SALEM — The Southern Illinois Antique Power Club has received a $2,500 donation from Marion County farmer Kevin Tolka and America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund.
 
The organization plans to use the funds to expand their Kid’s Day at their annual Antique Power Days Show. Tolka currently serves on the board of directors and his late father was a charter member of the club.
 
The club started in 1989 when a few people wanted to start a club dedicated to the preservation of antique farm equipment. They decided to have a show to display and operate the equipment so that younger generations could see and learn about the history of the old farming ways.
 
Since then, the first weekend after Labor Day has been dedicated to this show, falling between local fairs and the beginning of harvesting season in the Southern Illinois area.
 
Today it is one of the largest tractor shows in the area. The organization also runs a museum located on the Marion County Fair Grounds that they are working to improve in the future.
 
For five years, America’s Farmers Grow Communities has collaborated with farmers to donate over $16.5 million to over 7,300 community organizations across rural America.
 
This year winning farmers will direct another $3.3 million to nonprofits to help fight rural hunger, purchase life saving fire and EMS equipment, support ag youth leadership programs, buy much needed classroom resources, and so much more.

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