Josh Dilsaver
About Josh Dilsaver
Posts by Josh Dilsaver:
EDGE&TA Branch 16
John Berry and James Haynie of Ash Grove Missouri started the Gas Engine Club in 1971. They had written to the EDGE & TA and inquired as to what the rules were to join the national organization. The first meeting was November 23, 1971 at the home of John Berry. There was 6 inches of snow on the ground and it was 4 degrees below zero that night. There were 13 people in attendance and that was how many they needed to become a branch. On December 17, 1971 they received the charter from the national. From that cold night in 1971 we have grown to 150 members today. We have our show every year in conjunction with the Ozarks Steam Engine Association. The Gas Club built a pavilion on the ground for the enjoyment of both clubs.
We presently meet the First Saturday night of the following months at 6:00 followed by meeting at 7:00. January is election of officers and pot luck, February is chili and soup, March pot luck, April pot luck, May pot luck, June pot luck, August pot luck, October pot luck, November catered dinner and December pot luck and gift exchange at the Republic First Christian Church. 443 N. Main Republic MO. July pot luck and ice cream is a joined meeting with the Steam Club at the Steam Grounds, September is work day on the grounds followed by meeting at the Steam Grounds.
EDGE&TA Branch 52
From Different Events & Shows, Displays, Exhibits & Demonstrations, Tractor Pulls, Plow Days, Fairs, Farmers Markets and Parades; The APC of Alaska has a very active membership and proud participation all year long within the great state of Alaska.
We sponsor or support others such as the local FFA, Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry (MATI).
On occasion we’ve even had the pleasure of participating in the plowing of fields for local farms who’s agriculture is locally featured and sold for all to enjoy.
We Feature Old Farm Tractors, Engines and Motors, Old Farm Equipment and Tools and now Lawn & Garden Tractors. Sled Pulls for Both Big and Small Tractors. Fun! Fun! Fun!
Robby Soults
Robby Soults has been a terrific, active member of Branch 8 of EDGE & TA since the 1980s.
He chooses to serve behind the scenes rather than in public. The Branch office he has held is Vice President, several terms, and his wife was an outstanding newsletter editor.
His major interest is large, unusual tractors, which he has sought, & purchased, from all across the U.S.. Some of those are Allis Chalmers G, Crossmount Case, Farmall M, Field Marshall, 9N Ford, Happy Farmer, John Deere A, AO, B, BO, D, GP, Rumeley steam traction engine, 1220 Rumeley, 1728 Rumeley, 2040 Rumeley, and 3061 Rumeley. He also has helped friends shop for and bring home to California innumerable tractors. He has tractor collector friends all across the U.S. and is quite knowledgable.
Our Branch 8, and especially Robby, was largely responsible, along with farmer George Watte, for establishing the CA Antique Farm Equipment Show, which has been held in Tulare CA each April since 1992, on the grounds of the International Agri-Center, where the largest new farm equipment exposition of the U.S. is held in mid-February each year and attracts buyers and shoppers from the entire world. When it was seen that the kitchen of the social hall there needed better/more cabinets, Robby commissioned and paid for them, enabling Branch 8 to hold an annual November swap meet on the grounds for 17 years, rent free, where he donates the use of a forklift and also helps in the food booth. Without his morning delivery of doughnuts people surely might perish!
Because of Robby’s expert knowledge of tractors he has announced the parade at the CA Antique Farm Equipment Show each year and he recognizes most of the participants driving in the parade, as well as their equipment, and makes humorous comments to them, which is very entertaining.
For many years at the Antique Show he prepared the ground for the tractor pull event. His interest in tractors began when he was a child, driving a tractor for his grandfather, and now his grandchildren and great grandchildren can drive his.
Linda Keasling
WE are nominating Linda Shorter Keasling, a member of the K & O Steam and Gas Engine Association, Branch 11 Kansas, for the EDGETA Hall of Fame.
Linda grew up on a ranch working with her family. Raising cattle, gardening, canning and all of the many chores of the time were a part of her young life. Linda and her husband, Marvin, joined the K & O Steam & Gas Engine Association shortly after it was first organized. They remained loyal members for many years until Linda’s death in September of 2015. Marvin is still a member.
Linda was always a very active member of the association. She and her family had a large collection of John Deere tractors and equipment they took to shows, parades, and other events, along with other members of the club. Linda planned, organized and hosted many bus trips to EDGETA shows and gatherings. Some of the destinations were Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Canada plus many other places too numerous to mention.
