A very sucessful and productive meeting held at the Heidrick Ag Museum in Woodland today.
Fantastic lunch catered, more than enough food for all and leftovers for many to take home. 
Well Done to the organizers of this event, led by our own "juiceman" and his board of directors, sponsors and volunteers.   THANK YOU! 

A raffle followed lunch.  Many smiling faces takiing home some very nice items.

I have just gotten to download some of the photos I shot, I will be forwarding to the President and Secretary of Chapter 15.   Stay tuned, I am sure they may make an appearance here on the board and maybe even find their way to the magazine.

On a sad note -  It was announced the Heidrick Ag Museum will be permanently closing the doors on March 31, 2025 -
This is a collection that should be on your "bucket list" if you have not seen it and if you have visited, the time is now to make a last ditch effort to see it again.
Just one corner of the massive collection - and even though I tried to document much of it, when I get looking thought the pictures, how much I failed to record! 

"Keep 'em crawlin'"
Stay safe - 
CTS
 

Hi, CTS.
Thanks for the update on the meeting and pleased to hear that it went well.

Yes, the Heidrich Ag Museum is WELL worth the visit, especially if you have any interest in agricultural and industrial tractors from days gone by. There are even one or two 'roll-yer-owns' in the collection, 'Old Smoky' being one of them.

Just my 0.02.

CTS: Thank you for your photography skills and contributions to the club as a whole, local and nationally.
Considering this was one of my "first" Chapter 15 meetings, I think it went very well, had it not been for our committee coming together I could have not done it without their help!
I am grateful for all of the folks that RSVP'd and made it to the meeting. We had a nice mix of past members from the ex chapters 5 and 17 join us, as well as representatives of EDGE TA Branches to share their plans for future events. We will have plenty to do for 2025, especially it being the 100 year anniversary for the Caterpillar brand.
We raised a fair amount of money from the raffle as well as some donations. Thank you everyone that contributed $$$, merchandise or purchased lucky tickets.
Next, please stop by the World Ag Expo in February (Tulare, California). We have been asked to display BEST,HOLT and Caterpillar items in the antique farm show tent, and well as placed at each entrance to "Kickstart" the CAFES (California Antique Farm Equipment Show) in April. We will again host the "Dig area" as well as participate in the tractor parades.
Yes, it was confirmed that the museum will lockdown by March 31 2025. Very sad news. Anyone wishing to see the collection needs to get there before it is re-located.
We were very fortunate to have had the privilege of hosting many meetings at this location.
Until next time, see you at the next show! JM

It makes me very sad to hear of the Hedrick Ag Museum closing what a loss I hope it can be kept together. What is happening with everything? I read the sale ad from Koda Farms another old farming family with a lot of rich farming history and long time Caterpillar users too ,from what I read they just got tired of dealing with all of our California issues and decided enough, I should talk I did the same thing, all of this will not end well and when will all of this craziness stop and maybe a little common sense will return!! Sad very sad 17afarmer. Mike

Help for those that did not understand Deas's comment about Old Smokey - 
The information plaque states it was built from various old surplus tractor parts that were available in 1944.  
Home Built, in Knights Landing, Ca by Earl Mallory.

"keep 'em crawlin'"
CTS

Hi, CTS.
Ida posted a photo uv it if I coulda found mine.

Thanks for the clarification.

Just my 0.02.

Sampling of the Heidrick Ag Museum machines.
It is difficult to put the magnitude of this collection in a few photographs.  
Including the descriptive plaques, I shot well over 200 photo's and did not cover the complete collection.  If one were to try to have multiple angles and capture detail, you could easily spend a full day or more here.

CTS