Looking backward ... a few rows at a time
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| Those who remember the olden days, when harvesting the crops took considerably longer than they do today, will surely enjoy this week’s Cornpicker Celebration, which begins Friday and runs through Sunday at the Bolz farm on the northeast edge of Walnut. (Shaw News Service Photo/Alex Pachal) |
WALNUT – Growing up in the 1960s, Kevin Larkey remembers the corn harvest as a busy yet special time.
Amid brown rustling stalks and golden ears of corn, a 6-year-old farm boy could rustle up a lot of fun.
While his grandfather steered a two-row corn picker through the fields, young Larkey — perched behind the wheel of a tractor — got to drive wagons brimming with ear corn back to a wooden crib in the barnyard. There, his grandmother unloaded them, hooked the empties to Kevin’s tractor and sent him out to collect the next load.
Back in the cornfield, Kevin’s grandpa sometimes allowed a special treat.
“I’d ride in back of the wagon and dodge the ears as they were coming up,” Larkey said.
“And now and then I’d get clunked in the head or whatever, and try to catch them. That’s where the fun was.”
The days of helping his dad and grandpa during harvest time are long gone, but vintage harvest equipment from that era isn’t.
Larkey began collecting corn pickers and wagons last year and took them to a couple of farm shows.
Now, with the help of friend Dave Kepner, Larkey is putting on a three-day Corn Picker Celebration this weekend at the Bolz farm on Walnut’s northeast edge.
The working demonstration of corn picking and shelling takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Visitors can watch about 25 mounted and pull-type corn pickers work their way through a 100-acre field, specially planted in 38-inch rows, to see how harvesting was done in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, before higher-volume combines nudged slower corn pickers into rusty obsolescence.
People also can munch on hot dogs, brats and pork chops provided by the Walnut Rotary Club, and tasty offerings from the Walnut Bible Church. An Amish family near Tampico will bring pies, cakes and rolls, while Brian Smith of Walnut, who owns three Culver’s restaurants, will provide frozen custard.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to defray expenses.
Larkey, who farms 2,300 acres in corn, soybeans, seed corn and a little wheat, and feeds 40 head of cattle, is eager for fellow enthusiasts to bring a vintage tractor or wagon along and pitch in during the demonstration.
“Come have a good time, ask questions, and if you want to participate to a degree, we’re looking for volunteers,” he said.
Along with Larkey’s dozen or so pickers, Kepner will have perhaps four on hand, including John Deere, New Idea and Ford models.
In a test run last week, Larkey and neighbor Glen Huseman made several passes through the cornfield – Larkey at the wheel of a yellow 1967 Minneapolis-Moline tractor and picker, with Huseman driving a green 1949 Oliver 77 tractor matched with a 1954 Oliver Model 4 picker.
Under the mechanical onslaught powered by chugging six-cylinder gasoline engines, whirring belts and clanking chains, the rows of corn slowly yielded their bounty, but not without a fight. Late-maturing stalks that were still wiry, not brittle, caused a few clogs, and a stubborn belt slipped off its track.
But the trailing wagons soon were filled with ear corn, and Larkey and Huseman paused to hunt for a wrench to fix that wayward belt.
Why does a 57-year-old like Huseman enjoy running half-century-old pickers?
“You know what? It’s relaxing. You don’t make a lot of progress, but it’s fun. To me, I’ve always enjoyed it.”
The same goes for Larkey, 49.
“There’s nothing better than sitting in a combine, but you know, these bring back childhood memories, farming with your dad and your grandpa, and it was just fun then.”
It was mighty special, too.
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Cornpicker Celebration
When: Friday-Sunday
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Bolz farm on northeast edge of Walnut
Directions: Once in Walnut, take Route 92 to Rodney Avenue, go a block north, then turn right and follow gravel lane to farm.
Admission: Free but donations are accepted.
Information: Kevin Larkey, (815) 878-2524; Dave Kepner, (815) 379-2264; or Glen Huseman, (815) 878-8351
