1511 Iglehart Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
The Zumbro Valley Threshers Association’s 15th Annual Steam
and Tractor show was held August 30th and 31st and September 1,
1969, on the Budenski, Brothers farm, West Concord, Minnesota.
The sight of the show is perfect. It is a fine level blue grass
pasture partly surrounded by low hills. A never-failing steam of
water flows through the pasture, forming the West boundary of the
show area. It supplies an abundance of water for the steam engines
and for cooling the gas engines and tractors. Trees cover the hills
to the South and East. To the Northeast, just across the pasture
fence lies an acreage of very level stubble field. In this field,
plowing is done with steam engines, tractors and horses. There is
another field available, however, to the northwest of the show
area, just in case crop rotation in the future closes this field to
plowing.
The Budenski farm buildings are located on a low hill directly
north of the show area and to the west of them a private road
leading from the main road leads to the northwest corner of the
show site which is the entrance.
Ample parking space is available, and the visitors are soon
attracted by many items of interest.
Most people who come to a steam and tractor show are interested
in the various demonstrations. Threshing no doubt heads the list of
what they like to see, and a demonstration of it draws their
attention each day.
Loads of grain bundles, hauled on old-fashioned rack wagons were
brought in for threshing. The threshing was done with a 36-inch
cylinder Red River Special, using the steam traction engines and
big gas tractors for power. A 22-inch John Deere thresher was used,
being powered by smaller tractors. Both of these machines belong to
the Budenskis, and they are in fine condition.
Lumber sawing was done by Axley Bros, of Eyota, Minn. A shingle
sawing machine was in operation. The five steam traction engines
took turns on the various belt driven machines, as did the big
Avery, Minneapolis and Rumely tractors. Among the belt jobs was the
Baker Fan which was busy most of the time. A teeter totter tried
the skill of the steam engineers.
One of the main attractions was the three sorrel Belgian horses
hitched to a John Deere sulky plow. The owner and driver was Walter
Schaffer of Owatonna, Minn, who followed the eight-bottom Prairie
plow in the stubble field as it was drawn alternately by steam and
gas tractors.
Small gasoline engines, most of them running at the same time,
held the attention of inquisitive on-lookers.
The large and small antique gas and oil tractors formed a
wonderful display.’
Exhibits of antique farm equipment including gang, sulky and
walking plows drew inquiring attention. Antique household equipment
was also on display. Implement dealers exhibited light farm
equipment, such as chain saws and small tractors.
Each day at noon, whistles from five steam traction engines and
a small hobby engine were all blown at the same time, screaming
through the valley as well as the ears of the spectators.
Refreshments were available at stands on the show ground.
The weather this year during the show was changeable but did no
particular harm to the attendance. Friday, August 30, was a warm
day with 90 degree temperature. That night brought thunder showers,
with the result that Sunday was much cooler bringing out jackets
and long jeans. Labor Day was ideal, sunny and beautiful.
While at the show, I met several of the men who were
participating in the event. Each of them mentioned my last
year’s article about the show and were very pleased with it. I
am indeed grateful to these fellows. There is satisfaction in doing
something that pleases someone else.
Among this group were Edward Budenksi who greeted me with a
friendly handshake, along with Eisner Machacek of Northfield,
Minn.; both are members of the Zembro Valley Threshers
Association.
It was a pleasure meeting Walter Schaffer of Owatonna, the young
horseman who adds so much to the show.
I soon found myself exchanging greetings with the Magnuson
brothers of Emerson, Nebraska. Harold still retains the title of
‘Water Monkey’. It takes water to make steam, and he’s
right on the job. His brother Ray, engineer on Budenski’s 28
Hp. Minneaspolis engine, owns one just like it at his home.
I might mention that at least one person in this group, took
down the address and would be sending in a subscription to the
Album. I enjoyed a chat with Steam Engine Joe who dropped by on his
way home from a show he had visited in western Minnesota. ‘They
hadn’t heard of me up there,’ he said. Of course, he was
surprised as were those of us who heard him mention it and no
doubt, he was a little hurt. Joe enjoys the fact that he is
well-known in most places where steam shows are held throughout the
United States and Canada.
