Download the 2019 2nd Quarter Newsletter Paris Old Threshers Flyer 2019
2019 State Show Flyer – Paris Old Threshers
2019 2nd Quarter IH Tour with Leon Walker
“We just had fun collecting”, that is what Leon Walker says when you listen to him talk about the variety of collections that Leon and Lou have collected over the years. Leon started out collecting A&W root beer paraphernalia from root beer mugs, signs, menu boards, and a bear driving an A&W race car. Some other collectibles are Jewell Tea Autumn Leaf pattern dishes, cookie jars, and Red Wing crockery. 
Leon started his Farmall and International Harvester collection with literature from flea markets. One piece of literature is on an F-20 tractor. In the piece of literature, it tells that you can farm 125 to 200 acres of ground and it will replace 8 to 12 horses. He also has one on an F-12 tractor and it says it will replace 3 to 5 horses.
It seems that when Leon collects something, he goes all in. He not only has an M-1 Grand International Harvester rifle that was produced after the Korean War but also has the bayonet and a grenade thrower. His cream separator has the manual and the parts book that goes along with it. His collection of belt buckles is very extensive as he has his own number when they are produced for the Red Power Round Up each year. Leon and Lou have gone to the Cub-A-Rama so many years, collecting a pin each year, they named a tree after them called the Walker Tree in Fredericktown. 
In his collection, he also has some family treasures like this Great Grandpa’s mustache mug and a Hagerman snuff box from 1840. Leon is the second owner of a Farmall 200 after doing some work for the first owner who worked at Jasper Implement. There were probably about 10 sold new in Jasper.
In 2001, Leon and Lou went Germany for an International Harvester show and to tour the factories in Germany. While they were there, they also visited with a man from England and the gentleman knew that Leon wanted to buy a Super Farmall Cub Vineyard and so he got a hold of Leon when one came up for sale. It was put on a Ferry from England to Sweden and shipped to Canada. The second French tractor that Leon bought was a French 230 Utility came through New York and got held up in customs because of Foot & Mouth Disease. There were only sixty of the Vineyard tractors made and as far as Leon knows he has the only one left in existence.
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[/ezcol_1half_end]When Leon and Lou got together in December of 1957, Leon was from Jasper and Lou was from Sarcoxie and they were married the next July. Lou was working split shift as a switch board operator. Leon would drop her off at work, pick her up for supper, take her back to work and pick her up again. They became dairy farmers and bought the farm they live on in 1963. Later in life Lou became a beautician and Leon was an electrical contractor both working from their home. Leon lost his beloved Lou in September of 2018. They raised three sons together Larry and wife Kelly live in Barton County, Mark lives in Joplin, and son Kevin and wife Sherry live in Collinsville. They also have three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In 2017 Leon and Lou hosted one of the International Harvester Chapter 1 meetings and since then they have built a building to house much of their collection. Thank you to Leon for giving us a tour, Leon is just a great guy to visit with. ~ Libby Youse| Missouri Chapter Newsletter Editor
Stanton Plows Snow with Farmall A
This picture is of Stanton Gragg of Lonejack, Mo. Stanton get festive around the holidays and also uses his Farmall A to push snow off with. It has certainly taken summer a while to get here this year.
Our President’s Message
It doesn’t seem like we can catch a break with the weather! We went from a cold and nasty winter to a very wet spring with plenty of violent storms, it doesn’t seem like many areas of the state have been spared. We’ve been lucky here and haven’t had anything but lots of rain and nobody’s able to get in the fields. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone that has been impacted by the weather, hopefully there will be better days coming.
We had a great meeting March 16th at Whole Hog BBQ in Springfield, there was good attendance and great food. We also had a good turnout of items for our annual auction after the meeting thank you to everyone that donated items. I would like to send a big thanks to Doug and Linda Climer and also Michael and Rebecca Climer for getting everything put together and bringing items to display.
Our next membership meeting will be July 13 during our state show at Mark Twain Old Threshers in Paris, MO July 11-14. We will hold Directors elections at this meeting, the directors that terms are due are David Youse, Richard Rackers and Ron Strange.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy summer, everybody please use safety while going to and from the shows. I hope to see everyone in Paris.
~ Andrew Andrew Dawson – President
1st Quarter Chapter 1 Meeting
Thank You to the Climer Family
Doug and Linda Climer along with son Michael and his wife Rebecca are shown standing in front of their 3488 Hydro tractor. Their family was gracious and sponsored the first quarter meeting and meal for 2019 at the Whole Hog Restaurant in Springfield, Mo. Also pictured are grandchildren Caleb Climer and McKenna Shook.
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Doug and Linda Climer in front of their Scout II
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Museum Trailer Update
On the 14th of April Bob and Brenda Buxton, Sue Yeager, Rod Gooding, James and Tana Mitschele and Penni and Randy Weiss met at Bob’s house to continue the finishing touches on the Museum trailer, we have come a long way and have just a few small things to complete. On 18 May Penni and Randy met with Bob and Brenda to mount the sickle grinder and Magneto demonstrator. Sue’s artistic talents have been very helpful in coordinating the displays. We are putting together an updated inventory and making signs for some items to help explain their history and purpose. Andrew is building a cup display to help us better display all the different cups we have acquired. Ultimately, we would like to add some LED lighting to the inside of the trailer to help everyone to better see our new displays. The end goal is to provide a trailer that can be easily hauled, setup and enjoyed by show goers to increase awareness about IHC. Bob plans to have the trailer at the Paris show in July, hope everyone gets a chance to see the improvements we have made. ~ Submitted by Randy Weiss
Conway FFA Tractor Restoration
The Conway Ag Power class has been working on the restoration of a 1948 M Farmall. As of to date, they have had the starter rebuilt, the radiator fixed, and changed out all the seals and 2 bearings. The wide front end was replaced by a donated narrow front end to restore it back to the way it was originally. The wide front end was purchased by James Mitchele which gave the class money to buy other parts. They have had rear wheels, new bushings, and lights donated also, along with a drawbar, and new exhaust manifold donated by Tom Lindley. The class is presently waiting for a reply back from Titan where they had filled out an application for four new tires. The class is still in need of an alternator. After putting everything back together, all that will be left to do is to sand, paint, and put the decals on.
The Ag Power class is still planning on showing the tractor at the local fairs this summer, including the Missouri State Fair. If it were not for Chapter 1 and its support, the class would not have progressed this far. A Big Thank You to the IHCC Missouri Chapter1 for the support in helping with the restoration of this tractor. ~ Submitted by Mary Ann Lindley