SIGIC partnered with the Clinton County Farm Bureau to choose a recipient of our annual $1000 scholarship. The 2017 scholarship recipient is Oliver Sherman, son of Lynette Sherman, of Breese. Oliver is a Senior at Central High School who is enrolled in the John Deere Tech program at Lake Land College.  Oliver is also busy working on the Poettker Dairy Farm in St. Rose. Oliver was in 4-H for 8 years and FFA for 4 years. We look forward to meeting Oliver soon to learn more about his agriculture interest.

Tragedy struck just before the start of the 2016 Trentonfest Antique Plow Pull as Gervase and Luke Eversgerd of Germantown were unloading their 720 from the trailer. An electrical fire ignited when Luke hit the starter. Within minutes the 720 was fully engulfed in flames and their 70 was in jeopardy. Two SIGIC members responded with fire extinguishers but were not successful in fighting back the flames. The SIGIC members conducted a 50/50 raffle during the pull with intentions of donating the proceeds to Gervase and Luke to ease the financial pain of their loss. The winner of the 50/50 (pictured here with Gervase) also donated his winnings. The Everserd family has vowed to spend the winter restoring the 720 and making the repairs necessary to the 70. The SIGIC members and the antique pulling community were saddened to watch the fire and are happy to hear that the tractor will be restored.

An album with pictures of the fire can be viewed at this link. Click here

We are proud to introduce Justin VonHatten as the recipient of the Southern Illinois Green Iron Club scholarship in 2016. Justin attended Carlyle High School and will be attending Southwestern Illinois College this Fall. He will obtain a degree in Industrial Electricity. Justin feels his talents will be used frequently in assisting the agriculture industry that is strong in Clinton  and surrounding counties. He currently works for VonHatten Construction which is owned and managed by his father, Steve. 

Justin's family is also active in the antique tractor community showing both John Deere and international tractors owned for decades by both of his grandfathers. This makes Justin the perfect recipient of the 2016 scholarship. After meeting with Justin we know the Farm Bureau scholarship committee made a wise decision in choosing him as the receipient of the $1,000 scholarship. We look forward to working with the Farm Bureau for many more years offering financial assistance to the youth in our community who pursue a higher education in an agriculture-related career. 

We are proud to introduce Jake Albers as the first recipient of the Southern Illinois Green Iron Club scholarship. Jake attended Central High School and will be attending Kaskaskia College this Fall. He plans to transfer his general credits to SIU - Carbondale where he will major in Agricultural Systems Technology Management. His ideal job will be working with Global Posisitioning Systems. 

Jake attended the May meeting to introduce himself and meet the members who made the scholarship available to him. After meeting with Jake we believe the Farm Bureau scholarship committee made a wise decision in choosing Jake as the receipient of the $1,000 scholarship. We look forward to working with the Farm Bureau for many more years offering financial assistance to the youth in our community who pursue a higher education in an agriculture-related career. 

Jake was also awarded a 2015 membership to the Southern Illinois Green Iron Club. Welcome, Jake.