Walter Gasch of Colby, Wisconsin and I exchanged greetings. Walt
runs Budenski Bros. 22 Hp. Minneapolis. He said last year’s
write-up got him a job.
Just as a rodeo, for example, has to have an announcer, it is
necessary for a Steam and Tractor show to have one at parade time.
Marylyn, a young farm wife who is the energetic secretary of the
Zumbro show, fills the position real well. Each day she announced
the parade units as they passed by. So on Labor Day it was about
3:45 that afternoon when she mounted a flat truck bed standing near
her office, and with a speaker, began announcing the parade.
Leading the parade was Walter Schaffer with his three Belgian
horses hitched to the John Deere sulky plow.
Number one tractor to come along, a 12-25 Avery gas tractor
owned by Robert Budenski, purchased in 1958 from the Ole Berg
estate, is completely rebuilt.
Number two, a 22 Hp. Advance plow engine owned by Robert
Budenski and operated by Wm. Foster of Durand, Wisconsin, was built
in 1909 and it is in fine condition.
Number three was a Port Huron engine owned by Budenski Bros, of
West Concord and operated by Russ Harris of Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Number four, a 20 Hp. Minneapolis engine (one of the last built
at the Hopkins Minnesota plant) was operated by Walter Gasch of
Colby, Wisconsin. The owner is Walter Budenski of West Concord.
Number five was a 22 Hp. Advance straw burner owned and operated
by Joe Selly of St. Peter, Minnesota.
Number six was a 28 Hp. Minneapolis engine owned by Ed Budenski
of West Concord and operated by Ray Magnuson of Emerson,
Nebraska.
Number seven, a 25-50 Avery with stack radiator, was purchased
from a museum at Valley Spring, South Dakota by Budenskis.
Number eight, a 15-30 Rumely Oil Pull, is a one-cylinder engine
that performed well both at threshing and on the Baker fan. Lavern
Lentz of Pine Island, Minnesota was the operator who owns the
engine is partnership with Budenski.
Number nine was a 15-25 Rumely oil pull, new addition, owned by
Harris and Sons of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Number ten happened to be a 25-40 Rumely Oil Pull, new
addition.
Number eleven a 45-65 Avery tractor is a most unusual one. It
came new to Cannon Falls, Minnesota and had two previous owners
before it was purchased by Budenski Brothers.
Number twelve, a 35-70 Minneapolis gas tractor owned by J. 0.
Harris of Minneapolis, Minnesota, worked real well on the Prairie
plow.
Number thirteen was a very nice 22-44 Minneapolis gas
tractor.
Number fourteen was a 10-20 Titan tractor purchased from Earl
Eigenbrodt of Fairbault, Minnesota. It is in real good
condition.
Number fifteen proved to be a 15-30 tractor built by the
International Harvester Co. It has four horizontal cylinders.
Sometimes referred to as ‘The four-cylinder Titan’.
Number 16 was a Hobby tractor built by Pete Selly of St. Peter,
Minnesota.
Following this item were four John Deere model D tractors that
came out in 1925,1926, 1927 and 1931 respectively. The 1926 tractor
being the first tractor sold at Wanamingo, Minnestoa.
The twenty-first item was a Hobby engine owned by Eisner
Machacek of Northfield, Minnesota. It is a nice upright steamer
moving under its own power
Number twenty-two came into view a 1930 Hart Parr tractor, size
18-36 owned by Tom Cropper of Minneapolis.
Number twenty-three, a Case C tractor owned by Tom Cropper, was
operated by twins, Tim and Terry.
Number twenty-four was an antique truck owned by the
Budenskis.
Number twenty-five, a 1930 International truck owned by I. 0.
Harris, was the first six speed truck.
Item number twenty-six was a milk-van truck.
The twenty-seventh item, a Centaur-tractor is owned by Kieth
Bartlet of Sargent, Minnesota.
New tractors in the parade brought out contrast.
Small ponies, hitched to a cart, being driven by small children
under the supervision of a lady, added a novel touch to the parade.
With the parade, over, the big engines and other machinery began
leaving the grounds. It marked the end of another successful Zumbro
Valley Threshers Association event.
