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Ozarks Older Iron Club
Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association (EDGE&TA).
Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association EDGE&TA, is a non-profit, non-stock organization incorporated in the state of Wisconsin in 1959. The association consists of local branches in four regions of the United States. The regions are: Central, Eastern, Southwest, and Northwest with the Ozarks Older Iron Club being Branch 28 of the central region.
The purpose of the organization is to promote collection, restoration, preservation, and exhibition of gasoline and oil engines, gas and steam tractors, power driven machinery, and other equipment of historical value. Further, to promote the fellowship of those with common interests.
New clubs require a minimum of 20 members to join the National Organization and become a Branch. As of 2024, EDGE&TA had 131 branches and 6,200 members.
In 1998 the EDGE&TA Hall of Fame was established to honor those members who have made significant contributions toward the purpose of the organization. Ozarks Older Iron Club Branch 28 of EDGE&TA is proud to have 17 members who have been introduced into the Hall of Fame.
Oren Sanders
Inducted 2008
Oren Sanders was born March 23, 1924. Oren showed up at Branch 28’s first show. With his hat and gloves in hand, he asked what he could do. Oren knew the area and knew a lot of the people and that weekend if something was needed he was there and went and got things to make the show work. Oren wasn’t a charter member, but worked as if he was a member. Oren joined at the second meeting shortly after the first show. Oren served as president of branch 28 for 2 or 3 years. Branch 28 was started in West Planes and migrated to Willow Springs and then on to the present location at Cabool, MO. Oren was at all the moves and is still a member.
Oren was raised on a farm at Thayer, MO. He went to St Louis after high school and studied to be a machinist and worked in that trade for a while and then joined the army. After he came back from the war he married and worked several jobs. In 1958 He and his wife Jesse purchased a John Deere dealership in Alton, MO and after about 6 years they purchased the John Deere dealership in West Planes in 1966 and operated both for another 9 years. Oren said he earned his Doctor’s Degree in John Deere equipment in the 15 years he was a dealer. He came in just as the 4 cylinder tractors were being introduced.
Oren has collected and restored several tractors through out the years. His collection is down to one John Deere LA now. Oren has helped many people starting out in the hobby of collecting and restoring tractors and equipment.
Oren is another man that has served his time in the farm community and deserves the honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Oren Sanders was born March 23, 1924. Oren showed up at Branch 28’s first show. With his hat and gloves in hand, he asked what he could do. Oren knew the area and knew a lot of the people and that weekend if something was needed he was there and went and got things to make the show work. Oren wasn’t a charter member, but worked as if he was a member. Oren joined at the second meeting shortly after the first show. Oren served as president of branch 28 for 2 or 3 years. Branch 28 was started in West Planes and migrated to Willow Springs and then on to the present location at Cabool, MO. Oren was at all the moves and is still a member.
Oren was raised on a farm at Thayer, MO. He went to St Louis after high school and studied to be a machinist and worked in that trade for a while and then joined the army. After he came back from the war he married and worked several jobs. In 1958 He and his wife Jesse purchased a John Deere dealership in Alton, MO and after about 6 years they purchased the John Deere dealership in West Planes in 1966 and operated both for another 9 years. Oren said he earned his Doctor’s Degree in John Deere equipment in the 15 years he was a dealer. He came in just as the 4 cylinder tractors were being introduced.
Oren has collected and restored several tractors through out the years. His collection is down to one John Deere LA now. Oren has helped many people starting out in the hobby of collecting and restoring tractors and equipment.
Oren is another man that has served his time in the farm community and deserves the honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Robert Moore
Inducted 2009
Robert Moore was born Feb 14, 1931 and raised in Iowa on a farm. Enlisted in the Navy (Korean War) for four years and married Barbara while in the Navy. He served on a repair ship. Returned to Iowa and rented a farm. When the farm was sold, he packed up the family and moved to Douglas County, Mo, and bought 100 acres. They have lived there for over 40 years. He spent most of the time employed as a mechanic (very good) by various tractor dealers in the area. Bob and his three sons deal in antique tractor parts in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Bob is a charted member of Branch 28. Bob and a few other men wanted to start a tractor club for people who had interest in restoring and exhibiting old tractors and gas engines. When a new project is started, you can believe that Bob will be in the middle and usually do a lot of work on anything that needs to be done. He and his wife Barbara have 3 boys and 1 girl. The whole family is involved in the hobby, some maybe more than others. When the show starts you will find Barbara in the cook shack cooking or doing something to keep thing going. Bob will be out on the grounds making things work.
At present he is vice-president of Branch 28 and is a past president of Ozarks Older Iron Club of Cabool, Missouri. We can always count on Bob to be at the club work parties and many times he is there by himself on odd days. He gives a lot of his time and labor to the community, working in the food pantry, volunteer fire department, cleaning up tornado damage in Oklahoma, ice storm damage, and cutting firewood for widow ladies. He is a fountain of knowledge on old tractors and equipment and is always willing to share with anyone.
Bob is a John Deere collector along with other brands. He is another man that has served his time in the farm community and deserves the honor of being inducted into the National Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association Hall of Fame.
Robert Moore was born Feb 14, 1931 and raised in Iowa on a farm. Enlisted in the Navy (Korean War) for four years and married Barbara while in the Navy. He served on a repair ship. Returned to Iowa and rented a farm. When the farm was sold, he packed up the family and moved to Douglas County, Mo, and bought 100 acres. They have lived there for over 40 years. He spent most of the time employed as a mechanic (very good) by various tractor dealers in the area. Bob and his three sons deal in antique tractor parts in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Bob is a charted member of Branch 28. Bob and a few other men wanted to start a tractor club for people who had interest in restoring and exhibiting old tractors and gas engines. When a new project is started, you can believe that Bob will be in the middle and usually do a lot of work on anything that needs to be done. He and his wife Barbara have 3 boys and 1 girl. The whole family is involved in the hobby, some maybe more than others. When the show starts you will find Barbara in the cook shack cooking or doing something to keep thing going. Bob will be out on the grounds making things work.
