The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer - Quill Publisher/Owner
"I don't think many kids and young adults know how their ancestors farmed everything by hand," Dave Vanden Boom, said when asked the purpose of the CORN ITEMS COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION (CICA).
The Club was founded in September of 1981 at Argyle State Park, Colchester, by Val Ferrin, Boots Sears, Brian Cooper and Gary Kupferschmid. The name of the organization was International Com Husking Hooks and Pegs Collectors Association and in five years, 1986, it had grown to 93 members.
Vanden Boom, a past president and now the Secretary-Treasurer for CICA, is coming with other members around the Midwest, to the Hugh and Sheila Forbes farm on Friday and Saturday (April 21-22) for their Spring meeting and will display items and on Saturday, the public is invited to come from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to see and visit about their items and purchase some corn items and hopefully even become a member to help preserve history.
Food will be available on grounds for members and guests.
"Members will come from all over," Vanden Boom said. "One couple I just talked to is coming from Tennessee, others from Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois."
There are over 100 members from 30 states, according to their website and Vanden Boom who is from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, home of Old Threshers.
This year's president of the CORN ITEMS COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION, Steve Link of Canton, said, "After our Spring Meeting April 21 & 22 at the Forbes farm (Media, IL) we meet again at the 56th Annual Western Illinois Threshers near Hamilton, August 4, 5, and 6.
A few weeks later we meet August 23-26, for the 58th Annual Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show in Portland, Indiana – the world's largest gas engine and tractor show located northeast of Indianapolis. It will accomodate our members out east.
Corn Items Collectors Association, Inc.
(Also identified as CICA) was founded in 1981 originally as the Corn Husking Hook and Pegs Collecting Association.
It's interest was to collect and preserve information and memorabilia having to do with the husking of corn. The newsletter was appropriately named THE BANG BOARD (published quarterly by and for member of the Corn Items Collectors Association, Inc.).
It was soon realized that corn, in general, was of more interest, and vast in nature, so the collecting of all corn related items was the logical direction to pursue.
In 1986 the name was changed to the Corn Items Collectors Association. The CICA was later incorporated as a non-profit national organization, the Corn Items Collectors Association, Inc.
The purpose of the CICA is as follows: " To promote the collection, restoration, preservation, and exhibition of corn related items, memorabilia, and any other articles of historical and/or educational value. To share knowledge and understanding with others, especially where it may benefit restorations for museums and institutions."
Current CICA membership includes approximately 100+ members from approximately 30 states. Meetings are held in conjunction with shows several times throughout the summer.
CICA members also show their collections during the summer at various antique tractor shows and the like throughout the corn belt.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please come to:
Hugh & Sheila Forbes
1946 850 North
Media, IL 61460
Members will have some of their collections displayed and the Assocation (CICA) will have books and memorabilia for sale.