Box 15, Tuscola, Michigan
The 1960 Show of the American Thresherman Association was a
spectacular event at Highland, Illinois. This first Agricultural
Power Progress Show proved to be a huge success and for the most
part needs no detailed description here because so many people
carried good reports with them. However, there are of course many
There were five of us boys and at one time among us we ran 3
complete outfits. My oldest brother and I had this machine in
partnership and at the time this picture was taken, another man had
bought out my brother and he and I ran this machine. I run the Case
Engine. I believe, at that time, it was called the 25-75. My
partner was a man by the name of Silas Breland (he is on top of the
Separator). I am standing on top of the big drive wheel. My
brother-in-law is standing on the ground just below me. My father
is between the engine and bundle rack. This picture was taken in
August 35 years ago. Engineer, myself (George McLeod); Separator
man, Silas Breland; brother-in-law, Carl Dake; my father, L. C.
McLeod. Taken in Davison County, South Dakota, in 1925.
In order to describe the event, the main and most important
point to report would be to describe the continuous activity.
Simply said, there was no show anywhere that would compare in terms
of action and activity. For example, 15 acres of land was plowed
with steam and modern tractors; 30 acres of wheat was threshed (at
one time 16 loads of bundles could be counted at one time);
contests involving threshing, pulling power, belt power, and the
famous setting (or getting into the belt) were sponsored. Also, a
modern concrete and covered grandstand and track equipped with fine
lighting enabled a lovely evening show and parade of Farm Power
Progress. All this plus a nearly continuous operation of the
sawmill, brake, fan and also Veneering machine, made it different
from any event.
All of this action, except for the plowing, took place in a most
beautiful setting. There was an abundance of shade on the level
where the machines operated and even more on a plateau at tree top
level from which hundreds and thousands could see the grounds in
back yard lounging conditions away from the dust and dirt.
So you can see why people left the show filled with enthusiasm
and carrying such good reports. There were many more activities
than can be reported here.
The American Thresherman Association will sponsor the 1961 show
in Highland, Illinois, on August 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. Progress of
tractors and farm machinery will be featured from a large variety
of steam engines to the most modern power. The 1961 event has
already been well planned. It will be a pleasure to attend and will
be of educational value. The first one in 1960 ranked with the big
nationally known shows and offered more activity than the two
biggest and best known events. The 1961 action event is open to all
of you. However, if you are interested only in visiting, only in a
parade, and only in steam engines standing idle, just smoking away,
then don’t come to Highland because you may be left to talk to
yourself or get run over, unless you like the lovely shade and
grass on the cliff overlooking the area. – So all are invited! We
can promise only that there will be truly a good active show for
you to witness and one you can see nowhere else.
AMOS E. RIXMANN
THRESHERMAN AND SAWMILLER
I have threshed most of my time and now that the threshing is
done and gone I am sawing lumber with a Baker 25-50 Gas Tractor on
a Meadows No.2 Mill with 56 inch saw with 54 teeth. This makes it
pull a little hard but sure cuts good. I use Standall teeth when
the timber is frozen, as they clean out the saw dust. I use a dust
drag which does not take so much power. I also use a Meadows 2 saw
edger. I have a 24 hp Port Huron engine which I use some times but
help is high priced and hard to get so don’t use it much.