At present he is vice-president of Branch 28 and is a past president of Ozarks Older Iron Club of Cabool, Missouri. We can always count on Bob to be at the club work parties and many times he is there by himself on odd days. He gives a lot of his time and labor to the community, working in the food pantry, volunteer fire department, cleaning up tornado damage in Oklahoma, ice storm damage, and cutting firewood for widow ladies. He is a fountain of knowledge on old tractors and equipment and is always willing to share with anyone.
Bob is a John Deere collector along with other brands. He is another man that has served his time in the farm community and deserves the honor of being inducted into the National Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association Hall of Fame.
Jerry Vandervort
Inducted 2013
Jerry has been an active member since the club was started 25 years ago. He seldom misses a meeting or club event. He has helped represent our club nd EDGETA in many other local events and parades driving and displaying his tractors.
We would like to thank and honor Jerry for his many years of supporting the club by his continued help and participation in all the club\’s activities. He always shows up to help out.
Jerry has been a great help in developing the club\’s show grounds by providing untold numbers of loads of chat and gravel via his dump truck. On a work day, you can count on him being there on his mower to help mow the grounds. He has been consistently successful in getting local businesses to donate ads in our annual show program which has greatly helped to bring in money to keep our branch solvent and prosperous. The past few years he has used his personal golf cart to assist handicap attendees around our show grounds during shows.
Jerry has been an active member since the club was started 25 years ago. He seldom misses a meeting or club event. He has helped represent our club nd EDGETA in many other local events and parades driving and displaying his tractors.
We would like to thank and honor Jerry for his many years of supporting the club by his continued help and participation in all the club\’s activities. He always shows up to help out.
Jerry has been a great help in developing the club\’s show grounds by providing untold numbers of loads of chat and gravel via his dump truck. On a work day, you can count on him being there on his mower to help mow the grounds. He has been consistently successful in getting local businesses to donate ads in our annual show program which has greatly helped to bring in money to keep our branch solvent and prosperous. The past few years he has used his personal golf cart to assist handicap attendees around our show grounds during shows.
Tony Friga
Inducted 2013
Tony is one of our founding members and has been active for the past twenty-five years. He attends nearly every meeting and all of our events. He has served as secretary and safety officer. As safety officer, he was avid in seeing that EDGETA guidelines were adhered to.
We wish to thank Tony and recognize him for all his efforts over the years to help keep the club and it activities alive, safe, informative and fun.
Tony has donated many items of farming equipment for use and permanent display at Branch 28. He has always shown many of his rare and unusual collectble items at our shows. We have always shown many of his rare and unusual collctable items at our shows. We have for years printed a program for our annual show and Tony has always done a spectacular job of getting paid ad donations from businesses. These donations have been a significant addition to our treasury.
Tony is one of our founding members and has been active for the past twenty-five years. He attends nearly every meeting and all of our events. He has served as secretary and safety officer. As safety officer, he was avid in seeing that EDGETA guidelines were adhered to.
We wish to thank Tony and recognize him for all his efforts over the years to help keep the club and it activities alive, safe, informative and fun.
Tony has donated many items of farming equipment for use and permanent display at Branch 28. He has always shown many of his rare and unusual collectble items at our shows. We have always shown many of his rare and unusual collctable items at our shows. We have for years printed a program for our annual show and Tony has always done a spectacular job of getting paid ad donations from businesses. These donations have been a significant addition to our treasury.
David Melton
Inducted 2016
David Melton helped organize and start Branch 28 in Cabool MO. He has served as an officer in past years, and is currently serving his second term as President. David has spent many, many hours volunteering during Br 28 activities. He is proud supporter of EDGE&TA and makes lots of donations of time and money to help newer members as well as the old timers.
David Melton should be inducted into the Hall of Fame for many reasons. Chief among these is the time he has spent organizing our facilities and activities. He is open minded to new ideas while keeping our goals and purposes in the fore front. He also has monitored the second and third generation in his own family and lots of other families. He was instrumental in developing a way for junior members to become involved in order to help provide for continuation of Branch 28. David has great leadership skills in that he is a great delegator and organizer for various personalities. He also takes an active role in educational activities that Branch 28 is involved in.
David has spent a lot of time working to collect and preserve antique farm equipment. He has maintained a tractor owned by his late father. He has purchased other tractors and equipment over the years and truly likes to exhibit the various pieces in his collection. He participates in several shows and demos in South Central Missouri. He also takes part in our annual tractor drive and various parades in our community and surrounding area. His goal is to collect, preserve and exhibit antique equipment of all kinds and strive to educate the public about the agricultural heritage of our area.
David and his wife farm and have a milking operation. Dave run a bulk milk pickup operation for many years and is always talking tractors and equipment to his farmer friends. If you need something he will always be there to help you.
If you need a part for a John Deere tractor at a pull, he would take it off his tractor to help you. David, Becky and their 2 sons will load a 48 foot lowboy trailer and go to shows. We need more people in our organization to promote EDGEA like David does. He deserves the honor of being inducted into the National Hall of Fame.
David Melton helped organize and start Branch 28 in Cabool MO. He has served as an officer in past years, and is currently serving his second term as President. David has spent many, many hours volunteering during Br 28 activities. He is proud supporter of EDGE&TA and makes lots of donations of time and money to help newer members as well as the old timers.
David Melton should be inducted into the Hall of Fame for many reasons. Chief among these is the time he has spent organizing our facilities and activities. He is open minded to new ideas while keeping our goals and purposes in the fore front. He also has monitored the second and third generation in his own family and lots of other families. He was instrumental in developing a way for junior members to become involved in order to help provide for continuation of Branch 28. David has great leadership skills in that he is a great delegator and organizer for various personalities. He also takes an active role in educational activities that Branch 28 is involved in.
David has spent a lot of time working to collect and preserve antique farm equipment. He has maintained a tractor owned by his late father. He has purchased other tractors and equipment over the years and truly likes to exhibit the various pieces in his collection. He participates in several shows and demos in South Central Missouri. He also takes part in our annual tractor drive and various parades in our community and surrounding area. His goal is to collect, preserve and exhibit antique equipment of all kinds and strive to educate the public about the agricultural heritage of our area.
