opportunity for everyone to view and participate in the dispersal of a lifetime of collecting and be able to take a little bit of Allis-Chalmers history home.
Calendar Photos and model
The 2027 Allis Connection calendar has been released and will be for sale throughout the summer and fall through the club trailer for only $7.00. This is the 20th edition and the only all Allis-Chalmers featured calendar in the United States. Photos are of member projects and favorite Allis-Chalmers pieces of equipment. Get your favorite Allis-Chalmers photos in to Dale Heintz so his team can evaluate them. If selected winners receive a 1 year membership or extension and a free calendar, a $35.00 value just for sharing a picture of your hobby, Information is on the back of the calendars. We will also be debuting a new flag design that the club will market through the club trailer. Spec Cast has also made available 75 620 Lawn and Garden 1/16 scale tractors especially produced for The Allis Connection. More information and order form in the newsletter.
Till next time, God Bless America, protect our troops,
Mike and Bonnie
…………be sure to get your Newsletter to read more.
*Last Updated April, 2026
