I&I Ladies Auxiliary
We have seen many changes to the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club since the Ladies Auxiliary began ten years ago in 1996. Female sp ouses and friends of the club members first began assisting at the Historic Farm Days show which had moved to Penfield. We staffed the entrance gates, registration table and merchandise stand, and completed countless details to help the show operate smoothly. We met in a breakfast meeting in the spring of 1997, as we planned activities for women, children and families for the summer show. The Household Exhibit became an annual project, as did the community church service, which brought show visitors and local residents together for worship. Over the years we have added the quilt exhibit, Friday Bingo and kids games. During the week of preparation for the show we have provided lunch for the workers, who have enjoyed the convenience and the fellowship.
The purchase of the “Old Penfield School” in 1996 presented a challenge as we joined the men working on the cleanup of the buildings and grounds. Volunteers spent endless hours indoors and outdoors on maintenance and painting. In May 1997, we began meeting during the Men’s monthly meetings. By November (as a result of the PIA Building fire) the former “Music Room” in the Penfield School had been converted for our use, and the men were meeting in the school cafeteria.
Our successful fund raising events began in 1998 with a Soup Lunch in March, and a Fish Fry in September. Our goal was to raise funds for a new building later named the I&I Club Hall. The community gathering and volunteer involvement encouraged our Club. The Penfield Senior Citizens, Quilters, and our Ladies Auxiliary planned and completed the kitchen and bathrooms. Once again men and women volunteers constructed, cleaned and painted. We served lunch at the Gordyville/Gifford Bank Craft Sale in November 1998. This has become an annual fund raiser for our Club, and involves both men and women volunteer workers. As a special fund raiser, we sold personalized bricks to create the I&I Club Hall “patio”. All profits were applied to the Club Hall mortgage, and the first group of bricks were installed before the Historic Farm Days in 1999. That same year the annual Swap Meet and Auction in March and the Root Beer Float Stand in July was established. Food sale profits surpassed our expectations. In 2001 the newest venture was the highly successful Pork Palace in July. In 2003 and 2005 the Ladies Auxiliary served breakfast at the Half Century of Progress Tractor Drive, and in 2005 in Rantoul staffed a Root Beer/Ice Cream Stand. To date our annual food sales include the Fish Fry at the Swap Meet in March, the Pork Palace and the Root Beer Float Stand in July, snacks and drinks at the Tractor Pull in August, and the Gifford Bank Craft Sale at Gordyville in November. Our monthly 50/50 raffle and our annual quilt raffle also add to our profits. Thousands of dollars have been applied to the mortgages for building and land purchases, and to help pay for the electrical and concrete work done on the grounds.
The Ladies Household Exhibit which began during Historic Farm Days, has expanded to two former classrooms of the school, and is now a part of the I&I Historic Farm Museum, which can be visited year round.
As members of the Ladies Auxiliary, we have made new friendships and enjoyed the teamwork in helping the I&I Club. Our work is not finished yet, (you know the saying “a woman’s work is never done“) as we continue with our goals:
To assist the Club to preserve the history of agriculture
To enhance the summer show with family activities
To encourage the men with their work in the I&I Club
To aid in the development of the Museum.
We thank the community for their ongoing support. The I&I Ladies Auxiliary is not limited to member’s spouses, and we encourage you to join us at our meeting held the second Thursday of each month.
2006 officers: Betty Bensyl - President; Jane Piatt - Vice-President & Show Committee Representative;
Jane Berbaum - Secretary & Museum Committee Representative; Marilyn Buhr - Treasurer
LADIES AUXILIARY UPDATE - February 2005
Currently we are basking in our accomplishments. The male members give us encouragement, and we continue to increase the number of friendships within the club when both Men, Women and Jr. Members work side by side. The Community remains a vital support of all of our efforts. We are working to develop displays for the I&I Historic Farm Museum and for the on-going Household Exhibit. During the first months of 2005, we are planning for the Swap Meet and Historic Farm Days.
