Article Photos

Advertisement

NEW ROCKFORD Parents, equipment aficionados and children of all ages will converge on New Rockford in a few weeks as the city hosts the 51st annual Reunion of the Central North Dakota Steam Threshers.

This year's event features the Minneapolis Moline tractor, made by innovative Minnesota tractor makers who helped pioneer several advances in machine features, including closed cabs and electric starters. Next year's event will feature Ford tractors and equipment.

The reunion kicks off Thursday, Sept. 17, with a tractor ride, and continues daily over the weekend. Among the events featured daily at the reunion are the Thresherman's Breakfast from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Parade of Engines with a complete narrative history of each entry at 2 p.m., and Steam Plowing at 3:30 p.m.

The festive atmosphere continues well into the evening on Friday and Saturday. Square dancing kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, followed immediately by an "old-time dance" from 9 to 11 p.m. A musical jamboree is featured Saturday night, also beginning at 7 p.m.

A pair of musical guests will also be featured. Stew Clayton, a renowned yodeler also hailed as "Canada's ambassador of traditional country music," performs two shows Saturday at 12:45 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday's entertainment is Minot's own J-M-B Band, featuring Jerry Schlag, Bud Whitty and Myron Dammen, who kick out danceable favorites by the bushel. The J-M-B Band also performs at 12:45 p.m. and 3 p.m.

For those that want to exercise their little competitive in a friendly way streak, several sessions of bingo will also be called, along with a Kids' Pedal Pull with registration at 9 a.m. and pulling at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

"Visitors to the show are in awe of the unique collection of rare antique operational steam engines from a bygone agricultural era on display as well as many antique tractors and implements," the event's Web site states at (www.newrockford-nd.com).

The show is held at the fairgrounds located just southwest of the city off Old Highway 281.

Admission for adults is $6 per day or $15 for a three-day pass. Children 13-17 years old pay $4 per day or $6 for the weekend pass, while ages 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Camping is available as well.

For more information, contact Jerry Seibold at 701-947-2429; Tom Anderson at 701-947-2201; Frederick Allmaras at 701-947-5631; or Marlys Fleming at 701-674-3321. An e-mail address, oldengines@hotmail.com, is also available.