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 The tractor is the second one in the last two years
raffled off to raise money for the Logan County Relay for Life and
American Cancer Society. Last year, the first tractor was donated to
the Friends and Family Relay group by the late Ken Harnacke. Ken
donated the tractor in honor of his wife who is a breast cancer
survivor.
This year, it was a surprise when the relay team’s co-captain Karen
Hargis heard from Central Illinois Ag in Atlanta that they wanted to
keep the momentum going by donating another pedal tractor. The
tractor would be a brand new pink version of a vintage McCormick
Farmall “C.” The McCormick brand was the original version of the
International Harvester farm implement line.
Matt Voelker of CIA was instrumental in making the donation happen.
He did so as a salute to his mother who had breast cancer and an
expression of appreciation for the work of the American Cancer
Society.
With the donation made, Hargis sought permission to
host a raffle from the Logan County Board and Ramlow along with help
from CCAonline staff member Bobbie Snyder began putting together
raffle boxes to be placed at various locations throughout the
county.
Tickets were sold for several months, but like a lot of other
activities this year, special sale events were halted due to
coronavirus.
The relay team did offer tickets for sale during
their pork chop cook-outs in Lincoln, but otherwise relied on the
various businesses to promote the ticket purchases among their
customers.
The businesses that helped with the raffle tickets included Central
Illinois Ag, CCAonline/Lincoln Daily News, Collision Concepts, the
Atlanta National Bank.
Tickets sold for $5 each or five for $20. On the 21st, Hargis
announced that in spite of the lack of special selling
opportunities, the little pedal tractor had raised $905 for the
American Cancer Society. She said that the amount was a surprise and
a very pleasant one indeed. She thanked CIA for their donation and
thanked all the local businesses who had helped sell tickets.
Then it was time to draw the ticket. Gathering around
the tractor were CIA owners and employees, Steve and Michael
Schmidt, Jake Glandon, Matt Voelker, Abby Miller and Dawn Irwin.
Ramlow joined the group stirring up the tickets and
holding the bowl while Voelker did the honors of drawing out the
winning name.
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The winner of the pink tractor was Lisa Goodman of
Atlanta. Lisa purchased her ticket at the Atlanta National Bank.
When contacted, Goodman was very excited and explained that the
tractor was going to be a gift for her two year old Tipper. She said
that he would be very excited to have the tractor and she
anticipated that he would ride the wheels right off of it. She said
he wouldn’t care that it was pink, that his joy would be in having
this really cool new toy.
On Christmas Eve, Lisa and her partner Greg Paul brought Tipper to
the dealership and it was there that the little boy found out that a
special gift had been left there for him. True to what Lisa expected
the little boy was excited about his new toy. He sat proudly on the
tractor for a group picture.
After that, Voelker adjusted the seat on the tractor
to accommodate his height and Tipper was put down on the floor to
test out his new tractor.
Goodman said that Tipper is a foster child in the household. Over
the years, she has fostered more than 15 children, but in 2021 her
hope and dream is that she and Paul will be able to adopt Tipper and
make him their son forever.
Goodman said she purchased the raffle ticket while at the bank one
day because she understands the impact of cancer, having seen a lot
of it in her family. She wanted to support the American Cancer
Society and didn’t really imagine that she would win.
“But when we won I was super excited because I knew we would put it
to good use,” said Goodman.
On Christmas Eve Goodman, Paul, and Tipper were all so excited and
happy.
It was a feel good moment for everyone. Local businesses have been
hard hit this year with the coronavirus and the staff at CIA
understand the suffering that comes with the disease because every
member of their staff has had it and thankfully came through on the
other side in pretty good shape. That given, no masks were needed by
staff and all can see their smiling faces instead.
At the end of it all Hargis commented about the event this year.
“Thank you first to Central Illinois Ag for their donation of the
tractor to help raise money for breast cancer awareness and support
in Logan County. This tractor has had so much positive goodwill in
2020 - from Logan County giving us the permit to raffle it - to
every person who bought tickets. Along the way there have been so
many who have shared their story of cancer and their desire to help
bring an end to it. We have been privileged to be a part of this
journey, and for not only listening to your stories but sharing your
determination to fight against this awful disease.”
Congratulations to Goodman, Paul and Tipper and our hope and prayer
for you in 2021 is that your hope and prayer comes true!
[Nila Smith]
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