Illini986

My favorite series of all; I've currently got a 786 open station and a 986 with 3,300 hours. Lot of guys in this area used to have the odd 86 series hanging around 20-30 years ago but most have been sold. Back in the late '80s when these tractors weren't too old all four of the local IH, now Case IH, dealers had survived the merger and any one of them would have several on the lot. You had Baumann's in my hometown, Dahman's over at Winchester, Cox & Huff down at Greenfield, and another dealer over at Auburn but I can't remember his name. Baumann's was the first to go at the end of either '89 or '90 when one family member wanted out and the other two didn't want to buy his share of the business. Dahman's eventually got so they were a parts only dealer and ended up giving that up in the mid 2000s to concentrate solely on farming. The Greenfield and Auburn locations all still open but both are stores for Sievers now.

My stepdad said his folks had a pawpaw in their yard when he was little. I've never tried one and don't know that I've ever seen a tree.

All I've ever done is eat them plain. When they're ripe they just fall out of the tree so there's no need to pick them. Several years ago my mom got a bunch and made a puree/spread type of thing with them. It was good but a lot of work since each fruit typically has anywhere from a couple to half a dozen or so fairly large seeds. I wouldn't consider the taste of them acquired but that's probably because I've been around them for years; I just think they're pretty sweet.

Took a break from mowing yesterday and picked one up that the wind knocked out of the tree. It was soft but not quite 100% ripe yet. My grandparents had a tree in their yard when I was growing up and I always loved eating them. My tree is usually pretty loaded but it seems like every deer and coon in the county eats them all out of the yard each night before I get many picked up. Anybody else have a tree and enjoy them?

Didn't go past any stations on the way to work this morning but yesterday gas was $3.90-$4.00 through town and diesel was $5.85-$5.89. Haven't checked red diesel in a month. Coop quoted me $1.82 for propane and normal gas supplier told me $1.85 but wouldn't commit to a contract. Got one other option here in town but have a feeling they won't be much cheaper. I used just over 900 gallons last winter and am hoping to use about the same this year.

I don't know too much about data centers but the local opposition to them seems to be far greater than what there is against wind and solar. I do know that the county commissioners here passed a six month moratorium on them being considered in this county for whatever that's worth. As they say, money talks and BS walks. Earlier this summer commissioners in the next county over voted to approve one against huge opposition. Lots of outrage, hours long commission meetings, addresses of county commissioners published, whole nine yards. I find it hard to believe that the Chinese are interested in Sangamon County politics but I suppose anything is possible anymore.

Does HCOP necessarily have a feature tractor? I thought this kinda started with the orange guys getting all the D21s there in '23, then you had the 1206s in '25, and now 190s in '27.

Loved that book as a kid.

Tankers were never high on the previous chief's or current chief's list of priorities but they still have at least two hanging around. They were both extremely proud of their new 100' ladder truck from Pierce that got delivered earlier this year though. Of course now they're asking for a new building since this new truck will just barely fit.

Either six miles southeast or six miles southwest. The two closest volunteer departments each have two 2,000 gallon tankers or they can call in the big guns from the city if need be.

Ended up selling for $8,900. Honestly a bit less than I would've guessed.

That's how my grandpa got his deferment. His dad, my great grandfather who was a WWI vet, was in his mid 50s when grandpa graduated high school in 1943. Grandpa's older brother had either been drafted right after Pearl Harbor or joined up at that time so grandpa wasn't drafted until later in 1944 when his older brother returned home to farm with their dad.

Thanks for the posts about your two machines @Binderdan; been some good reading. Wouldn't mind finding one of the larger models if it was fully functional to use around my place but the only ones I've ever seen were a few at previous RPRUs. Do you happen to remember where in Illinois that one on Auction Time was?

When I was living in north central Kansas a decade ago the local Deere dealer, Carrico's, was sitting on several dozen one and two year old combines that custom cutters had traded in and they couldn't unload. I would imagine that hasn't changed much. My uncle buys equipment from all over the place and has it hauled to Illinois. A new, two year holdover 24 row White planter showed up once from out of Wyoming. S97 Gleaner from up in Minnesota. Couple 12 row corn heads from Nebraska and Iowa. My cousin bought a front assist Challenger, I forget the model number, from down around Liberal or Ulysses, Kansas. My farthest piece of equipment, a 786, was from only an hour away; guess I don't get out much.

Makes sense. Too bad about that burn getting out of control. My best friends grandpa ordered the half ton GMC version of that pickup new in '74. Not because it pulled anything better around the farm, he was just cheap.

I imagine there'll be a few bidders fighting over it even if it is a little on the rougher side of most fire department pickups I've seen sell, even of that vintage. I'm surprised that department went with the 292 instead of springing for a 350.

Where I'm at in Illinois prices are all over the place it seems. Local land company sold four tracts last month to settle an estate; all 80 acre pieces and fairly close to each other. The bargain was a short 80 with two newish bins and 77+- tillable for $10,900. Full 80 that was flat brought $19000. Rolling short 80 with a some good haying waterways right next to that flat piece went for $15,200. Last piece on a dead end road with a 1970s Morton building went for $21,700.

I don't know that it makes any difference to me. I wasn't alive in the '70s when this was already tried but reading just a little bit about it makes it seem like it quickly lost its popularity.

Chopper was out at my place spraying fungicide this past Monday. Haven't seen too many planes around this year; I think only two. The guys that own the choppers still have one Vietnam era Huey they use but I've only seen video of it flying this year, not in person. The sound it makes is unmistakable.

Knew about some of the other equipment they made; swathers, augers, tillage tools. But never knew Versatile made a self propelled combine until this post. Anybody know what engine was used?

I've always called those implements "plains plows". I think it was Kent before they got bought out by Great Plains that marketed their version as a plains plow. I've pulled an old Krause plains plow too, it's been so long I can't remember if it was a 6x5s or 5x5s but it was all a 895 Versatile wanted.

My neighbor bought a Yukon XL with the little dirty in it for his wife. They're both happy with it. He seems to drive it almost as often as she does and hasn't had a bad word to say about it, to me at least.

Sounds like my uncle. About fifteen years ago he wanted to buy a new farm pickup and went to his local Chevy dealer to see what they had. Didn't like anything on the lot, all too fancy, even the base models. Asked the salesman about ordering a pickup without A/C. Salesman told him they could order it but it'd probably be more expensive to build one without it than with.

Well worth it if you ask me. Check out their ring bologna while you're there.

Count me as one of the ones who grew up with Velveeta and liked it. I still usually have a 2lb. block in the fridge at all times. If I'm feeling comfort food I'll make macaroni and cheese the way my mom did when I was growing up; half a block of cubed Velveeta, a can of evaporated milk, and LOTS of freshly ground black pepper. I love snacking on extra sharp cheddar but some of the best cheese I've ever had came from Brant's Market down in Lucas, KS. For several years I was gifted a couple pounds each of the smoked cheddar and the dill havarti cheese they sold there. Absolutely delicious. I need to see if I can have some shipped here to Illinois.