The wet year of 2018, continued into spring 2019, in the Mid-Atlantic with above-average rainfall in March and April. Wet muddy fields delayed planting; but was not as severe as in the Great Plains, where extreme rain swelled rivers and flooded entire counties across Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. This was followed up with a record number of deadly tornadoes through April and May. Many of the Midwest farmers may not be able to recover and raise a crop this year.
Some of the Mid-Atlantic Spring tractor shows were impacted by wet weather. The Gas and Steam Engine Show in Derwood, MD, and the Frederick County Farm Museum Show in Frederick, MD, had fair Saturdays, but rainy Sundays. The Maryland Two-Cylinder and Mason Dixon American Truck Clubs big annual show in Frederick, MD, in May, had light rain Saturday but canceled Sunday due to extreme rain.
MDIHCC39 is a non-profit organization that donates funds to help support local charities. This year we selected the Frederick Maryland Chapter of “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” (SHP), a volunteer group that makes and donates beds to needy Foster Children. MDIHCC 39 held a bed build workshop with the Frederick SHP chapter on April 27. Chapter members cut, sanded, drilled, stained and assembled the bed frame components which will be assembled into bunk beds when delivered to needy foster children’s homes.
Chapter 39 will hold a second bed build on June 15, as part of the SHP National “Bunks Across America” event. SHP has over 150 chapters; one of which is near all the IHCC Chapters. See their website (shpbeds.org) and consider supporting your local SHP chapter
Another local charity supported by MDIHCC39 is Operation Second Chance (OSC), a nonprofit providing assistance to our nation’s wounded, injured and ill veterans. Veterans Across America for Wounded Heroes (AAFWW) founder, C. Ivan Stoltzfus has joined forces with OSC for a Cross Country Journey to raise awareness as well as raise funds for OSC’s mission. The journey kicked off from Germantown MD on May 10. See the OSC web page -Google “AAFWH”; where you can see pictures, his blog, scheduled stops, and even a real-time locator map. Owners of antique tractors of all colors have been caravanning with Ivan as he drives through their region.
We are looking forward to a busy 2019 show schedule; Club members will be exhibiting at several regional shows this summer. In June, there are shows by IHCC Chapter 8 in Kinzers PA, IHCC Chapter 41 in Harrisonburg VA; and the Central Maryland Antique Tractor Club in Frederick MD; and of course, IH Chapter 17 is holding the National IH Red Power Show in June at Bloomsburg PA. Chapter 39 will be well represented there – stop in and say hi. MDIHCC 39 will be hosting its annual Threshing Days Show at Rose Hill in Frederick MD August 3-4. In September, there is the Mason Dixon Historical Steam and Gas Show in Westminster MD, and the annual MD Historical Steam Society show in Arcadia. https://www.facebook.com/MDIHCC39/ http://www.mdihcc39.org/
–Frank Kutlak