Route 1, Box 139 LeCenter, Minnesota 56057
The 14th Annual LeSueur County Pioneer Association Threshing
Show was held August 28, 29, 30, 1987 at the club’s permanent
showgrounds located 6 miles east of LeSueur, Minnesota.
The weather cooperated perfectly with not only good weather
during the show, but with a dry week preceding the show and with a
dry week after the show. As all of you that are involved with
putting on a show know, good weather conditions before and after
the show are very important also.
Eighteen acres of oats and wheat were threshed using a wood
36×60 Nichols and Shepard with wing feeders, a 22 inch McCormick
Deering, a 28 inch John Deere, wood 24×42 Case Agitator hand feed,
and new in ’87’ was the operation of an 18 inch Champion
over shot hand feed separator powered by a one horse Keystone tread
mill. This complete set was bought from the family of the original
owners in Upper Michigan and restored by the Don Pfarr family of
LeSueur, Minnesota. Other field activities included: clover
hulling, corn shredding, plowing, corn picking with one row picker,
cutting corn with a binder, shelling corn, silage cutting, baling,
grinding feed, etc. All operations are powered by antique tractors,
steam engines, gas engines, or teams of horses.
The huge 1929 64-ton Mclntosh & Seymour 375HP diesel engine
was not quite ready to run for the show, but several weeks after
the show it was finally fired up and promises to be running for the
’88’ show.
The 1859 Matthew Hynson log cabin was completed and furnished
and proved to be a very interesting display. A guest book was kept
in the cabin and of the several thousand people that signed, 21
different states and 6 foreign countries were represented.
The popular ‘Miniatureland’ has been expanding every
year since it was started and this year was no exception.
Exhibitors from all over the U.S. attended to show off their
models. This year Miniatureland included 128 model gas engines, 44
model steam engines, model trains, miniature farm equipment and
buildings, and over 450 toys.
Our 5 acres of shade trees provide room for ‘gas engine
grove’, the sawmill, shingle and lathe mills, planer, veneer
mill, blacksmith shop, dynamometer, and the many other varied
working displays.
This year the theme for the ladies ‘Creative Country Display
Building’ was ‘Winter Wonderland in the of Country’.
All sorts of old time decorations adorned several Christmas tree
amidst other interesting wintertime displays. Also in the buildings
were many antique displays and home crafts to enjoy and sample. One
of my favorite items to sample is the homemade ice cream that the
ladies sell.
The parade, church services, musical entertainment, antique cars
and trucks, tractor pull, children’s barnyard, and good food
rounded out the weekend of activity. The new food service building
that was added this year hopefully helped us to serve you
better.
The adjacent 35 acres of land has been purchased by the club and
will greatly expand the parking area. It will also be used for
additional field activities.
Thanks to everyone who helped to make our 1987 show a success. A
special thank you to our non member exhibitors who traveled a great
distance to attend. They receive free admission, free camping, and
a brass exhibitor’s plaque. Our 1988 show dates are August 26,
27, & 28. Hope to see you then.
For 1988 we are pleased to announce that Pioneer Power will
co-sponsor the Minnesota State Horse Plowing Contest to be held on
Sept. 17, 1988. (Rain date Sept. 18) at our showgrounds. The
additional 35 acres will be very well suited for this event.
