HOF Members

Wayne Simpson

Wayne Simpson has been a very active member since when he joined in 1997. He attends most all the meetings and always has a great display at all of our shows. He displays and operates his very old drag saw and other antique equipment.

At our two shows he dresses up as a clown. He calls himself Efferham Hobbs and entertains the crowd, and club members. He has also been known to get on a lawn tractor and pull with the kids at our shows kiddie lawn tractor pull.

He is a regular member of the weekly Tuesday Crew helping in the repair and restoration of donated items. He donated a c.1925 Bartholow gas powered drag saw which he is in the process of restoring. It is one of only three produced by Bartholow, a local blacksmith, and the only one known to exist.

He has frequently helped working on the construction of our buildings and improvements.

At his farm he built a log cabin and filled it with vintage items as it would have been long ago. Every year he invites the membership to join him at the cabin for a great lunch. It is a great event and well attended.

John Locke

John joined the club in 2003 and continues to be a very active member. He attends all of our meetings and shows. He is also one of the regular Tuesday Crew members that comes to the clubs machine shop on every Tuesday to work on restoration of donated equipment, grounds maintenance and improvements. He was instrumental as designer and welder for our new iron pipe fence.

With his carpentry and house building experience he has been crew leader and very involved and helpful with the construction and maintenance of our clubs buildings.

He not only donates a lot of time to the club but has also provided on loan some of his personal equipment such as his Ford tractor with bucket which can be used by him and other members. He also brings his lawnmower and uses it before our club events.

John also spends many hours prior to our two annual shows getting the grounds and many displays ready.and cleaning up afterwards. He is very good at sharpening the blade on our log saw.

He donated an IHC model 10 grain drill which he and other members use to plant various crops on our grounds to be harvested and used during our two shows. He always volunteers to help harvest the crops by either driving the tractor or riding the harvester.

When someone has a large piece of equipment to donate John has always volunteered and used his truck and trailer to bring it to the club grounds.

He is currently a member of our Board of Directors and has been a member of the board for the past 9 years. He is also our very diligent Safety Officer.

Steve Siewert

Steve has the heart of a farmer having grown up on the family ranch south of Huntley, Montana. Upon his Dad’s retirement, Steve took over the operation of the ranch and still farms and ranches along with his wife, Michelle and sons Spencer and Jake. Steve joined Branch 29 in 1993 and has been an active member ever since. He has served as President from 2000 to 2003, as a director from 2007 to 2009 and as Vice President from 2010 to the present.

As busy as he is with his cattle operation Steve almost always finds the time to volunteer for any work or projects at our show grounds. Over the years he has volunteered the use of his belly dump truck to help with projects like our loading ramps and the canal road into our grounds. He not only hauled but donated the gravel. He also allows the club to store excess equipment and logs at his ranch. Steve and his boys are usually always on hand for binding and shocking and helping set up the show.

Steve and his sons have a modest collection of antique tractors and equipment, Case being the favorite. Steve is always on the lookout for his next project that he and his sons can get working. But Steve’s real love is steam engines and he shares that love of old iron with his family. He has a nice 25hp Advance Rumley that he restored and brings to our threshing bee each year.

He also helps with hauling other member’s engines to the show.

I believe Steve to be a great candidate for Hall of Fame status for his love of old iron and his ability to spread that enjoyment to his children. Steve’s dedication and hard work over the years has been a contributing factor to the growth and success of Branch 29.

Allen Iverson

I would like to respectfully submit for review Allen Iverson for an EDGE&TA Hall of Fame Award.

Al joined Branch 29 in May of 1994 and served as director from 2004 to 2005 and from 2010 to the present. Al is a welder by trade and worked for Beale Trailers for many years.He helped build the club’s pulling sled several years back and most recently been helping with the restoration of our 75hp Holt engine. He has put in an estimated eighty hours welding up the cart for the engine to rest on.

Al is a tireless volunteer getting involved with almost every project the club has going on. He takes it upon himself to keep the lawns mowed at the grounds through the summer and sprays for weeds where needed. Most of all I would call Al the “Voice of Branch 29” as he sets up and does radio interviews with most of the local stations talking about our Threshing Bee.He also sees to it that posters and flyers are distributed around the state probably more so than the rest of our membership put together. He even sets up his tractor and wagon near a truck stop to advertise the event. During the show he acts as one of our announcers in between helping with the kid’s pedal tractor pull and coming up with fun events like corn eating contests and steam engine races.

When our member that created our branding irons for shingle branding moved to the other side of the state Al stepped in and has been building the irons along with another member ever since.

Al’s space at home doesn’t allow for maintaining a collection of old iron but he is a dyed in the wool John Deere fan and owns a nice BN that he gets to enjoy when he finds the time.

I don’t believe there is a more enthusiastic member of Branch 29 than Al and I believe he is proof that you don’t have to have a massive collection to enjoy and promote our hobby. I believe him to be an excellent candidate for a Hall of Fame Award as his dedication and hard work over the years has been both inspirational and instrumental in the growth and success of Branch 29.