David and his wife farm and have a milking operation. Dave run a bulk milk pickup operation for many years and is always talking tractors and equipment to his farmer friends. If you need something he will always be there to help you.
If you need a part for a John Deere tractor at a pull, he would take it off his tractor to help you. David, Becky and their 2 sons will load a 48 foot lowboy trailer and go to shows. We need more people in our organization to promote EDGEA like David does. He deserves the honor of being inducted into the National Hall of Fame.
Becky Melton
Inducted 2016
Becky Melton has made significant contributions to EDGE&TA Branch 28. She has been in charge of the kitchen crew (cook shack) for all functions of Branch 28. This includes two shows annually, a fun pull, a Christmas Dinner and food shack duties at several antique tractor pulls that we organize in neighboring communities. She volunteers in other ways including the sign-in booth, advertising and educational activities and she announces the 2 daily parades. She is one of the people that you want to know.
We would like to honor this person mainly for her dedication over the past several years as our food shack supervisor. She is in charge of purchasing supplies, creating the menu and serving the visitors to our activities. She will however take time from these duties to participate in the tractor parades and pulling competition during our shows. Becky also helps with the advertising of our events and even made a quilt to raffle to help raise funds for the club. She encourages family members and other persons to keep the club active and provide educational activities in our community and surrounding areas. She is not one that goes after the glory of being in charge of these events. She is a people person and always meets you with a smile. You may think, what does the cook shack has to do with EDGETA. When you go to a show you always want to know where you are going to eat. Branch 28 doesn’t charge admission at their gate. They make their money from the food service and advertising in the community.
Becky has worked tirelessly over the past twenty or more years in helping Branch 28 to reach its goals and dreams. She owns several tractors that she drives in parades and tractor trail rides. She also is an active member of our growing list of antique pullers group. She helps a tremendous amount in the exhibition of all antique equipment. As supervisor for our food serving area, she is very aware of the need to raise money to support all of the activities of EDGE&TA Branch 28.
What are some of her other duties: Becky and her husband own a dairy farm and Becky does most of the milking operation and other farm duties while her husband owned bulk milk trucks and was gone from home a lot. Becky is the wife of Branch 28 President. She fields a lot of the calls about branch business and most of the time if you want to know what is going on, just call Becky. Becky always has a smile on her face even if she is in pain from all the farm duties. Our organization needs more people like Becky. This is the reason we think Becky Melton deserves the honor of being inducted into the EDGETA Hall of Fame.
Becky Melton has made significant contributions to EDGE&TA Branch 28. She has been in charge of the kitchen crew (cook shack) for all functions of Branch 28. This includes two shows annually, a fun pull, a Christmas Dinner and food shack duties at several antique tractor pulls that we organize in neighboring communities. She volunteers in other ways including the sign-in booth, advertising and educational activities and she announces the 2 daily parades. She is one of the people that you want to know.
We would like to honor this person mainly for her dedication over the past several years as our food shack supervisor. She is in charge of purchasing supplies, creating the menu and serving the visitors to our activities. She will however take time from these duties to participate in the tractor parades and pulling competition during our shows. Becky also helps with the advertising of our events and even made a quilt to raffle to help raise funds for the club. She encourages family members and other persons to keep the club active and provide educational activities in our community and surrounding areas. She is not one that goes after the glory of being in charge of these events. She is a people person and always meets you with a smile. You may think, what does the cook shack has to do with EDGETA. When you go to a show you always want to know where you are going to eat. Branch 28 doesn’t charge admission at their gate. They make their money from the food service and advertising in the community.
Becky has worked tirelessly over the past twenty or more years in helping Branch 28 to reach its goals and dreams. She owns several tractors that she drives in parades and tractor trail rides. She also is an active member of our growing list of antique pullers group. She helps a tremendous amount in the exhibition of all antique equipment. As supervisor for our food serving area, she is very aware of the need to raise money to support all of the activities of EDGE&TA Branch 28.
What are some of her other duties: Becky and her husband own a dairy farm and Becky does most of the milking operation and other farm duties while her husband owned bulk milk trucks and was gone from home a lot. Becky is the wife of Branch 28 President. She fields a lot of the calls about branch business and most of the time if you want to know what is going on, just call Becky. Becky always has a smile on her face even if she is in pain from all the farm duties. Our organization needs more people like Becky. This is the reason we think Becky Melton deserves the honor of being inducted into the EDGETA Hall of Fame.
Dave Clark
Inducted 2017
Dave has served as President of Ozarks Older Iron Club (OOIC). He is currently on the Board of Directors and has been for several years. This board is very active and meets monthly to discuss ideas that should be presented to the membership meetings of our Branch 28. Dave volunteers many hours to further the activities of Ozark Older Iron Club.
We want to honor Dave for his tireless efforts to help further our branch activities. He always has a display of “hit and miss” engines, hand grain grinders and other items at our spring and fall shows. He also spends lots of time helping design and organize an ad book we have for visitors and members. This book also lists the activities and history of our club. Dave is also an integral part of the “Tuesday Work Crew” that keeps our grounds and buildings in good shape. This crew also reconditions and preserves the many tool and implements that have been donated to our grounds.
Dave has his own collection of “hit and miss” engines, scale steam engines, and a Model A pickup. He displays these items at our shows and also other festivals in our area. He has returned a donated loom back to its working condition. He also helps keep our two steam traction engines in safe and working order. Dave also worked to organize and label several display cases of small tools and household items for the public to view inside our clubhouse. He has spent many hours researching info for lots of pieces of antique implements, etc. and made signs to put on these to inform visitors about the function and history of the items. He wants items back to original working order to better show the agricultural heritage of our area. Dave is an inspiration to all our members in the collection, preservation, and exhibition of antique equipment for both outdoor and indoor uses.
Dave has served as President of Ozarks Older Iron Club (OOIC). He is currently on the Board of Directors and has been for several years. This board is very active and meets monthly to discuss ideas that should be presented to the membership meetings of our Branch 28. Dave volunteers many hours to further the activities of Ozark Older Iron Club.
