With a whistle and a cloud of smoke, an estimated crowd of 4000
people watched on as a trio of steam engines began a day of
threshing. As they watched, some with awe and some with fond
memories, Obed Shellum, Sherman, South Dakota, with his 1916
Aultman-Taylor; Jack Kedinger, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with his
1919 Nichols Sheppard and Rude Bros., Flandreau, with their 1915
been placed between the stacks of grain. With the beginning of all
this activity, the two men, who had worked so hard to get the first
show of this kind in Flandreau started, sat back and breathed a
sigh of relief. Adolph Rude and Al Storer had began early in the
fall of 1962 to make these two days a reality for Flandreau. All
this began early in the fall when the contracted grain fields were
cut, shocked and stacked. With the help of some volunteer and some
paid labor, they managed to get 17 stacks of grain in a field where
the threshing and antique show was to be held. Now it was a reality
and very rewarding to see the looks of anticipation and interest on
the faces of the onlookers.
Mr. Shellum’s 1916, 16-48 Aultman Taylor was pulling a
wooden 32′ Advance Rumely, owned by Cy Halverson of Trent,
South Dakota. One of the most common comments heard was, ‘my,
isn’t that a quiet running outfit.’
A few yards to the side Jack Kadinger, with his 1919, 16-60
double cylinder, Nichols Sheppard was playing with a 1910, 40′
Minneapolis separator, also owned by Mr. Halverson. When four men
would pitch a number of bundles in from the two stacks of a four
stack cluster, the old Nichols Sheppard would belch a cloud of
smoke and make short work of getting it through the machine.
Next to this machine was the 1915 Case, 15-40, owned by Rude
Bros. They were pulling a 1943 Belle City 28’owned by Harlan
Hasvold, Flandreau. With this machine, the Case was having no
trouble eating up the grain as it was pitched in. This was the
machine that the oldest person, Nellie Thorson, took most interest
in. This little lady walked up to the machine and remembered the
days when she helped cook for the crew that worked around the
threshing run.
There were a number of old antique cars and many other exhibits
that were of interest. Among these were a miniature scale 2- inch
to the foot of a 1902 Case 80, which was built by Geo. Winter,
Pipestone, Minnesota. The Case 80 was pulling a two inch scale
1914, 28′, Case Separator that was owned by Jalmer Vane,
Dawson, Minn.
After the crowd had thinned out and the machines were being
unbelted to be put away, the question was being asked, ‘Will
this be an annual event?’ As of this date, there are plans
being made to have one again next year. With the success of this
years show, Mr. Adolph Rude and Mr. Al Storer are hoping for a
bigger and better show for 1964.
