By the time this issue is being read the Summer is waning and Autumn with all its beauty is just around the corner. The crops in this area look spectacular and corn is beginning to tassel and narrow rowed beans are shading the row. It seems like only yesterday the fields were bare and waiting to be worked and planted. This has been a spectacular summer with the 250th anniversary of our independence and our first tractor show outside of the Amana Colonies.
The 2026 Father’s Day Show
The Father’s Day show was an outstanding success. Wednesday the 17th 5-1/2” of rain fell on the Kalona area raising many questions as to how it would affect the grounds. Thursday tractors trailers and vehicles began showing up, there was about 25 or 30 people at the picnic style dinner held in the park. I did not hear any complaints The grounds were already draining the excess water and the grounds were good and firm. I counted 55 tractors and 20 lawn and garden that evening. Friday brought more sun and many more tractors and lawn and garden equipment. The local high school provided our National Anthem to officially start the day. This was our first show outside of the Amana colonies in 34 years, The club trailer was loaded with new items and the main building was full of merchandise also. There was several swap meet vendors also. A local family provided locally grown breakfast, lunch and dinner both Friday and Saturday. Ron Sexton provided an open sided tent adjacent to the food vendor with picnic tables for a great meal. Several young people participated in the pedal tractor pull. At one o’clock we lined up and went on a parade around the local senior citizen community and through town on our way back to the park.
Saturday started with a young lady singing the National Anthem and doing a wonderful job. Saturday revealed a large number of Persian Orange tractors along side about fifty lawn and garden representatives. Several tractors were exercised as they worked out on the dyno, drawing a crowd of interested people. There was plenty of shade and the introduction of Yatty’s ice cream bar was featured near the door of the main building.
The Allis Connection negotiated with the Museum to give free tours for club members of the village park and buildings by their volunteers. Saturday evening brought the banquet at the Kalona Museum, Ninety people attended. It is a wonderful location with so much to see. A great meal was provided with an Iowa pork chop featured as the main dish. No one left hungry, it was a delicious meal. Gerry VandeVorde led the scholarship auction to over $3,000.00. A big thank you to those that donated the bidders that help make this great program possible and Gerry VandeVorde.Sunday brought continuous showers and a decision was made not to parade through town. There was still a good number of tractors and people coming through to eat and shop for a t-shirt cap or that last part.
I want to take a moment and thank Rod and Tammy Plank for their help setting up and all the time they dedicate to the club trailer. We could not do it without them. Their daughter Hailey also helped through the day and at the banquet and thanked everyone for the scholarship that she qualified for in April.
Throughout the weekend many people commented on how nice the Kalona Park was and how good the show was. We had youngsters playing on the play ground equipment and took advantage of the swimming pool. A nice campground and plenty of room to expand with a community that supports our being there.
Calendar Photos and New Allis-Chalmers Flag Design
For sale throughout the summer and fall through the club trailer for only $7.00. If purchased through the mail $10.00 shipping and handling included. 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 and shirt design that the club will market through the club trailer.
Gerry Vande Vorde introduced a spec-cast model for our club members and sold out during the show. More opportunities may open up as time goes on. Dave Maddux introduced a 3-D rapid prototype night light designed around an A-C spark plug, A necessity for a man cave, also sold out with more coming for later shows.
Our new Website
As introduced in the last newsletter The Allis Connection now has a new website design. Use the same address, theallisconnection.com to reach our fresh design and explore what is offered. Our old site was very difficult to enter and they were always changing protocols making it difficult for someone like me to navigate. It was very difficult to add pictures and impossible to add an occasional video. I hope you will take the opportunity to use this tool.
Scholarship Banquet and Auction
Wishing all our scholarship winners a successful future and hope this $750.00 will aid in some small way. We have adjusted one sentence to to the student qualification:
Applicants must be or have a parent, guardian or grandparent that has been a paid member of The Allis Connection at the time of application as well as time of award for at least one year prior to the application and shall continue through the scholarship award.
To those who donated, attended and bid on scholarship items a giant THANK YOU.
Let’s keep the hope and the promise of America alive forever,.Happy 250th America.
Mike and Bonnie
…………be sure to get your Newsletter to read more.
*Last Updated September, 2026