We want to honor Dave for his tireless efforts to help further our branch activities. He always has a display of “hit and miss” engines, hand grain grinders and other items at our spring and fall shows. He also spends lots of time helping design and organize an ad book we have for visitors and members. This book also lists the activities and history of our club. Dave is also an integral part of the “Tuesday Work Crew” that keeps our grounds and buildings in good shape. This crew also reconditions and preserves the many tool and implements that have been donated to our grounds.
Dave has his own collection of “hit and miss” engines, scale steam engines, and a Model A pickup. He displays these items at our shows and also other festivals in our area. He has returned a donated loom back to its working condition. He also helps keep our two steam traction engines in safe and working order. Dave also worked to organize and label several display cases of small tools and household items for the public to view inside our clubhouse. He has spent many hours researching info for lots of pieces of antique implements, etc. and made signs to put on these to inform visitors about the function and history of the items. He wants items back to original working order to better show the agricultural heritage of our area. Dave is an inspiration to all our members in the collection, preservation, and exhibition of antique equipment for both outdoor and indoor uses.
Barbara Moore
Inducted 2017
Barbara was and has been a very faithful supporter of Ozarks Older Iron Club (OOIC) and EDGETA since Branch 28 was organized. Her husband is one of the founding members of Branch 28. When they had their first show and tractor pull, Barbara was in charge of the snack shack. She has volunteered all through the years to be in charge of the eat shack (kitchen) and is a very faithful worker.
Barbara has been the supervisor of the cook shack for all of Branch 28’s activities since the first show and tractor pull. The first several years she directed other volunteers as they cooked and sold hamburgers, hotdogs, pies, etc. to the persons in attendance. This was all done with folding tables, popup canopies and extension cords for the fryers and cookers. When Branch 28 bought their permanent show grounds and built a building, Barbara was instrumental in the design of the kitchen and serving area. She has consistently worked to upgrade the facilities and equipment in order to develop the cook shack into a very successful profit center for our club.
Barbara has been a significant force behind all the work and dedication in EDGETA, Branch 28 throughout the years. Her work ethic and influence has been instrumental in the building and improvements of our cook shack without the officers and board of directors needing to be involved in the day to day operations. She has encouraged other persons to become involved. This has carried over to the younger members as they develop a sense of continuation for helping Branch 28 collect, preserve, and exhibit antique equipment. Barbara’s influence will be very important as following generations work to continue the traditions of our past agricultural methods and equipment.
Barbara was and has been a very faithful supporter of Ozarks Older Iron Club (OOIC) and EDGETA since Branch 28 was organized. Her husband is one of the founding members of Branch 28. When they had their first show and tractor pull, Barbara was in charge of the snack shack. She has volunteered all through the years to be in charge of the eat shack (kitchen) and is a very faithful worker.
Barbara has been the supervisor of the cook shack for all of Branch 28’s activities since the first show and tractor pull. The first several years she directed other volunteers as they cooked and sold hamburgers, hotdogs, pies, etc. to the persons in attendance. This was all done with folding tables, popup canopies and extension cords for the fryers and cookers. When Branch 28 bought their permanent show grounds and built a building, Barbara was instrumental in the design of the kitchen and serving area. She has consistently worked to upgrade the facilities and equipment in order to develop the cook shack into a very successful profit center for our club.
Barbara has been a significant force behind all the work and dedication in EDGETA, Branch 28 throughout the years. Her work ethic and influence has been instrumental in the building and improvements of our cook shack without the officers and board of directors needing to be involved in the day to day operations. She has encouraged other persons to become involved. This has carried over to the younger members as they develop a sense of continuation for helping Branch 28 collect, preserve, and exhibit antique equipment. Barbara’s influence will be very important as following generations work to continue the traditions of our past agricultural methods and equipment.
John Locke
Inducted 2018
John joined the club in 2003 and continues to be a very active member. He attends all of our meetings and shows. He is also one of the regular Tuesday Crew members that comes to the clubs machine shop on every Tuesday to work on restoration of donated equipment, grounds maintenance and improvements. He was instrumental as designer and welder for our new iron pipe fence.
With his carpentry and house building experience he has been crew leader and very involved and helpful with the construction and maintenance of our clubs buildings.
He not only donates a lot of time to the club but has also provided on loan some of his personal equipment such as his Ford tractor with bucket which can be used by him and other members. He also brings his lawnmower and uses it before our club events.
John also spends many hours prior to our two annual shows getting the grounds and many displays ready.and cleaning up afterwards. He is very good at sharpening the blade on our log saw.
He donated an IHC model 10 grain drill which he and other members use to plant various crops on our grounds to be harvested and used during our two shows. He always volunteers to help harvest the crops by either driving the tractor or riding the harvester.
When someone has a large piece of equipment to donate John has always volunteered and used his truck and trailer to bring it to the club grounds.
He is currently a member of our Board of Directors and has been a member of the board for the past 9 years. He is also our very diligent Safety Officer.
John joined the club in 2003 and continues to be a very active member. He attends all of our meetings and shows. He is also one of the regular Tuesday Crew members that comes to the clubs machine shop on every Tuesday to work on restoration of donated equipment, grounds maintenance and improvements. He was instrumental as designer and welder for our new iron pipe fence.
With his carpentry and house building experience he has been crew leader and very involved and helpful with the construction and maintenance of our clubs buildings.
He not only donates a lot of time to the club but has also provided on loan some of his personal equipment such as his Ford tractor with bucket which can be used by him and other members. He also brings his lawnmower and uses it before our club events.
John also spends many hours prior to our two annual shows getting the grounds and many displays ready.and cleaning up afterwards. He is very good at sharpening the blade on our log saw.
He donated an IHC model 10 grain drill which he and other members use to plant various crops on our grounds to be harvested and used during our two shows. He always volunteers to help harvest the crops by either driving the tractor or riding the harvester.
When someone has a large piece of equipment to donate John has always volunteered and used his truck and trailer to bring it to the club grounds.
