Froelich News Releases
Froelich
to Celebrate Fall der All
Sep. 27 to 28
Froelich will celebrate its 21st
annual Fall der All on September 27th and 28th .
“There will be steam engines,
threshing machines as well and machinery old and
new,” says Froelich Tour Director Evelyn Green. “In
addition there will be a number of informational
programs held in the barn Media Center.
Tiffany from Divine Gifts Massage
will offer ten minute back and neck massages while
Angel Readings will be done by Connie. Blacksmith
Larry Van Netta will conduct demonstrations both
days and other venders include fall fruit and
vegetables, baskets and more.
Two special dedications for
deceased members will also take place this year. At
9 a.m. on Saturday the Arlene Sass Memorial Flower
garden will be dedicated, and at 9:30 a tree will be
dedicated in the honor of Mary Erbe.
Green says one of the highlights of Fall der All
will be the Saturday evening barn dance from 7 to 11
p.m. with music by “Little Dale and the Legends.”
On Sunday the “Beyond Logic” Barbershop Quartet
will perform from 10 to 11 a.m. Homemade sandwiches,
pie and ice cream will be served both days “until
we’re sold out,” Green says.
A raffle drawing, with more than
$2,500 in prizes, will be held Sunday beginning at
3:15 p.m. Raffle ticket purchasers do not have be
present to win, and raffle tickets are available now
or during Fall der All until 3 p.m. on Sunday the
28th. First prize is $250 in free gas cards.
Buttons are for sale at the store
weekends for $4 until Sept. 21st and after that $5
at the gate. A Fall der All button admits you both
days for all programs and the dance.
The Froelich Foundation extends
thanks to Freedom Bank of Monona for sponsoring this
year’s barn dance. Fall der All is an annual event
in Clayton County designed to celebrate farm tractor
history.
Froelich Foundation
Elects Officers for 2008
A new slate of officers for the 2008 tourist season and a new board member were elected at the Froelich Foundation annual meeting Sunday, February 24 th at Maggie’s Diner near Giard.
Ivan Meisner of Farmersburg was elected president, Dennis Eilers of Luana was elected vice president and Deidre Vick-Froelich of Marquette and Ken David of Froelich were named treasurer and secretary, respectively.
Ken David was also elected by the membership to serve on the seven-member foundation board. Board members are elected by the general membership to serve five-year terms and officers are elected each year by the board.
Other members serving on the board are Alan Feldman, Farmersburg, John Schilling, Colesburg, and Gary Moritz, Monona. Frank McMillin of McGregor completed his five-year term and stepped down.
Diane Malcom serves as board secretary and foundation director.
The Froelich Foundation is a non-profit organization starting its 21 st year with members located in Clayton County and around the country. The foundation board acts as the management team to guide the annual activities and upkeep of the Froelich museum, attractions and grounds.
Froelich is the birthplace of the first gasoline-powered farm tractor, which became the direct ancestor of the John Deere tractor works in Waterloo and around the world.
In 2008, summer hours for the museum will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. The museum is closed on Wednesdays. In September, the museum will be open on weekends only, with the annual Fall der All celebration scheduled for Sept. 27-28.
Froelich Rolls Out the Carpet For 336 Vintage Tractors
By Denny Eilers
as published in the Clayton County Register
Only one tractor was ever built in the tiny town of Froelich, Iowa. And that was by John Froelich in 1892.
But on Sunday, July 22 nd, 336 vintage tractors – from John Deere to Farmall to Oliver to Massey and more – descended on Froelich to start a scenic ride through northeast Iowa.
It was a day filled with firsts.
It was the first tractor ride sponsor to use Froelich as the staging point, proving a little town can be a pretty big host to a lot of people. It was also the first tractor ride KGLO radio station in Mason City held in northeast Iowa, even though it was their 6 th annual ride.
“Our riders wanted a more scenic route this time,” said Ben Hengesteg of KGLO radio.
It was also the first major event the Froelich Foundation hosted from its recently remodeled barn. The Foundation even squeezed in a few moments to properly dedicate its new events center, honoring donors Joyce and Julius Dettmann with a plaque that will be permanently displayed in the barn.
“We’re honored to dedicate this to you,” stated Frank McMillin, president of the Froelich Foundation, “and we thank you again for your generous donation.”
The advance party from KGLO opened shop in the Froelich Depot building on Saturday afternoon to get ready for the stampede of tractors and drivers that were on the way. More than 50 arrived on Saturday afternoon, including two spiffy John Deere 4020’s.
By Sunday morning they were streaming in. Larry Cox, a Froelich Foundation member and a driver in the 3-day ride went to work parking machines tire to tire. He put more than 125 in the large lot behind Burlingame’s General Store, another 50 in the Depot area and then lines of 50 front and back leading up to the barn with room to spare.
“We may have more activity in Froelich today than in its entire history,” quipped Cox as tractors kept rolling in.
Tractor Ride Route
The ride started in Froelich on Monday morning, traveled east to Marquette, north along the Mississippi River then turned back west to end in Charles City.
KGLO farm broadcaster Mark Dorenkamp accompanied the group conducting live broadcasts along the route, including an interview with Diane Malcom, foundation director, on the history of Froelich and the role of the Froelich tractor.
“This is a great place to start an event like this,” stated Hengesteg, director of marketing for KGLO. “The Froelich people really make us feel welcome.”
Johnson’s Restaurant in Elkader catered a country-style buffet, served from the donated Dettmann Dairy Barn that was moved in 2006. Picnic tables were lined up in front and the upstairs was filled with dining tables from MFL-MarMac Schools.
McMilllin and Malcom welcomed the drivers and presented a brief history of Froelich. After the buffet dinner, KGLO held a meeting in front of the barn to brief riders on the route.
Why do folks of all ages drive farm tractors down the highway?
For some it’s meeting new people. For others it’s getting together with old friends. And, for many it’s just talking about tractors, being around them and showing off the latest restoration project.
But, for Travis Jorde, of Rochester, Minn., who drove a John Deere 1020, there was another reason.
“When it’s late in the day,” he explained, “and you’re in road gear heading down the highway, it reminds me of being back on the farm. Back then, when the sun went down and the field work was done you put it in road gear and headed for home.
“That was a great feeling."