Sue Tombrink

Sue is the wife of Dick Tombrink, one of the founding members of EDGE&TA Branch 29. She currently serves as Membership Chairman handling the task of collecting dues and reporting memberships to National. For more than 20 years, Sue has overseen and organized the club’s volunteer work force at our shows. She also sets up and handles the cash drawers for the various venues like the front gate, the pop shack, and the pie and ice cream. She ensures that handicap parking is set aside near the front gate prior to the start of the show and gets the picnic tables set up in the park area for the food service. This is just a few of the things Sue handles during our show making it possible for the rest of us to concentrate on the field events.

Sue has always put in the “behind the scenes” work enabling our club to grow into the 2nd largest EDGE&TA Branch with over 200 members and families. She also ensures that our other events like our Ice Cream Social and our annual Pot Luck Dinner are successful. Sue’s enthusiasm and her support of her husband’s old iron hobby is definitely genuine as she enjoys getting involved. When not making sure things are running smooth at the front gate, you can find her playing a steam calliope in period dress or driving around in her John Deere powered outhouse.

I believe Sue to be a great candidate for Hall of Fame status as she embodies the spirit of our old iron hobby. Sue is dedicated, a hard worker, and represents our Branch 29 well. She has enjoyed attending other EDGE&TA shows as well as EDGE&TA regional and national meetings. She has been instrumental in the success & growth of EDGE&TA Branch 29.

Gene Dilsaver

Gene Dilsaver was inducted into the National Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association “Hall of Fame” after a short ceremony held and the Voris 17th annual Tractor show May 28, 2018 at 11:30 AM.

Meeting was called to order by Larry Voris and Charley Stark (both Hall of Fame Members from Branch 16) and the presentation was made by National director Robert Craig. Gene was recognized for his many years of service to the Association. Gene was accompanied by his 2 sons John and Dale Dilsaver and wives, Grandson Josh Dilsaver and wife and his sister Beverly Nichols. There were approx. 250 in attendance for the event.

Gene Dilsaver nomination to National Hall of Fame 2018
By Josh Dilsaver, Charley Stark & Larry Voris

Gene Dilsaver was Sec’y-Treas of the Southwest Missouri Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association, Branch 16 from 1993 to 1996. He regularly attends monthly branch meetings and participated in club work days. This includes mowing the grass at the club show grounds.
In looking back through the club history you find Gene’s name involved in about everything that happened since he became a member November 3, 1979 and still is.

Gene has been a member of the Southwest Missouri Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association Branch 16 since 11-3-1979. He has inspired four generations of his family to be involved in the club. Gene was a director 1990-1992 and again 2006-2008. Gene attended several National Shows starting back in 1980’s.

Even though he is currently in his 90s, he still regularly attends monthly branch meetings, still participates in club work days, including mowing the grass at the club show grounds (even in the heat of the summer). Gene promotes EDGETA by attending EDGETA sponsored shows including the Springfield Green County Library district’s program and the Ozark Empire State Fair when able.

Gene has inspired three, now working on four, generations to get involved in EDGETA. When his youngest son was a new father, Gene provided him with his first hit-n=miss gas engine. As a result, two (going on three) additional generations have come to love both the sport and EDGETA. Gene has made it possible for his son, daughter – in – law and grandchildren to attend national shows and meetings. Including helping his grandson attend an executive meeting as an officer. Gene’s devotion to EDGETA has inspired his son to serve as an officer and volunteer along with inspiring his grandson, who has been the web designer for both the local branch and the National EDGETA site for several years.

Gene displays working Barker Rim saws. We have been attending shows with Gene since the early 1980s, I do not remember seeing anyone else demonstrate a working Barker Rim saw except Gene. He is from Ava where these saws were first manufactured and one of his saws was bought new, so Gene has a great amount of knowledge about these machines. If you are at a show and are close to Gene’s display when he demonstrates one of his saws, people start walking towards him from all directions. For his family, this is quite a site to see. Gene has taken his display to schools, library programs and the local fairgrounds to promote the preservation and exhibition of antique equipment. These shows along with his knowledge, experience and ability to share his knowledge in an interesting way, educates the public about these wonderful pieces of history.

I’d like to speak towards his contribution to E.D.G.E.T.A. I think Grandpa Gene contributes in a number of ways that are a bit hard to quantify.

First I think grandpa’s fantastic since of “Missourian showmanship” helps attract crowds and inspires lots of word of mouth advertising. Grandpa is too humble of a man to boast about it, but his camp is always one of the most memorable and exciting on the grounds every year. Any time I talk to someone about the show, it goes one of two ways, if they’ve been, I’ll ask them if they remember the gentleman who demoed that odd loud saw, most folks remember him and always say how exciting, neat, interesting or etc. that was. If they haven’t been there, I’ll pull up the video of him demonstrating it, which is the first result on Google for a handful of terms, and after they watch the video they always want to know more. Grandpa doesn’t brag about it, but he always puts on a show that draws a crowd.