He is currently a member of our Board of Directors and has been a member of the board for the past 9 years. He is also our very diligent Safety Officer.
Wayne Simpson
Inducted 2018
Wayne Simpson has been a very active member since when he joined in 1997. He attends most all the meetings and always has a great display at all of our shows. He displays and operates his very old drag saw and other antique equipment.
At our two shows he dresses up as a clown. He calls himself Efferham Hobbs and entertains the crowd, and club members. He has also been known to get on a lawn tractor and pull with the kids at our shows kiddie lawn tractor pull.
He is a regular member of the weekly Tuesday Crew helping in the repair and restoration of donated items. He donated a c.1925 Bartholow gas powered drag saw which he is in the process of restoring. It is one of only three produced by Bartholow, a local blacksmith, and the only one known to exist.
He has frequently helped working on the construction of our buildings and improvements.
At his farm he built a log cabin and filled it with vintage items as it would have been long ago. Every year he invites the membership to join him at the cabin for a great lunch. It is a great event and well attended.
Wayne Simpson has been a very active member since when he joined in 1997. He attends most all the meetings and always has a great display at all of our shows. He displays and operates his very old drag saw and other antique equipment.
At our two shows he dresses up as a clown. He calls himself Efferham Hobbs and entertains the crowd, and club members. He has also been known to get on a lawn tractor and pull with the kids at our shows kiddie lawn tractor pull.
He is a regular member of the weekly Tuesday Crew helping in the repair and restoration of donated items. He donated a c.1925 Bartholow gas powered drag saw which he is in the process of restoring. It is one of only three produced by Bartholow, a local blacksmith, and the only one known to exist.
He has frequently helped working on the construction of our buildings and improvements.
At his farm he built a log cabin and filled it with vintage items as it would have been long ago. Every year he invites the membership to join him at the cabin for a great lunch. It is a great event and well attended.
Jim Brassfield
Inducted 2019
Jim has been a member of Branch 28 since the very early years of the club’s existence. Jim served a term as president of our club in the past. He has been in charge of the tractor pulls that we have at each show (spring and fall) for many, many years. Jim is always ready to organize our pulls as well as some pulls in neighboring towns. These help to create an interest in and an awareness of our club and our purpose of preserving the agricultural history in our area.
We want to honor Jim for his dedication to our club. Jim is the driving force that organizes and oversees all pulling events on our club grounds. This includes antique tractors, classic tractors and kids pedal tractor pull. Jim owns several tractors and brings them for exhibition and for the pulling contests. When Jim was selected as “track boss,” the club used a flat piece of metal that people stepped on at assigned places to add weight. We have progressed to the point that we now use two mechanical sleds side by side on the same track, Jim is in charge of getting personnel to help register the pullers, weight of their tractors, and the class they pull in. Jim was very instrumental in Branch 28 owning a good, permanent scale to weigh pulling tractors. He and several others traveled over 4 hours to get a donated sled and get in installed on our grounds. Jim was the driving force to get one of our members to design a computer system to record distances and winners in each class. This has really streamlined the “bookkeeping and announcing” during our pulls.
Jim has served as president and track boss” very well for Branch 28. He has well organized pulls that continue to attract new spectators and visitors to our shows. This in turn gets more interest in our demonstrations and exhibits as Branch 289 strives to continue the traditions of or past agricultural methods and equipment.
Jim has been a member of Branch 28 since the very early years of the club’s existence. Jim served a term as president of our club in the past. He has been in charge of the tractor pulls that we have at each show (spring and fall) for many, many years. Jim is always ready to organize our pulls as well as some pulls in neighboring towns. These help to create an interest in and an awareness of our club and our purpose of preserving the agricultural history in our area.
We want to honor Jim for his dedication to our club. Jim is the driving force that organizes and oversees all pulling events on our club grounds. This includes antique tractors, classic tractors and kids pedal tractor pull. Jim owns several tractors and brings them for exhibition and for the pulling contests. When Jim was selected as “track boss,” the club used a flat piece of metal that people stepped on at assigned places to add weight. We have progressed to the point that we now use two mechanical sleds side by side on the same track, Jim is in charge of getting personnel to help register the pullers, weight of their tractors, and the class they pull in. Jim was very instrumental in Branch 28 owning a good, permanent scale to weigh pulling tractors. He and several others traveled over 4 hours to get a donated sled and get in installed on our grounds. Jim was the driving force to get one of our members to design a computer system to record distances and winners in each class. This has really streamlined the “bookkeeping and announcing” during our pulls.
Jim has served as president and track boss” very well for Branch 28. He has well organized pulls that continue to attract new spectators and visitors to our shows. This in turn gets more interest in our demonstrations and exhibits as Branch 289 strives to continue the traditions of or past agricultural methods and equipment.
Ralph Moore
Inducted 2019
Ralph has been involved in Branch 28 for over 25 years (his father, Bob Moore, helped organize the club). Ralph is a machinist by trade. He has done several repair jobs on equipment and especially on our two mechanical sleds. During the show, he pitches in wherever needed. Ralph lives several miles from our grounds so he can’t be involved on a weekly basis. Ralph and his wife (she works in the kitchen during the shows) always makes a good donation to branch 28 to help as we preserve, restore, and demonstrate items from our agricultural heritage. For the 30 anniversary of Branch 28, he and his family brought and displayed 30 tractors that were all from the same manufacturer.
We are honoring Ralph for his dedication and service to Branch 28 over these many years. He also has saved Branch 28 lots of money through his knowledge and time as a machinist.
Ralph owns many, many antique and classic tractors. He always brings them to our shows for exhibition and pulling. He is always ready and willing to help other members with problems that develop with their tractors and implements. Ralph also helps on the pulling track during the antique and classic tractor pulls at each of our shows. He really likes to help the younger members of our club. Ralph is very devoted to the collections, preservation, and exhibition of machines and equipment that are very much a part of our agricultural heritage.
