The Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion

Today I went to the annual Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion event.  This event happens every Labor Day weekend in the tiny town of Rollag MN.  This is a huge event that draws about 80,000 people over the 4 days.  It is all about turn of the century (we're talking 1900's here) farming, steam tractors and threshers, horse drawn equipment, and early 1900's American lifestyle and skills.   There are historical buildings brought into the 300 acre living history museum, and demonstrations of all kinds from country life of the times.  It is a lively, smoky, busy place with plenty to see and do.  A young person can probably walk through everything in a day, but older folks like me need to go to this event for at least a few years in a row to see it all.  I have written about this event in a past blog article, see the September 2017 article.  But I took lots of other photos today, different from the ones I took in 2017.   Whether you are a country person, or a city person, or just a history buff - this event has something for everyone.   Much of the history of this part of Minnesota involves the early Scandinavian immigrants from Norway and Sweden and Finland who came here to northern Minnesota to farm.   There is also a part of the park called "Main Street", which has buildings brought in from various places.  There is an old post office, gas station, church, ice cream shop, train station, printing shop and general store.   I hope you will enjoy these photos I took today!

This is the mile long line to get into the event.  We were only in line about 20 minutes, which wasn't too bad.   Volunteers help with traffic and parking, and there are school buses to take people to the main part of the park from the parking lot.

Some of the old style tractors from the 1900's.  These are parked all over the event area, and are exhibited in a twice daily parade too.

When these old steam operated tractors and threshers get going, they sure create a lot of smoke!  You can see 3 big old tractors in this photo.  

Here is a beauty, operated by a bunch of young guys.  It is good to see young folks interested in history and old time farming.  Many of these kids grew up in families involved in the Western MN Steam Threshers event.  It is amazing that these old girls can still run after almost 120 years! It takes a lot of skill to repair and maintain these old steam tractors.

Here is a smaller steam tractor also operated by several young men.  This one uses a wood boiler to create the steam . 

Twice a day at 10:00 and 2:00 there is a parade of old steam equipment.  Thousands of people line up to watch these old gals chug down the road. 

These fellows are demonstrating a rope making machine.

A young lad tries his hand at grinding corn.   There are lots of hands-on things for children to try.  This 4 day event is truly a family oriented affair.

A couple of young blacksmiths demonstrate their skills.

Harold's two sisters, Becky and Skip, show off their "strength".   Well, not exactly - these fake anvils in front of the blacksmith shop are hollow and light.

Every time I go to this event, I stop at the Mill Building to buy some cracked wheat that is ground by a steam powered grinder.   It is the BEST cracked wheat for bread making.  This year I bought 2 five lb bags. 

There is a "washing machine museum" here at Rollag.  Many of the old machines are Maytags.  I myself have a 36 year old Maytag washer that still does my laundry!  Maytags are the greatest!

The outside of the washing machine museum has a very colorful display of laundry!

This is a lovely old house from the 1900's that is open for viewing.    Each room is like a mini museum. 

This is one of the bedrooms from the old house above.

A lady demonstrates spinning. 

This woman is showing off her skills at tatting and lace making. 

They had a table with a bunch of vintage hats to try on.  Here I am seriously trying to take a selfie wearing a hat from the early 1900's.  Don't I look like a very OLD lady in this thing??  uff da.

These guys are demonstrating old linotype machines.

This fellow is using an old printing press.

This old cabin is typical of the kind of home the early Scandinavian settlers built.   It was very interesting to tour.

This collection of old well pumps was interesting to a couple of young boys.

Many volunteers drove tractor pulled wagons at this event to transport weary visitors to their desired destinations.   It was a good way to get around when legs got tired!

After a day at the event, the air became quite smoky with the old steam powered tractors and engines.   It is an unforgettable smell.  There is also a steam locomotive train that runs around the park adding to the smell of the steam engines.

Besides the events at the park, there are also demonstrations in fields around the park of steam plowing, steam threshing, horse drawn farm equipment, a sawmill and straw baling demonstrations with a hand wire tie hay press.   In the evening there are singing shows, and in some years fiddle contests.  Living history abounds in Rollag Minnesota!