Northfield, Minnesota
The Rice County Steam and Gas Association held its 7th annual
Threshing Show on September 6 and 6, 1981. It was held on the
Malecha Bros, farm, which is about 35 miles South of Minneapolis,
Minnesota. It is always held on the Labor Day weekend.
Despite the very wet month of August, the show went on as
scheduled. The shocks had to stay out in the fields till the day
before the show. Other years they were always stacked, but due to
the wet summer, this year was an exception. Some of the oat shocks
were sprouting so much already that they had to stay in the field
and were plowed under after the show. Both days turned out to be
beautiful, as I think all the members of the Association prayed for
sunny skies.
The exhibitors and flea markets started arriving early Saturday
morning. Some came as early as 6:00 AM. There was the hustle and
bustle of members, the wives, friends, all getting everything into
full swing. Soon you could hear the putt-putt and billows of smoke
from the steam engines. There was activity everywhere you looked.
On both days, the threshing machines were blowing their straw into
fluffy piles. Of course, no new straw pile is complete without all
those small kids sliding down the sides of it.
The thresher was run by both steam engines and the antique gas
tractors. There was also a lathe mill, shingle making, corn
chopping, a portable saw mill, wood planer, and several splitters,
all adding to the activities. We had about 50 to 75 gas and diesel
engines ranging from a 25 HP Superior to small Maytags, and every
style and size in between. There was a line of about 75 antique
tractors. Just to mention a few of the varieties there were:
Fordson, McCormick, Farmall, Case, Ford, Massey Harris, Hart Par,
Rock Island, Huber, Thieman, John Deere and Allis Chalmers. We had
seven large steam engines who were letting off their steam. There
were Case, Bakers, and Advance. There were also several small scale
models showing off their ‘toots.’
Other things of interest were displays ranging from walking
plows to antique hand tools and wrenches to scale model tractors.
Many of the large wooden machinery did not make it to the field
this year due to the previous damp weather. A blacksmith was there,
showing people his trade, and several antique cars and trucks
formed their special line. A helicoptor was busy both days giving
rides. For those people who would rather keep their feet on solid
ground, there was an old time band which played constantly for the
people to enjoy. We had a parade at 2:00 in the afternoon each day.
We had our own food and refreshment stand this year, with members
and their wives taking their shifts.
On Sunday morning, we had a non-denominational church service
out in the field, which was open to the public, and a pancake and
sausage breakfast followed. On Sunday after the parade, we had a
raffle in which we raffled off a gas engine every year for the past
three years. All in all, we had a great turn out, and everyone
enjoyed themselves to the fullest. And just in time Sunday evening,
when everything was closed down, we had a terrific downfall of
rain. As a matter of fact, we all had a hard time getting the
exhibits off the field the next day.
The officers wish to thank all those who worked, exhibited, and
those who just came and enjoyed the show, and to anyone else who
helped us put on a really great show. As our club motto states:
‘Preserving a bit of yesterday for tomorrow’, we hope we
may continue to do so for many years to come.
