12201 Vermillion Road, Longmont, Colorado 80501
Our 1992 show sure was a lot of fun just what you’d expect
from a bunch of down to earth, fun-loving people. It takes a lot of
work to make the show a success, but everyone seemed to have a good
time, too. All the exhibitors pitched in to help one another get
their displays organized, and cooperation like this among the
participants goes a long way toward the success of the show. A good
show is even better with nice weather, too, and in 1992, it was
pleasant.
I’m always intrigued by the wide variety of folks who come
to shows like ours. The front range area of Colorado has a very
diversified workforce and population, having a significant amount
of agriculture and related industry, as well as high-tech computer
firms, various manufacturing and distribution facilities, and
several prestigious universities. So this mix of people with
diverse backgrounds come to see the farmers exhibit their antiques,
right? Partly so some of our exhibitors are farmers, but others are
these same diverse individuals mechanics, university professors,
airline pilots, factory workers, welders, and so on. An interesting
snapshot of humanity. You don’t need an agricultural background
to feel a kinship to our agricultural heritage. Age, too, is no
factor as we had exhibitors and visitors from all age groups. Not
everyone feels this appeal, however, and for those who don’t
consider themselves ‘old iron nuts,’ the bluegrass music
provided by Rex Jarrett and the Bluegrass Corn pickers still made a
visit to our show very worthwhile.
The stationary engine exhibit area was very busy this year with
many repeat exhibitors and some first time visitors, too. There
were stationary engines of all shapes and sizes, from small washing
machine engines to a beautifully restored 25 HP Witte which used to
power mining equipment in the mountains of Colorado. We had a very
good turnout not just with engines, but with home related items and
miscellaneous tools and gadgets, too, and the exhibitors were only
too happy to give demonstrations to interested visitors.
One of our more popular events, the antique tractor parade, took
on a new dimension this year with the addition of a ladies parade.
Farm wives and daughters have always played an active,
‘hands-on’ role on the farm, so even though many exhibitors
at our event are not farmers, it’s still only natural that the
wives and daughters join in. They seemed to really enjoy it, and
the spectators did, too. The ladies parade was led by Ellen De
Backer and her crew of women driving a 17 ton Avery steam traction
engine, followed by other women driving many different varieties of
machines on a smaller scale than the Avery. This event caught on
very quickly and will become part of our show each year.
The threshing crew had their hands full this year the oats were
a little damp from showers a few days prior to the show, and the
threshing machine, a 1926 Belleville, had a hard time handling some
of the bundles. We also had a couple minor breakdowns, but our able
thresher men, Harvey Nelson and Dick Kounovsky, were able to
‘field repair’ the machine and continue the demonstration.
The ladies lent a hand threshing, too, as several took turns
pitching bundles. One even claimed she enjoyed it!
We had several new exhibitors this year some local, some from
out of town, one from Illinois, and one man all the way from
Florida. Jim Park of Kersey, Colorado, brought his newly made
tractor teeter-totter to our show, and it really made a hit. Some
drivers were successful in balancing it, others were not but they
all had fun trying. Thanks, Jim. Floyd Rider of Ocala, Florida,
brought his trailer which contained several stationary engines, one
of which powered a 10 ft. diameter wooden wheel from a century-old
piece of mining equipment. Quite a sight to see, this huge wheel
mounted upright on a trailer and slowly revolving under the power
of a small hit and miss engine. Floyd toured the country with this
exhibit all last summer, so perhaps many of you have seen his
display at other shows.
A special thanks to all our loyal exhibitors who join us each
year, and to key individuals and families who volunteer their time
and organizational skills each year: Harold Block who displays a
number of beautifully restored Hercules engines and is in charge of
the stationary engine display area; Harvey and Charlotte Nelson,
show superintendents and major exhibitors; John and Sue Garnand,
who maintain and exhibit an educational display of grain
processing; Rex Jarrett, exhibitor, master of ceremonies and band
leader; Dick Kounovsky, who supplies us with a grain binder and
provides a lot of PR work behind the scenes; and to all the
De-Backer family and Stuart Anderson who each year bring their huge
steam traction engines to the show this is no small task! Keep up
the good work, you fanatics!
The Yesteryear Farm and Home Show, an annual three day event, is
held in conjunction with the Boulder County Fair in Longmont,
Colorado. The 1993 event is scheduled August 13, 14, and 15th. For
information, contact Harvey and Charlotte Nelson, at the address
above, or phone (303) 776-5171.