Linda served as the secretary of the club for many years. Her duties included keeping club minutes and other club data i.e. sending membership dues to EDGETA, co-editing the club newspaper “Old Iron Fever,” and served on various organizational committees throughout the years. She was instrumental in organizing our KIDS DAY event. School children from area schools, school in south central Kansas, and north central Oklahoma were invited to the club’s grounds to view and experience demonstrations and exhibits of past history. Linda’s family showed children how butter was churned, using some of Linda’s personal collection of butter churns and items – many of which are of museum quality.
Linda volunteered and worked with many community projects to promote club recognition –
Constructing floats for the lighted Christmas parade
Greeting visitors at Winfield, Kansas Christmas Isle of Lights
Kanza Day exhibitions
Kansas Sampler exhibitions
Presentations of Cherokee Strip Museum
Linda was always involved in planning our annual tractor show. She would organize the club’s Country Store to display and sell t-shirts, caps and other items. The last show she attended and helped with – she organized a special exhibit honoring our veterans and displayed their unique memorabilia.
Linda Keasling was a valuable member of K & O Steam and Gas Engine Association. Even if she was not visible, she was always working behind the scenes and always with a positive attitude. Affectionately called “Sparkplug” by the club members – Linda truly was one of the sparks that kept our organization running smoothly. Our club has honored her with a Lifetime Membership.
When Linda passed away in September 2015, K & O Steam & Gas Engine Assoc. lost a great friend, member and asset to our club – that is why we now are nominating Linda Shorter Keasling for the EDGETA Hall of Fame.
Billy Metzinger, President
Lauren Langdon
I am nominating Lauren Langdon for 2017 induction into the EDGE&TA Hall of Fame for his long standing commitment to our hobby. Lauren started collecting Stationary Gas Engines and Tractors over 40 years ago and since that time has gone on to have one of the premier Engine collections in the US. He has shown great dedication to his hobby through ongoing involvement through membership in numerous antique iron organizations.
Lauren has been instrumental in the foundation of not one, but TWO EDGE&TA branches. Nearly three decades ago, along with other interested old iron collectors, Lauren worked to establish Branch 38, Magic Valley Antique Tractor Pullers. This branch is dedicated to the restoration and pulling of vintage tractors. Lauren helped to finance the first pull sled for the club and went on to organize the 1998 EDGE& TA North West Regional hosted by Branch 38 in Filer, Idaho. While working with Branch 38, spectators could always find Lauren present at events, pulling with his tractors and displaying his engines.
Later in 2003 as Lauren and other Branch 38 members started to focus more or collecting and restoring antique stationary engines, Lauren in association with those members went on to establish Branch 150, Snake River Antique Power Association which while still in its infancy would host the 2006 Northwest Regional, again organized by Lauren and held in Buhl, Idaho. Since the Branch’s inception, Lauren has continuously served as the Branch President, inviting and encouraging the growth and development of the hobby through seeking out interested individuals to join the Branch and partake of his beloved hobby.
True to his love for the hobby, Lauren has joined and participated in several other EDGE&TA branches, including Branch 15 of Brooks, Oregon. Every year Branch 15 participates in the Great Oregon Steam-Up, an event where a year has not passed in over 40 years that one could not find Lauren present and participating!
As mentioned above, Lauren has an impressive collection of antique iron. His collection demonstrates his love for early iron, especially the Fairbanks Morse model N series of engines. Lauren has become the “go to guy” for collectors looking for information and parts for these engines. In true dedication to the hobby, Lauren has made, collected, and commissioned patterns for hard to find parts for these engines. From those patterns, many parts have made that have brought back to life dozens of engines that would have otherwise been left incomplete, inoperable. Most notably was the restoration of one of Lauren’s own engines, a one-off Fairbanks Morse 40hp Model N sectionalized gas engine. This
engine required over three years of dedicated work with numerous parts made from patterns to complete the restoration! As alluded to above, Lauren’s dedication to the hobby and the restoration of the early iron is not only limited to his own collection, I for one can attest to (as can any one of Lauren’s many friends) his willingness to assist in the production of missing parts, locating original parts, and where necessary the borrowing of his own parts for patterns! Have a question or a problem you need to solve? Call Lauren, he’s always willing to work through the issue with you and provide invaluable advice to returning your iron to running condition!
