1511 Iglehart Ave. St. Paul, Minn. 55104
On September 5th, 6th, and 7th, 1970, the Zumbro Threshers
Association staged another of the interesting shows this
organization has become noted for.
The four hundred and forty acre farm home of Bud, Bert and Ed
Budenski, who are all bachelors living together, is the site of the
Wanamingo, and about five and one-half miles north of West Concord,
Minnesota.
The immediate site of the show, to me, is most inspiring. It is
located along the bank of a branch of the famous Zumbro River on
firm, green pasture land adjoined by fields of farm land where
plowing is demonstrated. The whole valley is surrounded by a
sparsely wooded area with the exception of the farm buildings which
are just north of the show site.
It’s just the place you might expect to see steam engines
fired up just as they were in the ‘big rig’ days on the
farms. Looking very much in place were the big gas and oil
tractors; reverting back to their day when they began replacing the
steamers.
The activity at the show this year was about the same as usual
with some added attractions.
One of these was the appearance of Lloyd Hanson of Owatonna with
his farm team of Sorrel Percherons, champions at the 1970 Minnesota
State Fair. He gave a plowing demonstration and with his team
hitched to a fine farm wagon, he gave rides about the grounds.
Robert Bruker of Waseca, Minnesota, showed a beautiful matched
team of draft horses and did some plowing. Mr. Bruker, by the way,
works his own farm with horses. The plowing was done with gang,
sulky and walking plows.
Mr. Iverson, president of the Farmers State Bank of West
Concord, Minnesota, showed two beautiful automobiles which I
believe would be termed as classics.
One was a 1935 enclosed drive limousine Pierce Arrow. The other
was a 1925 Pierce Arrow coupe.
Machinery activity consisted of engine testing on the Baker fan,
threshing oat bundles with both Budenski’s 36 inch Red River
Special and their 22 inch John Deere threshers. Axley brothers of
Eyota, Minnesota, sawed lumber.
 The steam traction engines and big gas tractors took turns
on an 8 bottom prairie plow.
An exhibit of assorted gas engines attracted attention.
Small chore size tractors staged pulling contests with young
drivers at the wheel. Small hobby tractors were shown including one
modeled from a one cylinder Rumely Oil Pull.
Pete Pedarsen and I showed a miniature thresher made of wood and
metal scraps. It was so time consuming that I didn’t get around
to see as many of the fellows as I would have liked to have
seen.
Adolph Vangsness, a former resident of the Hader-Zumbrota
locality, was with us. He is a former steam engineer and always
meets friends at the show.
The Zumbro Saddle Club sold lunch, and Lions Club of Wanamingo
sold popcorn and soft drinks.
The gate and parking were handled by the Lions Club of West
Concord.
On Saturday and Sunday a small dance band attended the show and
played old time and country-western music.
A parade was held each afternoon. First position was occupied by
Lloyd Hansen of Owatonna, Minnesota, with his state champion farm
team at the 1970 Minnesota State Fair.
In number 2 position was Robert Bruker of Waseca, Minnesota,
with a beautifully matched team of draft horses.
Tractor number one was a 12-25 Avery gas tractor with stack
radiator, purchased by Robert Budenski who rebuilt it. Mrs. Marlyn
Goff was at the wheel.
A 22 hp. Advance engine, purchased in Wisconsin by Robert
Budenski, was the second engine in line. It was operated by William
Forster of Durand, Wisconsin. Number three was a Port Huron engine,
built in 1900 and operated by Russ Harris. Number four was a 20 hp.
Minneapolis built in 1924. Only four more were built after this
beauty which looks like new. Ingval Flatterud of Zumbrota,
Minnesota, was the engineer.
Number four was a scale 20 hp.Case owned and operated by Tom
Zahratka of Montgomery, Minnesota.
Number five was a 22 hp. Advance straw burner owned and operated
by Joe Selly of St. Peter, Minnesota. Its stack was equipped with
an unusual type spark arrester.
Number six was a 28 hp. Minneapolis owned by Ed Budenski and
operated by Walter Gasch of Colby, Wisconsin. It’s a beautiful
engine.
Number seven was a 25-50 Avery tractor with stack radiator,
owned by Budenski brothers and operated by Al Goff. Al was also
appointed reunion manager.
Number eight was a 15-30 Rumely Oil Pull operated by co-owner
Lavern Lentz of Pine Island, Minnesota. It was built in 1916.
Number eight was a 1917 Case tractor owned by J. 0. Harris of
Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was a fine addition to the show.
Number nine was a 15-25 Rumely Oil Pull, owned by Harris and
Sons.
Number ten was a 25-40 Rumely Oil Pull and is a nice one to
own.
Number eleven was a 45-65 Avery which came to Cannon Falls and
had two former owners. It was operated by Gene Harris of
Minneapolis.
Number twelve was a 35-70 Minneapolis gas tractor owned by I.
Harris and Sons of Minneapolis. It performed in championship style
on the eight-bottom prairie plow.
Number thirteen was a 22-44 Minneapolis tractor sold in Kenyon,
Minnesota and restored after being purchased from a used iron
dealer.
In fourteenth place was a 10-20 Titan tractor, purchased from
Earl Eiger-hold. It’s a nice one.
Fifteenth item was a 15-30 International tractor owned by I. 0.
Harris and Son.
In sixteenth position was a Case tractor owned by Tom
Cropper.
Number seventeen was a 1925 John Deere tractor.
Number eighteen was a 1926 John Deere Model D owned by Ray and
Wilbur Sands of Kenyon, Minnesota. It was the first John Deere
tractor sold at Wanamingo, Minnesota, in 1926.
In nineteenth position was a 1927 Model D John Deere
tractor.
Number twenty was a 1931 John Deere Model D which was actually
used for field work this summer.
Number twenty-one was a 10-20 International owned by Kent Bergum
of Wanamingo, Minnesota, who purchased it new from Syverson
Implement Company of Wanamingo.
The twenty-second item was a display of assorted, antique trucks
owned by I. 0. Harris and Sons. They were driven by the son’s
wives.
In twenty-third and twenty-fourth place were local implements,
modern and new. One item was a new John Deere tractor, a 40-20 with
four hours running time on the motor.
New tractors were furnished by the Hermann Implement
Company.
And now by no means least we come to the last item of this fine
parade. It was an exhibit of fine saddle horses and ponies by the
Zelenki family who live on a farm just west of the Budenski farm.
They also raise black and tan coon hounds. I was told racoons
destroyed much of the sweet corn in the gardens in that locality
this year, so coon dogs should be in demand.
Well, it’s always a little sad when a show like this ends
each year, but it was a satisfied group of people who turned to
their automobiles for the trip home.
