20th year for antique tractor ride cancer benefit

PENFIELD, Ill. — Led by the “Purple Cancer Eater,” 46 tractors and assorted Gators, four-wheelers and other vehicles paraded through the countryside July 6 for the 20th Sibley Burr Oaks Area Tractor Drive.

The annual event, in memory or honor of loved ones and survivors, is spearheaded by Russ Tjarks of Sibley, who leads the fundraiser with his purple 1947 Farmall H tractor.

The purple tractor and a 1952 John Deere B, also owned by Tjarks and used in the annual tractor drive to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, were on display at the Historic Farm Days.

“My sister, Shirley Abels, had cancer over 20 years ago and I got the idea of going around and collecting money for a good cause. I talked to my sister about taking the old tractor that I got and I’d just put a bucket on it, if I had to, and collect some money to send to the American Cancer Society in her honor,” Tjarks said.

“She thought that was really great, but she passed away before we got it started. We finally got the tractor drive started the next year and we’ve been doing it every year for the past 20 years.

“A friend of mine, Tom Kerber, also was an old tractor and old car enthusiast, passed away just before my sister did and we honored both of them on our very first ride.”

Tradition Grows

The first ride was so popular, Tjarks and other participants decided to start a tradition.

“The big comment the next year was people said they missed out on the tractor drive that we did and they wanted to make sure to go on it next year. I said, ‘Who said anything about next year?’ We didn’t plan on next year, but here were are, 20 years later, and we did it again,” Tjarks said.

“It’s been a real good thing. People have a lot of fun doing it and it’s a lot of fun for me. I get to drive my old tractor for a change every year, and people really appreciate what we’re trying to do.”

This ride started, as it has every year, in Sibley and then traveled to Roberts and Thawville for a stop at Artesia Brewing.

“There was a family party at Artesia Brewing and the father of one of the ladies that run the place was there and he really wanted to see it. So, they stuck around until we were able to come through with the tractors. He got a real thrill out of that,” Tjarks said.

They also make sure to plan for the route to pass nursing homes or assisted-living facilities when they travel through towns.

“It was a suggestion one year to visit the nursing homes on our way by on our trips, and my mother was in the nursing home in Gibson City. I spread the word around that we were maybe going to do that, and that really took hold and the nursing-home residents were looking forward to that,” Tjarks said.

“So, the first time we did it, it was such a big deal. The nurses said that a lot of those people don’t have to have anxiety medicine or pain medication for two or three months after we had been there. I never knew that we have that big of an effect.

“So, anytime we go through a town that has a nursing home or assisted living, we make sure to go by there.”

Growing Participation

There were 23 tractors in the first benefit ride 20 years ago.

“We had about 28 tractors the next year and from then on it just kind of blossomed. For the last two or three years we had been running around 50 to 60 tractors,” Tjarks said.

“Last year was going to be our biggest year. We had the potential of about 80 tractors that we’re going to be involved and a storm came up and we only got about half of that. I think we ended up with about 42 last year.”

Benefit Idea

The notion of using a antique tractor drive to raise money for a good cause dates back to 2004, when Tjarks participated in a benefit for the victims of the tornado that hit Utica in April that killed eight people and seriously injured at least 10.

The tractor ride was led by renowned agriculture broadcaster Max Armstrong.

“We took up a collection at that time to help Utica and they donated it to the mayor when Max and Orion Samuelson put on a what they called a ‘Noon at Night’ show. That’s where I got the idea of starting to do this type of thing to raise money for cancer on behalf of my sister,” Tjarks said.

“There was a gal promoting breast cancer awareness who was on the Utica ride with a pink tractor. I talked to her about it and then they started to bring their pink tractor and others down here for our ride, too.

“Purple is the all-cancer color, so I decided to find an old tractor and had it painted purple. I found two for the price of one and that’s what started it all. I got those in 2010 and in 2011 we had the purple tractor in the ride.”

The Prairie Central FFA in Fairbury painted the tractor purple.

“My granddaughter was a member of that FFA when she was in school. I donated another tractor to the Prairie Central FFA to use for their auction/raffle night and they did the purple one for us for what we’re doing to fight cancer,” Tjarks said.

“That’s been a big thing for a lot of people to see that purple tractor go through. Everybody has a good time and they look forward to it every year.”