The more than 300 acres of crop demonstration plots at the Half Century Of Progress show grounds are said to be in great shape, and organizers of the Rantoul show are excited about the prospects for the harvest. The big antique farm equipment show with its extensive field demonstrations is now just a few months away. The home for the show is the Rantoul National Aviation Center.

Crops to be harvested at show time include corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Harvest and tillage demonstrations will be performed, and late-planted corn will be cultivated by tractors and horses.

Now famous for its awe-inspiring steam powered 60-bottom plow demonstrations at the Rantoul show in 2005, the primitive method of farming demonstration in 2007, when 48 draft horses were hitched together to manufacure horsepower that is approximately equal to a 480 horsepower tractor. Building on the success of the past, the 2009 Half Century of Progress Show will continue the tradition of highlighting spectacular methods of farming with, 747 Big Bud, the world's largest farm tractor on the scene and ready to demonstrate its power. This will be the first time the nearly 1,000 h.p. tractor will be available for demonstration in the Midwest.

The emphasis for the Half Century Of Progress will continue to be the fieldwork performed by vintage farm equipment. “This show has become famous because it’s a magnificent ‘flashback’ farm equipment show,” according to Chicago farm broadcaster Max Armstrong. “People come to Rantoul and see things they haven’t seen since they were young. They then recall the events and the people that were a part of their lives all of those years ago. It’s pretty special because of that,” he added.

The Half Century Of Progress IV will open on Thursday, August 27 and continue through Sunday, August 30, running the entire weekend before the famous Farm Progress Show at Decatur.

With the two well-publicized shows separated by just one day and located just 60 miles apart, many farmers traveled great distances to attend both events in the past. Officials of the 2005 Half Century Of Progress report that there were registered guests from nearly every state in America and many foreign countries, and again in 2007, reports show guests from thirty-three states and twelve foreign countries.