Seventh Plow Day held Friday near Jewell

The 7th Jewell County Plow Day

 

Jacob Cockroft, Esbon, checks over his shoulder to make sure everything is working smoothly. Cockroft was participating in the 2021 Jewell County Plow Day held on Friday, July 16th southwest of Jewell, Kan. One of 30 who registered to plow in the event, he owns the Farmall C, he is driving. 

The 7th Jewell County Plow Day

By Kerma Crouse

Friday, July 16, was a good day to plow in Jewell County! Twenty-nine men and one woman showed up to do just that on a farm owned by Joe Eilert. The land was located one mile south and three west of Jewell. Joe said those familiar with the area know it as "An old Hipolite place."

Eilert, along with Calvin Bohnert (Jewell), are the organizers of the event. They have been part of planning since the first event was held eight years ago. Last year's event was to be the seventh but it was cancelled - not by COVID-19 - but by rain. Being farmers, they didn't complain about rain in July, just made plans for 2021.

The day dawned cool and cloudy but tractors were coming in long before the 9 a.m. start hour. In fact, Dale Swope of Zenda, Kan., had come in the night before. But Alan Snyder and Kent Ayers brought their rigs the 160 miles from the Lincoln, Neb., area that morning. Ayers brought a Ford 7000 with a slat-bottom plow and Snyder a John Deere 3020.

There was lots of talk about who had a "new" old tractor or plow, who was here, who wasn't. First timers and old timers comparing notes. Not any talk of "no till" or spray rigs with this crowd.

Then it was time to plow – Bohnert led out with his 806 International and was blowing some smoke in the tough spots. Tractors and plows followed – coiling around the stubble field, following the lay of the land.

One was John Wilbeck from Denmark. His 1930 Hart Parr 1836 was the oldest tractor in the field. Both the tractor and the plow on steel. Wilbeck got the tractor about 12 years ago around Syracuse, Kan. He can remember when his grandfather had a new Hart Parr in 1929.

The 91-year-old machine seemed unwieldy to start and to drive. When asked, Wilbeck said it was a "beast" to drive. "A beast period!" But he plowed both morning and afternoon.

Another old tractor was Gary Sorenson's 1936 Caterpillar Twenty-Two. Sorenson, also from Denmark, brought his "nearly" 12-year old grandson, Kale Sorenson. Kale was plowing with an Allis-Chalmers WD.

Jacob Cockroft (Esbon) also 12-years old, has his own tractor. He won the Farmall C at the 2019 Jewell County Threshing Bee. He is a regular at parades, Corn Picking Days and now Plow Day.

At the other end of the age spectrum, was Rich Armstrong from Red Cloud, Neb., who was attending his first Plow Day. "I'm 75-years old and always wanted to do this." His tractor was a 1969 Allis-Chalmers 190.

Coming the farthest to attend Plow Day was Dusty Covault from Tucumcari, N.M. He came to work with Jr. Vandergiesen from Smith Center. Vandergiesen is regular at both the Jewell County Plow Day and the Jewell County Corn Picking Days. They were driving a John Deere 730 and, as usual, Vandergiesen had two US flags flying on the front.

Had there been an award for the most noise, it might have been given to Waude Underwood from Burr Oak. He was driving a "Johnny Popper," one of the iconic John Deere tractors with the popping exhaust. This one was a John Deere G owned by Terry Garman and Oren Underwood also of Burr Oak. Unlike farmers of many a yesteryear, he was wearing ear protection.

After lunch served by hosts, Joe and Kari Eilert, the plowing continued. Tractors and plows kept arriving all morning with Aaron and Evert LaCoe from Beloit coming in the afternoon. For the Plow Boys, a little plowing is better than none.

After it was all over for 2021 – well, then there is next year! for information contact Calvin Bohnert (785-738-7589) or Joe Eilert (785-545-6095).

 

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