Ralph has been involved in Branch 28 for over 25 years (his father, Bob Moore, helped organize the club). Ralph is a machinist by trade. He has done several repair jobs on equipment and especially on our two mechanical sleds. During the show, he pitches in wherever needed. Ralph lives several miles from our grounds so he can’t be involved on a weekly basis. Ralph and his wife (she works in the kitchen during the shows) always makes a good donation to branch 28 to help as we preserve, restore, and demonstrate items from our agricultural heritage. For the 30 anniversary of Branch 28, he and his family brought and displayed 30 tractors that were all from the same manufacturer.
We are honoring Ralph for his dedication and service to Branch 28 over these many years. He also has saved Branch 28 lots of money through his knowledge and time as a machinist.
Ralph owns many, many antique and classic tractors. He always brings them to our shows for exhibition and pulling. He is always ready and willing to help other members with problems that develop with their tractors and implements. Ralph also helps on the pulling track during the antique and classic tractor pulls at each of our shows. He really likes to help the younger members of our club. Ralph is very devoted to the collections, preservation, and exhibition of machines and equipment that are very much a part of our agricultural heritage.
Mort Hall
Inducted 2020
Mort has been an active and indispensible member of our club for many years. As a regular member of our "Tuesday Crew", he has lent his many skills and talents to our club for countless hours. "Tuesday Crew" is a group of members who meet weekly at our club's show grounds to maintain the buildings, grounds, and equipment. The crew is more than maintenance, though. Mort has helped the crew build several of our buildings. Whether it's down in a ditch working on plumbing, or high overhead adding a roof or trusses, Mort is right there in the thick of things sharing his talents and time. In winter, when attention turns to restoring the club's yearly raffle tractor, you guessed it, Mort's there too. Besides Tuesdays, weekends you'll see Mort out at area events and populated public places with the raffle tractor selling tickets to raise money for the club.
Our club has several tractors with mowers attached, but they aren't practical to get close to the buildings and around displays. Mort has donated his own mowing equipment to do the more detailed work.
But wait, there's more. On show days, Mort is our announcer. This is where Mort's unique gifts really shine. Perhaps no one in the club knows more of the members or more history of tractors than Mort. Mort announces the tractor pulls and parades and always has colorful commentary on both the equipment and the drivers. There's no doubt that Mort adds significantly to the allure and appeal of our shows.
Mort is a perfect candidate for the Hall of Fame because he is the member who is everywhere doing anything that must be done to help the club. Whether he's announcing at the show, visiting on the show grounds, or working the raffle ticket sales, he is the perfect ambassador for our club. He has considerable knowledge of agricultural history and a personable demeanor to disseminate it to the public. We want to honor Mort for not only the quantity of contributions he has made to our club, but also the quality. I can think of no better way to honor Mort and thank him for his extraordinary service than inducting him into our Hall of Fame.
Mort is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to antique equipment and practices.
Whether he's talking to the public at a show, or working with our members as we set up and maintain our equipment displays, Mort is our "go to" guy for information. That information may be the history of the piece, its identification, or often, how to maintain or recondition it. Of course, Mort's skills with the equipment don't stop at knowledge, his hands are as greasy as anyone's at the end of the day because of his commitment to preserving our history. I think we need to find a way to preserve members like Mort. They are far more rare and valuable
Mort has been an active and indispensible member of our club for many years. As a regular member of our "Tuesday Crew", he has lent his many skills and talents to our club for countless hours. "Tuesday Crew" is a group of members who meet weekly at our club's show grounds to maintain the buildings, grounds, and equipment. The crew is more than maintenance, though. Mort has helped the crew build several of our buildings. Whether it's down in a ditch working on plumbing, or high overhead adding a roof or trusses, Mort is right there in the thick of things sharing his talents and time. In winter, when attention turns to restoring the club's yearly raffle tractor, you guessed it, Mort's there too. Besides Tuesdays, weekends you'll see Mort out at area events and populated public places with the raffle tractor selling tickets to raise money for the club.
Our club has several tractors with mowers attached, but they aren't practical to get close to the buildings and around displays. Mort has donated his own mowing equipment to do the more detailed work.
But wait, there's more. On show days, Mort is our announcer. This is where Mort's unique gifts really shine. Perhaps no one in the club knows more of the members or more history of tractors than Mort. Mort announces the tractor pulls and parades and always has colorful commentary on both the equipment and the drivers. There's no doubt that Mort adds significantly to the allure and appeal of our shows.
Mort is a perfect candidate for the Hall of Fame because he is the member who is everywhere doing anything that must be done to help the club. Whether he's announcing at the show, visiting on the show grounds, or working the raffle ticket sales, he is the perfect ambassador for our club. He has considerable knowledge of agricultural history and a personable demeanor to disseminate it to the public. We want to honor Mort for not only the quantity of contributions he has made to our club, but also the quality. I can think of no better way to honor Mort and thank him for his extraordinary service than inducting him into our Hall of Fame.
Mort is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to antique equipment and practices.
Whether he's talking to the public at a show, or working with our members as we set up and maintain our equipment displays, Mort is our "go to" guy for information. That information may be the history of the piece, its identification, or often, how to maintain or recondition it. Of course, Mort's skills with the equipment don't stop at knowledge, his hands are as greasy as anyone's at the end of the day because of his commitment to preserving our history. I think we need to find a way to preserve members like Mort. They are far more rare and valuable
Dorothy Locke
Inducted 2021
You've heard, "10% of the people do 90% of the work." Well, Dorothy has been part of that 10% for 17 years. She has been in charge of our kitchen that handles our concessions at our shows. She has overseen the Quilt displays at our shows, and when she wasn't the one in charge, she was jumping in with both feet helping wherever and whenever needed. Sometimes she was helping register new members, selling raffle tickets, or working the merchandise table. Even though she's busy at the shows, she does find time to show off her tractors in the daily parades. Perhaps her greatest contribution to our club is as our historian. I'll cover that aspect of her service later.
Dorothy should be in the Hall of Fame because she has consistently gone the extra mile to serve our club and its members. She is not on the board of directors, but attends every board meeting and contributes much to the discussions because of her extensive knowledge of our club's history. She has lived and chronicled much of it.
