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Oliver Heritage Magazine is directed toward collectors of Oliver, White, and Cletrac. Oliver Heritage covers the history of the people and the machines of the Oliver family of companies. Every two months, Oliver Heritage presents technical articles, history, personal stories, and tractor and machinery reviews.[1]
In each issue, editor Sherry Schaefer obtains information from her extensive collection of literature and historic photos to present little known facts about long forgotten aspects of Oliver history. Schaefer is the only private owner of a complete set of "Oliver Shield" literature. Cletrac history in the magazine is covered by well-known Cletrac expert Landis Zimmerman. Larry Harsin helps readers with technical information to keep Oliver equipment in good running condition. Oliver Heritage fits the niche market of those interested in the history of the Oliver line of machinery.[1] ...
Oliver Heritage Magazine was started in 2004.[1] The reception of the magazine was positive and subscription numbers have grown steadily. The magazine began in the home of Sherry Schaefer, the editor and founder. In 2008, it was moved to a main street building in Nokomis, IL, which allowed growth and expansion. With the addition of new novelties and staff members, the company was moved again in 2011. The magazine is currently published out of an 8,000-square-foot (740 m2) building in Greenville, IL. The magazine has staff members working nationwide, including: Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, and Texas.[2]
Oliver Heritage has a website which provides Oliver Paint Codes, Tractor Articles, and Oliver Serial Numbers.[1]
Oliver Heritage Magazine is sold at many Tractor Supply Company stores throughout the nation and select newsstands. It is also sold at any trade show where it is being promoted. The total circulation for the magazine is around 11,000.
Sherry Schaefer is a Greenville, Illinois (Bond County) native and grew up around tractors and equipment. Her grandfather, Ervin Schaefer, was an Oliver tractor dealer in both Granite City and Hamel, Illinois from 1936 -1965. Her father, Oliver “Ollie” Schaefer, is a used Oliver tractor and equipment dealer in Greenville, Illinois. The Schaefer family also owned and operated a national tractor pulling sled service for more than 25 years beginning in the late 1960s.[2]
Schaefer worked along-side her father throughout his pulling sled years. When she was not tractor-pulling, Schaefer worked as a truck driver hauling grain to elevators along the Mississippi River. The hours she spent on the farm loading grain and tractor pulling gave her vast exposure to tractors of all makes and models. In 1993, Schaefer became the editor of the Hart-Parr Oliver Collectors magazine, which focused exclusively on the Oliver brand of equipment.[3] Schaefer served in this capacity for 10 ½ years before venturing out on her own.[3]
Schaefer began her own bi-monthly Oliver publication in 2004, known as Oliver Heritage Magazine. In 2008 she formed her own publishing company, 3 Point Ink LLC, located in Greenville, IL. At the same time, she started a new bi-monthly tractor publication, known as Heritage Iron Magazine. The new magazine was aimed at a growing niche market focusing on tractors from the 1960-1985 era. It was awarded 2009's "Best New Niche Magazine Launch." [4] Schaefer is in possession of the largest, most comprehensive collection of Oliver literature in the world, which is a tremendous asset to the editorial content of her magazines.[5]
Schaefer has authored three books, Farm Tractor Collectibles, (MBI Publishing, in 1998), Oliver Tractors, (MBI Publishing, in 2001) and Classic Oliver Tractors: History, Models, Variations & Specifications 1855-1976, (Voyageur Press, 2009). Additionally, Schaefer has provided her expertise in other tractor-related books including: A Guide to Hart-Parr, Oliver and White Farm Tractors 1901-1996 by Larry Gay, Oliver Farm Tractors by T. Herbert Morrell, Oliver Photographic History by April Halberstadt and Ultimate American Farm Tractor Data Book Nebraska Test Tractors 1920-1960 by Lorry Dunning.[2]
In January 2003, Schaefer was picked and approved by the Smithsonian Institution to assist with the restoration of the oldest mass-production gasoline tractor in existence.[6] The tractor had not been in working condition since 1960 and a small team of experts were chosen to bring the tractor back to life for its 100-year anniversary.[5]
In August 2003, Schaefer was an expert witness in Washington, D.C. to defend the Chinese Embassy regarding an international trade commission complaint filed by a US tractor manufacturer. She is an executive board member of the Illinois Rural Heritage Museum and a lifetime honorary member of the American Farm Heritage Museum. She has been the guest speaker at numerous community organizations and national tractor club gatherings.[2] In 2011, Schaefer was honored by the I&I Tractor Club with an award of appreciation for her many contributions.[5]
Schaefer regularly travels around the country to visit with former executives, engineers, employees and farmers who are/were regularly involved with the manufacture or use of farm equipment. She also attends various trade shows, toys shows and tractor exhibits to share her passion of the farm equipment hobby.[2]
Sam White, Jr. – Former President of Oliver
Jon Kinzenbaw – Kinze Manufacturing
Elmo Meiners – M&W Gear
Therran Tallman – Tallman Baler
Max Armstrong- Ag Broadcaster
“Big Bud” Nelson – Designer of Big Bud
Ollie Cunningham – Grandson of J.D. Oliver
Lou Leviticus – NE Tractor Test Lab Director & survivor of the Holocaust
Ray Bostedt – Director of Printing Dept. at Oliver