Artesian, South Dakota 57314
The eighth annual Steam Threshing Jamboree was held August 28,
29, 30 at Prairie Village two miles west of Madison near Lake
Herman in South Dakota.
Friday the first day of our show was pretty much rained out
except for lumber sawing and the parade. The rain and cool weather
held the crowd down in number.
Saturday noon the grain was dry enough to thresh and plowing
with steam traction engines was done along with lumber sawing and
pulling the Baker fan. The fan is used only to make the engines
work. We haven’t really pulled the fan for two years now. 450
R.P.M. is the top speed. Our fan is one foot larger than most
fans.
Threshers in use were John Buschena 1884 Case agitator, Case 32,
54, Ault-man Taylor 36-58 (wood). John Deere 28, Advance and Keck
Gonnerman 32-54.
Steamers in operation were 60 Under-mounted Avery 25-80
reversed, rear-mounted, side crank Nichols and Sheppard, 16-60,
double simple rear mounted Nichols and Sheppard. 9 horse, center
crank Elcipes, nine horse side crank rear mounted Nichols and
Sheppard, 20-60, Advance, 60 horse Aultman Taylor side crank side
mount, 30 horse Kitten 20-60 Case, and 32 Cross Compound Reeves.
The Avery, Case, and Reeves did the plowing. We have an eight
bottom John Deere and a 6 bottom automatic lift Case plow.
Sunday morning started very similar to last year, very clear and
warm. Sunday was also Governor Day and Governor Frank Farrar and
wife Pat were present. Church services started at 7:00 in the
morning and the show started around ten. There were 5 different
services. Catholic, nondenominational, a singing group, a Norwegian
service, and Lutheran service.
The gas engines again outnumbered the steam better than ten to
one. There were seventy gas tractors in the small plow group. The
larger gas Tractors were two 20-40 Cases, 35-75 Minneapolis, 30-60
Aultman Taylor two Big 4’s, a 30-60, 25-50, 30-60 twin
city.
The saw mill was operated by Milton Ayers and son Roger. Roger
also ran the Kitten steamer. Several different Steamers pulled the
saw along with a variety of gas tractors.
Miniature land was also busy with steamers threshing and sawing
wood. There were quite a few steam engines and thresher all showing
remarkable workmanship in their construction to the smallest
detail.
There were 30 stationary gas engines.
They were grinding feed, buzz sawing wood, drag sawing wood,
pumping water and some were just running very slow.
The Schaeffer Belgian Horses were at the Village again. They
pulled hay racks, grain wagons, water tanks for the steamers,
passenger wagons and plowed.
The Belgian pulled sulky, two gang and a three gang. All the
horse plows were John Deere 14′ bottoms.
The Village people would like to acknowledge the far away
visitors. Mr. and Mrs. William Aebersold of Humbird, Wisconsin, Mr.
and Mrs. LeRoy Blaker of Alvordton, Ohio, and Mr. Frank J. Burris,
35640 Avenue F, Yucaiba, California.