The Hall of Fame is not only an honor bestowed to acknowledge exemplary service to the club, but it also serves to motivate and inspire new members to try to achieve a higher level of service. Dorothy is exactly the kind of member you want your younger members to emulate and look up to. Dorothy's time and quality of service warrant her selection for this honor.
When it comes to the collection, preservation and exhibition of antique equipment, Dorothy has found a special niche. If you come to our clubhouse, which also serves as our museum, you will find a table loaded with notebooks. Upon opening the books, you'll see pictures, newspaper articles, old show ads, flyers, and programs. Our club's history is preserved in volume after volume of scrapbook style notebooks. Dorothy is the one responsible for keeping a record of the growth of our club, our show grounds, and the shows we've hosted through the years. Amazingly, as technology changed, Dorothy stayed abreast of it, and our history is digital, too. Dorothy has videos that run on a large screen TV in our clubhouse during the show that preserve memories of our club, its members, and its growth. Each show she adds to the volumes so we will always remember the people and the hard work that have made our club our pride and joy. It is only fitting that we induct her into the Hall of Fame and insure her place in our club's history.
You've heard, "10% of the people do 90% of the work." Well, Dorothy has been part of that 10% for 17 years. She has been in charge of our kitchen that handles our concessions at our shows. She has overseen the Quilt displays at our shows, and when she wasn't the one in charge, she was jumping in with both feet helping wherever and whenever needed. Sometimes she was helping register new members, selling raffle tickets, or working the merchandise table. Even though she's busy at the shows, she does find time to show off her tractors in the daily parades. Perhaps her greatest contribution to our club is as our historian. I'll cover that aspect of her service later.
Dorothy should be in the Hall of Fame because she has consistently gone the extra mile to serve our club and its members. She is not on the board of directors, but attends every board meeting and contributes much to the discussions because of her extensive knowledge of our club's history. She has lived and chronicled much of it.
The Hall of Fame is not only an honor bestowed to acknowledge exemplary service to the club, but it also serves to motivate and inspire new members to try to achieve a higher level of service. Dorothy is exactly the kind of member you want your younger members to emulate and look up to. Dorothy's time and quality of service warrant her selection for this honor.
When it comes to the collection, preservation and exhibition of antique equipment, Dorothy has found a special niche. If you come to our clubhouse, which also serves as our museum, you will find a table loaded with notebooks. Upon opening the books, you'll see pictures, newspaper articles, old show ads, flyers, and programs. Our club's history is preserved in volume after volume of scrapbook style notebooks. Dorothy is the one responsible for keeping a record of the growth of our club, our show grounds, and the shows we've hosted through the years. Amazingly, as technology changed, Dorothy stayed abreast of it, and our history is digital, too. Dorothy has videos that run on a large screen TV in our clubhouse during the show that preserve memories of our club, its members, and its growth. Each show she adds to the volumes so we will always remember the people and the hard work that have made our club our pride and joy. It is only fitting that we induct her into the Hall of Fame and insure her place in our club's history.
Cheryl Kuschel
Inducted 2021
Cheryl has been more than just a member of our club for many years, she's been a busy member. I honestly don't believe any one member of our club knows all the things she has done for us, but I'll try to explain a few. Our club house is full of displays and artifacts, like a mini museum. Cheryl is the one who painstakingly labels cleans, and organizes each display case and item. Many of our members get their newsletters by e-mail, but Cheryl is the one who goes to town and picks up the hard copies, addresses, stamps, and mails them so our members who are challenged with technology still get our newsletters. At shows, Cheryl takes care of much of the signage, and volunteers at the membership table, the merchandise table, and in the Kitchen. Anywhere you look, if something needs done, Cheryl is ready to help. She has also logged countless hours selling raffle tickets for our raffle tractor at area events and stores.
Cheryl is a prime candidate for the Hall of Fame because she is the type of member clubs dream of having. She's hard working, intelligent and resourceful. Just being around her motivates me and inspires me to do more for the club. When it comes to strategizing and trying to improve our club and show, she's always there with insightful ideas. Several years ago, Cheryl noticed a need for more seating for our elderly show attendees. Her brainchild was to have the Tuesday crew build several simple portable park benches to place around the grounds on show days. To fund the project, each bench was sponsored and included a brass plaque honoring the sponsor. Now our grounds is populated with frequent places for the our attendees to rest as they roam through the displays and demonstrations. There is no dispute our club is better because of her helpful efforts and her wise counsel.
Regarding her contributions to the collection, preservation and exhibition of antique equipment, Cheryl proudly shows her family's antique tractor at each show. More importantly, though, I redirect your attention to the opening paragraph and her involvement with our displays and artifacts. Many of the artifacts in our cases were donated by Cheryl, including small shop tools, household items, and toys. Cheryl and Dave Clark (a Hall of Fame member) are the two members most responsible for cataloging of the artifacts and recording their history. Cheryl is indispensible in maintaining our museum, and considering she is one of our older members, we will be calling on her soon to train someone to follow in her footsteps. It could easily take 2 members to cover all the ground she can cover alone. She exemplifies what a Hall of Fame member should be.
Cheryl has been more than just a member of our club for many years, she's been a busy member. I honestly don't believe any one member of our club knows all the things she has done for us, but I'll try to explain a few. Our club house is full of displays and artifacts, like a mini museum. Cheryl is the one who painstakingly labels cleans, and organizes each display case and item. Many of our members get their newsletters by e-mail, but Cheryl is the one who goes to town and picks up the hard copies, addresses, stamps, and mails them so our members who are challenged with technology still get our newsletters. At shows, Cheryl takes care of much of the signage, and volunteers at the membership table, the merchandise table, and in the Kitchen. Anywhere you look, if something needs done, Cheryl is ready to help. She has also logged countless hours selling raffle tickets for our raffle tractor at area events and stores.
