News : Silos and Smokestacks dedication honors Hawk Bilt history, Depot

The unveiling of the sign, as seen through the wheel of the caboose.

Keith Elwick recalls some of the Hawk-Bilt history during the Silos and Smokestacks dedication.

One of the Hawk-Bilt large hay balers was on display during the dedication.

Signs in honor of former railroad employees were common in the area, said Phil Borlesky.

Information about Hawk-Bilt and its machines appears on a baler.

Phil Borlesky, railroad historian, discusses the depot and its connection to Hawk-Bilt.

VU Director Nathan Hesson speaks to the crowd.

Candy Stead tells the audience about the mission and efforts of Silos and Smokestacks.

Former Hawk-Bilt employees pose for a photo after the dedication.

Modern technology will help tell the story of agriculture's history.

Loren Henkle takes in the dedication ceremony while sitting on shoulders of his dad, Luke.

Phil Borlesky shares the history of the depot during the dedication event.

The 20-year Hawk Bilt history, and how it impacted Vinton, was among the things that nearly 100 people gathered at the Depot in Vinton to celebrate Thursday afternoon.

The event included the unveiling of a sign that highlighted much of the history of Hawk-Bilt, and the inventions of Keith Elwick.

"A person needs a lot of luck to get through life and I have had more thany share and the biggest piece of luck -- a huge piece of luck -- had to do with farming and food production, which silos and smokestacks is all about," Elwick told the audience.

Last year, Elwick received the Silos and Smokestacks Hero in Agriculture/Golden Silo Award, which honored him for the impacts of his inventions, including a side-discharge manure spreader and a large hay baler.

Elwick created his inventions to solve problems he encountered on his family farms; his inventions led to a successful 20-year run at Hawk-Bilt, which created thousands of spreader and balers before the 1980s farm crisis led to the closing of the factory. At its height, Hawk-Bilt, which began with two employees, had nearly 140 people working in its production facilities and offices.

The dedication also publicly acknowledged and celebrated the new alliance between Vinton, the Benton County Historical Society and the Silos and Smokestacks organization.

Candy Stead of Silos and Smokestacks told the audience that the non-profit organization now includes 112 eastern Iowa sites that collectively help tell the story of Iowa's agricultural history. Iowa is unique in having such an organization, she said.

The Depot -- which once served as office space for Hawk-Bilt, was a gift from Elwick and his company to Vinton and the Historical Society. After buying the Depot and spending about $100,000 on renovations, the company and Elwick deeded it to the Historical Society.

Vinton Unlimited Director Nathan Hesson spoke about the future efforts planned for Vinton and Silos and Smokestacks. Former Hawk-Bilt employee Jim Hodgson shared some memories of his two decades of working there. And railroad historian Phil Borlesky shared some of the history of the depot and its connection to agriculture and Hawk-Bilt.

The audience included nearly a dozen former Hawk-Bilt employees who gathered around a spreader for a photograph after the event had ended.