The Allis Connection is Moving
The directors met in Kalona IA and reviewed the facilities at the Kalona city park. It is a very nice, well maintained park with a renovated main building with a nice playground for the children and a municipal swimming pool, with a lifeguard, a nice bathroom with showers located in the center of everything, no need for a handicap port-a-potty. An area to display the tractors and lawn and garden equipment and swap meet, a full service camp ground with water and 25Amp electric and a clean out station for $25/day. 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. Many other shops in the surrounding area offer many unique opportunities. There are more motel rooms available 13 miles south in Washington for under $100.00. We believe you will enjoy these new facilities and the community that welcomes us. Kalona is a real community not a tourism based community.
Membership Banquet
This years membership banquet will be held in the Kalona museum adjacent to the historical village, 715 D Ave, Kalona, IA 52247. Doors will open at 5pm, dinner will begin serving at 6pm April 11, 2026.
The museum is very nice and our members will find it very interesting and can identify with many of the displays. A local caterer will cater the meal in typical Amish style. Meals will be $25.00 per plate with the meeting afterwards. Three directors are running: Mike Anderson, Skip Welte and Dale Heintz. We need to have another candidate running. We have a good team but, time is marching and it isn’t pretty. We need new ideas and fresh leadership. This club is well financed and is known nationwide for our scholarships, calendars, newsletter and merchandise sales. This is a direct result of our membership and their dedication to Allis-Chalmers, after all, the directors came from the membership and our future directors will also. I believe this move to Kalona, IA will put us in a better position for the next decade or even longer.
Vern Ratcliff
It is with sadness that I report Vern Ratcliff’s passing, August 29, 2025. Vern and Viola of Webster City, IA were always present at The Allis Connection shows and Farm Progress Shows in Boone IA. They were inducted in to. The Allis Connection Hall of Fame in 2006. Their son Brandon was the first scholarship awarded back in 2001. Their presence and support will be missed. For the full obituary see the web site and in the newsletter.
Scholarship
Do not forget that The Allis Connection Scholarship is again offered to eligible individuals. The subject for the 2026 scholarship essay will be: “What Allis-Chalmers innovations are still used today”? For complete information and requirements go to TheAllisConnection.com, the easiest $750.00 you will find, and you will learn something new about Allis-Chalmers as well.
Gerry VandeVorde
Gerry is on board as the membership coordinator and doing very well. He has taken ownership and has expanded the position with the addition of fliers to calendar purchases. We sell a large number of calendars to individuals who may not be familiar with our club and what membership may offer.
Arland and Carolyn Lepper Museum Auction
Arland and Carolyn Lepper and their family have decided to disperse the museum that they had established and dedicated to the Allis-Chalmers row crop combine, May 30th 2026. Auction will be on-line and live, more information will be forth coming.
Calendar Photos
Get your favorite Allis-Chalmers photos in to Dale Heintz so his team can evaluate them. Page winners receive 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
Till next time, this truly is the greatest country in the world.
Mike and Bonnie
............be sure to get your Newsletter to read more.
This was last up-dated December, 2025