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2009-07-03

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Agriculture

Lifestyles

Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald

Joe Schweiger, Rantoul, has been making birds, insects, animals and other items from odd bits of junk and parts. “My wife would always raise Cain about my junk,” Schweiger said. “Now, she says I’m doing something about it.”

Rantoul man: ‘I’m one of those people that have to keep busy’

By CLEON RICKEL, Herald Senior Writer

At 74, Joe Schweiger, Rantoul, figures he’s done it all and is ready to kick back and relax.

Now, if he can convince everyone else of that.

Schweiger is spending this week preparing for this weekend’s Lane Fair — in the past, he has been president of the Lane Fair Board for 13 years — and he’ll help move 4-H livestock at the fair.

“Or at least try to control them,” he said.

The Lane Fair is part of a lengthy resume of community and public activities Schweiger had taken part in.

Besides farming just west of the Miami County line near Rantoul, Schweiger has served on the Central Heights school board, been chief of the Cutler Township Fire Department for 20 years and served as a firefighter in the department for more than 10 more, helped start the Franklin County Firefighters Association and been involved in the Pottawatomie Ruritans.

That doesn’t include his junk.

“Well, that and other people’s junk,” he said.

Acting on a creative impulse, he used small bits of farm machinery to make a small bit of art.

He hasn’t stopped.

He makes bird, insects, animals and other items from odd bits of junk and parts.

“My wife would always raise Cain about my junk,” Schweiger said. “Now, she’s says I’m doing something about it.”

He put some of his metal sculptures in his yard.

“People would drive in and ask where I got them,” he said. “Then they’d want to buy them.”

He takes his sculptures to area craft shows throughout the year.

Schweiger also rebuilds and renovates old tractors, including two Allis Chalmers WCs, and is working on a 1956 Case. He’s also a member of the Power of the Past Antique Gas and Tractor Club.

“It’s something to play with,” he said. “I’m one of those people that have to keep busy.”

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