Highlights Archives
Don't Miss the Red Power Roundup!
For two decades the proud owners of tractors, trucks and all manner of farm machinery descended from the International Harvester Company, its subsidiaries and offshoots have been gathering annually to show off their machines and share their knowledge of, and passion for, all things International Harvester. Depending on the brand, those machines could wear the name McCormick, Deering, Case-IH, Farmall and a host of others. This year the 20th annual worldwide gathering of the International Harvester Collectors Club is coming to Madison Thursday through Saturday, July 23-25, on Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center. The Red Power Roundup, named for International Harvester's signature red color, will showcase more than 2,000 tractors, trucks, engines and farm machinery from the 1800s to today, and organizers say they expect 25,000 people from across the United States, Canada and Europe to attend.
Proceeds Support the Society's International Harvester Collection
The Wisconsin Historical Society, home of the McCormick-International Harvester Collection of documents, publications, photographs and films related to Cyrus Hall McCormick and the company he founded, will have an archival exhibit on display all three days of the event. Because of the Society's ties to International Harvester, the show's host, Wisconsin Chapter #4 of the International Harvester Collectors Club, will donate proceeds from the show to support the Society and its collections. In the past eight years, the International Harvester Collectors have raised more than $150,000 for the Society.
Educational, Entertaining and Fun
While active International Harvester collectors and club members will turn out in heavy numbers, anyone who enjoys farm machinery and gadgetry in general is welcome to attend. Exhibits, educational seminars, presentations on a wide range of topics ranging from quilting and historic barns to genealogy and preservation of photographs will take place all three days. On Thursday country-western artist Craig Morgan will perform at 3 p.m. in the Alliant Arena. One song very likely to be on Morgan's playlist is "International Harvester," in which he croons that he's a "… God-fearin', hard-workin' combine driver hoggin' up the road … on my International Harvester."
On Friday at 10:30 a.m. the owners of the many fine trucks and tractors on display will round them up and head out in a parade from the Alliant Center to the Wisconsin Historical Society, where they will proudly display their vehicles from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. before returning to the Alliant Center. Serving as parade marshal will be national best-selling writer and humorist Michael Perry, author of Truck: A Love Story, Population: 485 and Coop. Later that day, at 3:15 p.m., Perry will host a reading and book signing in the Alliant Arena.
If You Go
Gates open to the public each day at 8 a.m. Admission is $10 per day for adults (16 and older) or $5 per day for children 5-16 (under 5 free). Three-day passes are available for $25 for adults or $12 for children. For more information visit the Red Power Roundup page on the Wisconsin International Harvester Club website.
:: Posted July 23, 2009
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