Our future goals are to continue to represent the I&I Club with a positive outlook. Since the I&I Club has purchased 70 plus acres, a portion of which already provided ground for Historic Farm Days activities, plus more acreage to expand, we are now facing a much larger debt than before. We are counting on increased help from all the I&I Club members, with hopes that a majority of the members (and not just a minority as in the past) will participate. We also will take on a new venture as we revive the Half-Century of Progress and assume the total responsibility for the event in Rantoul in August, 2005. We anticipate success in our organizing and planning with hopes of sizable profits
We welcome all Ladies to our meetings on the second Thursday of each month, and also invite you to help in our special projects. Thank you to our faithful members participation.
2005 Officers are: Betty Bensyl-President; Jennifer Kirkland-Vice-President; Patsy Barnett-Secretary; Marilyn Buhr-Treasurer; Jane Piatt-Show Committee Representative; Jane Berbaum-Museum Representative
In 1976 a group of men gathered and formed The I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club. Members put on a small show during the first few years. In 1986 “Historic Farm Days” began as a joint venture with the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, which grew to a three day annual show held in July. In 1996 the I&I Club purchased the old Penfield School and obtained use of the adjoining Penfield Improvement Association property. "Historic Farm Days" was suddenly moved to the new location when road construction complicated the access to the former site north of Penfield. The I&I Club took on the full responsibility of the annual event, with the assistance of female spouses and friends.
In the spring of 1997 the I&I Ladies Auxiliary was officially formed. That year the first goals were to aid in the cleanup of the new club grounds and in the restoration of the old Penfield school. By summer we had created activities for children and women at "Historic Farm Days". Over the years we have added the quilt exhibit, Senior Citizens bingo, petting zoo, kids games, Ladies household exhibit and Sunday morning church service. We have assisted with the entrance gates, tractor registration, and merchandise stand. We later ventured into the food sales with the root beer float stand and the Pork Palace. During the week of preparation for the show we have provided lunches for the workers, who have enjoyed the convenience and fellowship.
When the PIA Building was suddenly destroyed by fire in November, 1997, we began sponsoring soup suppers and fish fries. In July, 1998, we dedicated the new I&I Club Hall, and in 1999 created a patio in front of it from the sale of engraved bricks. Annual food sales now include the Fish Fry at the Swap Meet in March, the Pork Palace at the show in July, snacks and drinks at the Lions Club Tractor Pull in August, and the Gifford Bank Craft Sale at Gordyville in November. Our monthly 50/50 raffle and our annual quilt raffle also add to our profits. We have made payments on the mortgages of the Old Penfield School, the Club Hall, and the newly purchased land on the north side of the show grounds used for crops and parking. We have purchased items for the kitchens and bathrooms in both buildings, and paid for half the concrete floor of the pavilion (we challenged the men to match our contribution--which they did). Last year we purchased new tables for the school cafeteria. And our work is not finished yet! The Ladies Household Exhibit during Historic Farm Days continues to be a center of interest, with spinners and weavers, the military corner, homemade butter and more. The two rooms are now a part of the I&I Historic Farm Museum, and will be visited year round. To help celebrate the Half Century of Progress, the Auxiliary served breakfast prior to the Tractor Drive which traveled past the 1st site and to the location of the 50th Farm Progress Show.
As members of the Ladies Auxiliary, we have made new friendships and enjoyed the teamwork in helping the I&I Club. We thank the male membership for encouraging us and for working beside us. A special thank you goes to the community for their support. Our goals continue to be: to assist the Club to preserve the history of agriculture, to enhance the summer show with family activities, to encourage the men with their work in the club, and to aid in the development of the Museum.
The Ladies Auxiliary is not limited to member's spouses. Join us at our meeting held the same time as the men's--on the second Thursday of each month.
2003 officers are: Jane Piatt-President; Betty Bensyl-Vice-President; Jennifer Kirkland-Secretary; Lois Harms-Treasurer.