ROOT RIVER

By Staff
Published on April 1, 1995

Highway 63 Spring Valley, Minnesota 55975

AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!’  Those were the
sentiments of all who attended the 12th annual Gas Engine and
Tractor Show of the Root River Antique Historical Power
Association, Inc. of rural Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Even the rain that fell a good part of the first Saturday of the
show couldn’t dampen the spirits of the members and friends who
gathered for the two-weekend event (yes, TWO weekends!).

The recently reorganized club does seem to have gotten a
‘shot in the arm,’ and enthusiasm is running high. .One
reason is the new setting for their annual eventthe 100-acre shared
site of the Association and the Deer Creek Campground, located in
southern Minnesota, 20 miles south of Rochester.

This change took place in May, and the members had a little over
two months to build a tractor pull track and lighting for their two
Friday night pulls (pullers say it’s the best in the area!),
clear some woods for a new road into the property, refurbish
several smaller structures, including snack bars and the stage for
the all-day entertainment. Add this to moving in and restoring the
antique sawmill which had just been donated by a local family, and
converting an old granary into a turn-of-the-century
‘farmhouse’ for the ladies of the club to furnish with
antiques and demonstrate the old-time crafts. All this, and the
actual setting up for the show didn’t even take place until the
last week or so! But it all came together with the help of some
hard-working members keep in mind, most of those workers have other
jobs, own small businesses, work at Mayo Clinic, or farm, and this
all has to fit into their busy work schedules. Even the Army came
to the rescue! The local Army recruiter furnished two large tents
to shelter some of the show’s demonstrations (spinning,
weaving, rosemaling), and registration/membership and
souvenirs.

Some of the demonstrations included the completed sawmill (yes,
it was finished in time!), planer, shingle mill, Prony brake, rock
crushing, and steam-powered threshing; plus all the gas engines
among the shade trees, tractors, and some great exhibits brought in
by participants. As usual, the tractor parade was a favorite, as
were the crafts, antiques, and flea market.

Members are already planning next year’s show, and as the
word spread, there’s only one way to go (make that two ways to
grow): BIGGER AND BETTER!

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