Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1545857
July 2026 By David and Heidi Clausen As we write this column, we're just a couple days away from America's 250th birthday. This milestone in our nation's history serves as a great reminder to be grateful for the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S., and it's an opportunity to reflect upon the past, consider the present and think about how we want the future to look for our children and grandchildren. We hope you had a wonderful Independence Day. Show season is in full swing. We've already exhibited at two shows -- in Plainfield, Wis., and Kalona, Iowa -- and we're set to take off to Penfield, Ill., shortly for the first Gathering of the Orange of 2026. That will be followed in quick succession by the Orange Spectacular in Hutchinson, Minn. Hopefully, we can catch up with you all somewhere along the way. The Allis Connection hosted their first show at the new grounds in Kalona, Iowa. We always enjoyed the old site in Middle Amana so were skeptical that Kalona could top it, but the new site was proven to be a terrific place for the show. There was plenty of room for tractors, a clean building for vendors, and very nice restrooms. There's also plenty to do with Kalona Days and the local historical village. If you didn't make it this year, plan to attend next year. Also over The Allis Connection show weekend, we were humbled to be inducted into their Hall of Fame. As you can see in the photo on this page, our son Dylan made the trip over from the Chicago area to be part of the occasion. Thank you to The Allis Connection board for this honor. While the Penfield GOTO is in the rear view, we do still have one more GOTO this September in Wilmington, Ohio. They'll be featuring Genset power units and Allis-Chalmers outdoor power products -- from lawnmowers to mini bikes to golf carts -- but of course, anything A-C is welcome. A large portion of the extensive Mayer family collection will be there, as well. We'll see you there. On the home front, our A-C 200 came in handy this spring as we updated our landscaping and walkway. The local high-school landscaping class provided the labor and design, coming out to our home almost every afternoon in April and May to rip out our old landscaping and design and install new plastic, rocks, mulch and plants, including a beautiful row of orange tiger lilies in front our shed facing the road as a nod to A-C. We're now in the market for a small piece of A-C equipment to place in the hosta garden to top it all off. In this issue, look for 2026 show coverage, Part II of the A-C draper unit project saga, a feature on southern Wisconsin's Roidt brothers, Tom Hager's "A" story and a couple inspiring stories about young men just getting started in A-C restoration. As always, we welcome your submissions and love hearing from you, so don't be bashful. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and don't forget to photograph that A-C equipment at work. See you at the shows! 2 OLD ALLIS NEWS