Not many farm equipment dealerships remain today that can say “we’ve been a family business for over 50 years.” But Bodner Equipment in Staunton, Illinois can say that with pride.

Located just off of historic Route 66 is the Bodner family residence and business. In the 1950’s Nick, Steve, Charlie and Liz Bodner, brothers and sisters, were operating a feed store which also sold fertilizer and other miscellaneous supplies. In addition to this, they had a custom farming business.

The Bodners had purchased an Ann Arbor baler from dealer Ervin Schaefer. This baler proved to be quite troublesome and the Bodners spent quite a bit of time working on the machine. The National Livestock Yards was located just across the river from the St. Louis Oliver branch house. Nick Bodner frequented the livestock yards regularly so he would just jump across the river to get his parts for the baler and other equipment.

Because of his regular visits to the branch house, he became quite familiar with the people of Oliver. They finally encouraged the Bodners to become Oliver dealers in 1953. The dealership was set up in the original feed store located on Route 66.

Right behind the feed store was the 2-story home of Nick and his wife. Just behind the house was a small glazed block building which became the shop for the dealership. With all the excitement of new tractors going on in such a small area, a young boy couldn’t help but be intrigried. Nick’s son, Vince, was born in 1951, so his earliest memories are filled with visions of new tractors being unloaded just feet away from his sandbox.

Vince became obsessed with tractors even as a toddler. He recalls a 440 that was on the lot for a while. His legs weren’t long enough to reach the clutch pedal on the offset model, but it didn’t take him long to figure out that if he put the tractor in gear and then turned the key switch, he could drive the tractor around. If he needed to stop, all he had to do was turn the key off.

When a GM-powered Super 99 appeared at Bodners, Vince figured out how to start that one too. The 99 was parked under the lean-to of the building. The 99 was started with a push button on the dash. Vince would slide down in the seat and put his foot against the button. By pulling against the steering wheel, he could push the button and get the tractor started. He didn’t take the 99 for a spin around the lot, but loved to rev up the engine under the roof and listen to it roar. Inside the shop someone would say “Vince is on the tractor again!”

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