Thoughts of Kansas in July always revolve around one subject
Wheat Harvest! This yearly occurrence in the Great Plains would
normally culminate in a community event The threshing bee. Everyone
brought their newly harvested shocks of wheat to a central site for
threshing. The powerful steam engine would be attached to the
threshing machine the men supplied the labor; the women the
wonderful home-cooked food; and the children the fun and games!
Five years ago the Jewell County Historical Society,
headquartered in Mankato, Kansas, decided to recreate this unique
event from our past as a means of preserving our pioneer
heritage.
So, complete with steam engines and threshing machines,
home-cooked food and fun and games, a unique event has evolved the
Jewell County Threshing Bee and Antique Machine Show.
Since the first threshing bee five years ago, over 3500 visitors
and 250 exhibitors from Pennsylvania, California, Texas and all
regions in between have participated. A special participant was
Trevor Sprigg, from western Australia, who, during a visit to the
United States, spent over thirty days in Mankato helping to prepare
for the threshing bee.
The threshing bee offers something for everyone. The two-day
event is held in a shady ten-acre plot belonging to the Jewell
County Historical Society, Dr. William Schlotter back and the City
of Mankato. Home cooked meals, lemonade, ice cream, funnel cakes
and other delights can be enjoyed in the shade on the many benches
supplied for spectators. Antiques, flea markets and crafts booths
provide hours of browsing. Actual demonstrations of such age-old
crafts as wheat weaving, blacksmithing, quilt making, rope making,
limestone fence post construction and babbit pouring offer an
interesting interlude to the main events.
Binding wheat with a three horse hitch of
Percherons
The action begins on Saturday morning at 8:00 AM. The crowd
gathers early to watch the steam engines build up steam and the
antique tractors warm up as the stationary engines begin to pop and
smoke in preparation for the events of the day. By 11:00 AM the
steam engines are belted up and the first of many threshing
demonstrations begin. The steam engines are given no rest, as on to
the parade they move! Along with the antique tractors, cars, fire
engines, horse and buggies and teams of work horses, they parade
through downtown Mankato and the threshing bee grounds, much to the
delight of the 3500 spectators in attendance.
The end of the Grand Parade is only the beginning of the
day’s activities. The steam engines or antique tractors are
soon belted up or prepared for the afternoon contests and
demonstrations. These include fast and slow races, a unique
teeter-totter contest, saw mill demonstrations, straw baling, and
many other events. All afternoon the saw mill buzzes, teams of work
horses plow the ground and dozens of other events take place in a
recreation of the way of life of our pioneer forefathers decades
ago.
Since the site for the threshing bee covers a large area, rides
from one site to another are available. Visitors may take their
choice of horse-drawn buggies or wagons or tractor-drawn trailers.
A special addition for this year is an antique beer wagon pulled by
a team of six Percherons.
The action continues until sundown. The Old Timers Fiddlers,
complete with player piano accompaniment, entertain from morning
until night. Old time dancing is not forgotten. Square and round
dance demonstrations highlight the evening hours.
Sunday begins with the arrival of the ‘Circuit Preacher’
riding in on horseback for morning services at 9:00 AM, and a
schedule of events follows similar to the preceding day.
The Jewell County Museum, located in downtown Mankato, is one
stop that should not be overlooked. A special exhibit is prepared
each year to highlight the threshing bee. This year’s exhibit,
called ‘Come to the Fair,’ is on loan from the Kansas
Historical Society and the Kansas Committee for the Humanities.
Planning for the next year’s events begins only a few hours
after the final haunting blast of a steam whistle signals the end
of the threshing bee. Jim Decker, Chairman, his committees and
their many volunteers begin discussions of any problems, changes or
additions which should be considered for the following year.
The steam engines which play a large role in each threshing bee
have been supplied by the following individuals: Emil Kudlicek,
David City, Nebraska, who has loaned his unique reverse flue Huber
for the past three years, enjoys operating the engine and visiting
with the crowds of enthusiasts; Don Blecha, Wichita, Kansas, who
brings his restored 20-70 Nichols and Shepard engine which was
originally owned by his grandfather; Bud Heffner, Concordia,
Kansas, with his magnificent Russell steam engine; and John
Strattman, Wilcox, Nebraska, who has loaned his Minneapolis steam
engine.
The 5th Annual Jewell County Threshing Bee was held in Mankato
on July 17 and 18, 1982.