At this time, as Branch 150 again prepares to host the 2017 North West Regional I have chosen to nominate my good friend Lauren Langdon for induction into the EDGE&TA hall of fame for 2017. I have been a club member for only 5 years, but during that time I have received nothing but encouragement and continual support from Lauren. He introduced me to the broad scope of the hobby; tractors, engines, farm equipment and the people that go along with the hobby! Every year Lauren has organized our branch’s largest yearly event held in conjunction with the local county fair. He has eagerly sought out means to not only encourage my participation, but also that of my wife and sons (ages 9,7,5, and 3). I know that it is because of his enthusiasm for the hubby that our branch has continued to grow! He has made not only our branch, but also the events we participate in, family friendly. This has encouraged further participation by other young families who have joined the branch, families which are now the future of our hobby! Finally, as Lauren has looked to the future of our Branch, he has encouraged me to organize the 2017 North West Regional, constantly available to guide me through the process as I learn the “ropes” of what it takes to be a great leader in this hobby, just as Lauren has been.
Submitted By: Ryan Gurney
Ken Amann
I would like to respectfully submit for your review Ken Amann for an EDGE&TA Hall of Fame Award.
Ken was born in 1956 and spent his youth on the family farm in North Dakota. His family settled in Billings, Montana in 1966. He enjoyed many trips back to North Dakota to visit family there on the farm where his mom grew up. Ken Amann joined our EDGE&TA Branch 29 – South Central Montana Antique Tractor & Machinery Association in August 1996. His dad, Hugo, joined in October 1996 and passed away a few years later.
Ken has always had a passion and interest in antique machinery and has a full complement of restored tractors & equipment at his place in Billings, Montana. Ken served as secretary of Branch 29 from 2000 to 2004. In 2005, he was elected President of Branch 29 and has been our President ever since (12 years now). Every year elections come around and no one wants to run against him as he has done an outstanding job.
Ken reads the highlights of the EDGE&TA quarterly newsletters at the branch meetings to ensure that we keep up with national events and shows. Ken encourages safety and participation in our branch. Our membership has now grown to over 200 families. Ken leads not only the monthly branch meetings but also schedules and attends the directors’ meetings in which we help plan the path forward for the branch and its membership. Ken also ensures we know what the other EDGE&TA branches are doing which has resulted in many of our members visiting other branches and shows throughout the year. The reciprocal effect is that other EDGE&TA branches visit us during our show (always the third weekend in August). Ken & his wife Paulette have traveled to other branch shows including the 2016 EDGE&TA NW Regional in Wyoming and 2014 EDGE&TA National Meeting in Lewistown, Montana.
In 2012, Branch 29 was fortunate enough to host the EDGE&TA National show in which we featured IHC tractors & equipment. This took a lot of extra work and planning. Ken led the effort and encouraged us on to newer heights. As a result, the EDGE&TA National Show in 2012 was the biggest and most successful show we have ever hosted. It was Ken’s mission to ensure that we exceed EDGE&TA standards and expectations. Many fellow branches from surrounding states made the trip to our Threshing Bee that year and were not disappointed.
In 2013, Branch 29 hosted the EDGE&TA NW Regional show and again Ken led the way. That year, we featured John Deere equipment and all of the “green” folks attended which was okay with the “red” IHC folks from the previous year as all had a good time.
Ken is a warm, friendly person that enjoys visiting with members and visitors to our shows. His calm demeanor and receptive personality encourages even the most introvert of folks to open up and share their stories. He fields many calls during the year from interested visitors, the local press, and has appeared in a local TV video explaining our Threshing Bee. Each year during the show, Ken always takes a moment each day to walk around and ensure that everything is going smoothly and circulates through the crowd that attends. Ken has made a real difference, donated much of his time to the antique engine community, and has helped spread enthusiasm in our branch. His support of EDGE&TA helps to inform and tie us all closer to the national organization. He is a team player and encourages the interest in not only this old iron hobby, but in the friendship and growth of each club member and the comradery that we enjoy in our branch.
Ken took on a Branch 29 project to restore a wagon for the local Huntley Project Museum. The finished product was outstanding and the museum proudly displays the wagon year-round to visitors. Ken put many hours into this sole volunteer restoration. This is typical of Ken, working for the benefit of others even when no one is watching.
Submitted By: Jim Tombrink