Cheryl is a prime candidate for the Hall of Fame because she is the type of member clubs dream of having. She's hard working, intelligent and resourceful. Just being around her motivates me and inspires me to do more for the club. When it comes to strategizing and trying to improve our club and show, she's always there with insightful ideas. Several years ago, Cheryl noticed a need for more seating for our elderly show attendees. Her brainchild was to have the Tuesday crew build several simple portable park benches to place around the grounds on show days. To fund the project, each bench was sponsored and included a brass plaque honoring the sponsor. Now our grounds is populated with frequent places for the our attendees to rest as they roam through the displays and demonstrations. There is no dispute our club is better because of her helpful efforts and her wise counsel.
Regarding her contributions to the collection, preservation and exhibition of antique equipment, Cheryl proudly shows her family's antique tractor at each show. More importantly, though, I redirect your attention to the opening paragraph and her involvement with our displays and artifacts. Many of the artifacts in our cases were donated by Cheryl, including small shop tools, household items, and toys. Cheryl and Dave Clark (a Hall of Fame member) are the two members most responsible for cataloging of the artifacts and recording their history. Cheryl is indispensible in maintaining our museum, and considering she is one of our older members, we will be calling on her soon to train someone to follow in her footsteps. It could easily take 2 members to cover all the ground she can cover alone. She exemplifies what a Hall of Fame member should be.
Al Bartleson
Inducted 2023
Al has been a valued member of our club for 19 years. He immediately started serving the club working the shows, selling raffle tickets at remote events, and serving on the “Tuesday Crew”.
“Tuesday Crew” is our name for those members who come every Tuesday to maintain and improve our grounds and equipment. Al faithfully served on the Tuesday Crew for many years until health issues slowed him down.
Al has been working our shows for all 19 years. In his early days, he drove the people wagon around to give guests an easy way to get from display to display, and helped with our demonstrations. These days, he is the friendly and encouraging face at the gate, welcoming and directing our guests.
Al has often taken on some of the less prestigious tasks of shows. Al recognized the need for more trash receptacles and supplied them, and he also was the guy behind the scenes making sure they were emptied and maintained.
Away from the grounds, Al and his wife Brenda continue to promote our club by participating in local parades and festivals. He and Brenda are often at events in Houston, Licking, Republic, and Cabool, showing off our raffle tractor and selling tickets to win it.
Al has also made many unseen donations of lumber or materials to help build and maintain our grounds and buildings. Al is not one of those high profile members who everyone notices, but he has consistently worked for all these years to improve our club.
Al has been a valued member of our club for 19 years. He immediately started serving the club working the shows, selling raffle tickets at remote events, and serving on the “Tuesday Crew”.
“Tuesday Crew” is our name for those members who come every Tuesday to maintain and improve our grounds and equipment. Al faithfully served on the Tuesday Crew for many years until health issues slowed him down.
Al has been working our shows for all 19 years. In his early days, he drove the people wagon around to give guests an easy way to get from display to display, and helped with our demonstrations. These days, he is the friendly and encouraging face at the gate, welcoming and directing our guests.
Al has often taken on some of the less prestigious tasks of shows. Al recognized the need for more trash receptacles and supplied them, and he also was the guy behind the scenes making sure they were emptied and maintained.
Away from the grounds, Al and his wife Brenda continue to promote our club by participating in local parades and festivals. He and Brenda are often at events in Houston, Licking, Republic, and Cabool, showing off our raffle tractor and selling tickets to win it.
Al has also made many unseen donations of lumber or materials to help build and maintain our grounds and buildings. Al is not one of those high profile members who everyone notices, but he has consistently worked for all these years to improve our club.
Brenda Bartleson
Inducted 2025
Brenda joined Branch 28 in 2007. She jumped right in volunteering to help the club wherever she was needed, including working concessions at the shows and selling raffle tickets in the community. In 2012, she stepped up and accepted the position of Club Treasurer. She has served in that position through 2023, and has done a bang-up job, making club finances clear to even the most math challenged of our members.
Her contributions don’t stop at Treasurer for 11 years. Brenda has been responsible for putting together our Ad Book (show program), for years. This book takes considerable planning and lay-out work and accounts for a large part of our club’s annual income.
Brenda also maintains the inventory of caps, shirts, and other memorabilia we sell at our shows. And guess who staffs the sales table, where she sells raffle tickets, drinks, and memberships too. Brenda volunteers to go out with the raffle tractor to shows and community events to sell raffle tickets. You’ve probably seen her and husband, Al, at the Republic “Steam O Rama” (Branch 16).
The reason we want to give Brenda this honor is because she’s an irreplaceable super-hero and has been blessing our club for years with her tireless contributions. It’s time for us to show our appreciation to her for her service.
Her contributions to collection and preservation of antique equipment would include her consistent exhibition of her Allis Chalmers collection at our shows. She and her late husband Al (inducted 2023) also contributed lumber and materials to build a replica farmhouse on our grounds that we use as a museum to display all sorts of antique relics and furnishings.
Brenda joined Branch 28 in 2007. She jumped right in volunteering to help the club wherever she was needed, including working concessions at the shows and selling raffle tickets in the community. In 2012, she stepped up and accepted the position of Club Treasurer. She has served in that position through 2023, and has done a bang-up job, making club finances clear to even the most math challenged of our members.
Her contributions don’t stop at Treasurer for 11 years. Brenda has been responsible for putting together our Ad Book (show program), for years. This book takes considerable planning and lay-out work and accounts for a large part of our club’s annual income.
Brenda also maintains the inventory of caps, shirts, and other memorabilia we sell at our shows. And guess who staffs the sales table, where she sells raffle tickets, drinks, and memberships too. Brenda volunteers to go out with the raffle tractor to shows and community events to sell raffle tickets. You’ve probably seen her and husband, Al, at the Republic “Steam O Rama” (Branch 16).
The reason we want to give Brenda this honor is because she’s an irreplaceable super-hero and has been blessing our club for years with her tireless contributions. It’s time for us to show our appreciation to her for her service.
Her contributions to collection and preservation of antique equipment would include her consistent exhibition of her Allis Chalmers collection at our shows. She and her late husband Al (inducted 2023) also contributed lumber and materials to build a replica farmhouse on our grounds that we use as a museum to display all sorts of antique relics and furnishings.
For more information about the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association (EDGE&TA) You can click on the link below.
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