ILLINOIS RURAL HERITAGE MUSEUM - Key Persons
Austin McAllister is the Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor at Pinckneyville Community High School. Austin grew up on a small family beef farm in Thebes, Illinois. He attended Shawnee Community College for his Associates of Arts before Transferring to Southern Illinois University where in 2017, he graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Agriculture Education. Austin has always loved local history, especially that of an Agricultural background. He and his wife, Kelsey, reside in Pinckneyville.
Charles "Chuck" Hartke is an Illinois farmer who has served the public as Illinois Director of Agriculture and as a State Representative. Chuck has a keen interest in preserving the history of Illinois Agriculture.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President of the Museum
Charles Greer is President of the Museum. Charlie is an avid collector of farm tractors and is generous with his time as he supports a number of local civic organizations. He's also a Veteran of the US Army. Charlie's wife, Mary, is a major contributor to the Museum's success.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant for the Maschhoffs of Carlyle
Dave Maschhoff is Senior Consultant for The Maschhoffs of Carlyle, IL. They are currently ranked 6th in North America and 11th worldwide in pork production. They are one of the largest family owned companies in this business. The Maschhoff family collects and exhibits Case Steam Engines and very early Case Threshing Machines.
Gaylen Greer is a Pinckneyville native who works within the community as a heavy equipment mechanic. He devotes his time to several local organizations.
Grant Bigham is a 6th generation farmer in Southern Illinois. Graduated from Pinckneyville High School in 2018, was involved in 4-H and FFA. He will be graduating SIUC with a degree in Agricultural Technology Management in 2023.
Greg, Nathan, and Kendal Peterson (aka the Peterson Farm Brothers of Assaria, Kansas) are siblings who farm together with their parents. They produce entertaining and educational videos that teach others about agriculture and it's misconceptions on their YouTube channel and other social media pages. Aside from their production on social media, they travel around the country to speak on the need to and how to advocate agriculture. They have opened their farm up for public tours to further help the education process. Through all of this they hope to educate the general public on where their food comes from and what a real Midwest family farm looks like. Greg is a 2013 graduate of Kansas State majoring in agricultural communications and journalism. Nathan is currently a student at Kansas State and Kendal is in High School.
Helen Mayer has lived in Perry County all her life. She taught school at St. Mark's Lutheran in Steeleville, served as one of the first Ag in the Class coordinators in Illinois for over 30 years. She has served on and continues to serve on local and district Boards, including the Soil and Water Board, Perry County Farm Bureau, Ag in the Class and PCFB Foundation Boards. In addition, she serves on the Perry County Counseling Board, Five Star Industries Board, and St. Bruno's Board of Education. She serves on the district Board for the LWML, as well as many "jobs" in her church.
Greg Bigham lives in Pinckneyville, IL with his wife, Cheryl, and four children. Greg and his brother Allen manage Bigham Farms, a large farming operation headquartered near Vergennes, IL. Bigham Farms operates in Perry, Jackson and Randolph Counties. Greg and Cheryl are both very active in the community.
Irl Engelhardt is the former Chairman of the Museum. He is the former Chairman and CEO of Peabody Energy, Chairman of Patriot Coal and co-CEO of The Energy Group. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 2005-2008 and is active with a number of civic organizations in the local community.
Job Titles:
- Founder of the Case Threshing Machine
Helen Case Brigham is the great-granddaughter of J. I. Case, founder of the Case Threshing Machine. Helen comments, "My great-grandfather would support my enthusiasm for preserving our American Heritage".
Job Titles:
- the Customer Business Advisor
Jonathan Schneider is the Customer Business Advisor for BAYER in Southern Illinois. Jonathan is a member of the class of the 2018 Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation whose mission is to develop knowledgeable and effective leaders to become policy and decision makers for the agricultural industry. Jonathan, also a Certified Crop Advisor, is a contributor to his family's diversified dairy, grain and hay operation. His commitment to his community stems from his early and continued involvement in the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Okawville. He is involved in the Addieville Area Jaycees, where he has served in nearly every officer's position and was recognized as "Outstanding Local President of the Year" by the Illinois Jaycees. He attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Agribusiness Economics. He and his wife, Krissy, and their two children Hudson and Annley live in Venedy, Illinois.
Job Titles:
- President of the American Thresherman Association
Josh Giacomo is currently serving as President of the American Thresherman Association. He works as lead mechanic with his father at the family owned business, Giacomo Auto Repair. Josh is also an officer and very active in the Pinckneyville Knights of Columbus. He and his wife, Beth, live north of Pinckneyville.
Josh Maschhoff of Carlyle, IL is former Chairman of the Museum. He is a part of the sixth generation of The Maschoff's, the United States' largest independent pork producer network. Josh's degrees include a BS, University of IL, 2007; MS, Purdue University, 2014 and a MBA from Indiana University, 2014. He and his wife, Angela, live in Hoffman, IL with their two sons, Kyler and Brayson.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Owner and Editor of the Heritage Iron
Sherry Schaefer is the energetic owner and editor of the Heritage Iron and Oliver Heritage Magazines. Sherry covers equipment shows and special farm equipment with a professionalism and enthusiasm that shows her deep interest in the history of agriculture.
Vernon Mayer is a farmer in the local community, who enjoys collecting IH equipment. He serves on a number of local agricultural organization boards and is a Veteran of the US Army. He has shown tractors and equipment at the American Thresherman Show for several years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chairman of the Museum
Wayne Keller is Chairman of the Museum. Also co-Founder and partner of Buy A Farm, a large real estate sales company located in several states. Wayne has a keen interest in old Ag equipment and is a collector.