Second, I would like to speak towards how he inspires others to do their part. Grandpa is a diligent and devoted member of the organization. He doesn’t aspire to any higher positions or want any control in the organization, he just wants to learn a hand to help anywhere he can and for anyone he can. This kind of selfless behavior has inspired plenty of others to give what they can in the same way. This selfless giving has allowed the club to grow in ways it couldn’t have without Gene, his son’s professional plumbing and roofing skills and his grandson’s web development skills are just a few examples from my limited perspective.

I think between his showmanship, his inspiring four generations of members, and his selfless service to the branch of the organization he loves, along with the impact branch 16 has had on the national scale, grandpa Gene should definitely be added to the EDGE&TA hall of fame.

― Shelton Dilsaver

Gene & Ellen Dilsaver were married 1-11-1957. They enjoyed 59 years of marriage until her death in 2016. They have two sons, two grandsons and one great-granddaughter.

Dave Clark

Dave has served as President of Ozarks Older Iron Club (OOIC). He is currently on the Board of Directors and has been for several years. This board is very active and meets monthly to discuss ideas that should be presented to the membership meetings of our Branch 28. Dave volunteers many hours to further the activities of Ozark Older Iron Club.

We want to honor Dave for his tireless efforts to help further our branch activities. He always has a display of “hit and miss” engines, hand grain grinders and other items at our spring and fall shows. He also spends lots of time helping design and organize an ad book we have for visitors and members. This book also lists the activities and history of our club. Dave is also an integral part of the “Tuesday Work Crew” that keeps our grounds and buildings in good shape. This crew also reconditions and preserves the many tool and implements that have been donated to our grounds.

Dave has his own collection of “hit and miss” engines, scale steam engines, and a Model A pickup. He displays these items at our shows and also other festivals in our area. He has returned a donated loom back to its working condition. He also helps keep our two steam traction engines in safe and working order. Dave also worked to organize and label several display cases of small tools and household items for the public to view inside our clubhouse. He has spent many hours researching info for lots of pieces of antique implements, etc. and made signs to put on these to inform visitors about the function and history of the items. He wants items back to original working order to better show the agricultural heritage of our area. Dave is an inspiration to all our members in the collection, preservation, and exhibition of antique equipment for both outdoor and indoor uses.

Barbara Moore

Barbara was and has been a very faithful supporter of Ozarks Older Iron Club (OOIC) and EDGETA since Branch 28 was organized. Her husband is one of the founding members of Branch 28. When they had their first show and tractor pull, Barbara was in charge of the snack shack. She has volunteered all through the years to be in charge of the eat shack (kitchen) and is a very faithful worker.

Barbara has been the supervisor of the cook shack for all of Branch 28’s activities since the first show and tractor pull. The first several years she directed other volunteers as they cooked and sold hamburgers, hotdogs, pies, etc. to the persons in attendance. This was all done with folding tables, popup canopies and extension cords for the fryers and cookers. When Branch 28 bought their permanent show grounds and built a building, Barbara was instrumental in the design of the kitchen and serving area. She has consistently worked to upgrade the facilities and equipment in order to develop the cook shack into a very successful profit center for our club.

Barbara has been a significant force behind all the work and dedication in EDGETA, Branch 28 throughout the years. Her work ethic and influence has been instrumental in the building and improvements of our cook shack without the officers and board of directors needing to be involved in the day to day operations. She has encouraged other persons to become involved. This has carried over to the younger members as they develop a sense of continuation for helping Branch 28 collect, preserve, and exhibit antique equipment. Barbara’s influence will be very important as following generations work to continue the traditions of our past agricultural methods and equipment.

Floyd Moore

Floyd Moore is the face of the K & O Steam & Gas Engine Association – Branch 11 of EDGETA.

Not only did he serve as president of the club for over 20 years, but continues as the executive director. He promotes our annual show at other EDGETA events, is licensed to operate our steam engine, has served as the announcer of our show, is a source of knowledge and club history, and is one of the most ready volunteers in the organization. When the club meeting room was constructed, he was in charge of the plumbing and electrical work. Floyd, who lives in Wellington, Kansas, is also treasurer of the Sumner Country Antique Tractor Association – Branch 70 of EDGETA.

As an avid Massey-Harris enthusiast, he has a collection of over 80 Massey items – tractors, equipment, sales memorabilia, and even a snowmobile. Floyd uses a model 44 Massey-Harris in tractor pull competition. He has served as board member and vice-president of the Massey Collectors Association and took part in their Great Planting on September 22, 2001. Near Chillicothe, IL. This project, which gained entry into the Guinness Book of World Records, met the challenge of plowing, discing, harrowing, and planting a 130 acre wheat field in one day using only Massey Harris tractors and equipment. Over 100 tractors, with a wide variety of models, took part in the event. It is the opinion of the officers of the K & O Steam & Gas Engine Association that Floyd Moore certainly deserves to be recognized by induction into the EDGETA Hall of Fame for his contribution to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of antique agriculture equipment

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.