A Forward Looking Threshing Show

This afternoon I spent a few hours at the Atwater Threshing show just east of Atwater, MN. It is a smaller show compared to the ones they have in Rollag, Almelund, and Le Sueur, but it appears to be well organized and well run. It has the expected stuff--older tractors, a few steam engines, lots of stationary engines, and a number of historical buildings. What jumped out at me was the number of kids around: lots of them. The show had a number of activities for the kids, more than any other show I went to this year. This was in spite of borderline weather this weekend (cool, with the threat of rain each day). It was kind of amazing how enthusiastic many of the kids were about such simple things as using a crank sheller to shell corn. It also didn't hurt that they had swing set, and a combine converted into a place to climb and slide down. I spoke to one of the members, and he spoke of how well the child-friendly approach worked. It took some time to establish, but the kids who came last year told their friends about it, and then more kids came. It also resulted in more young families showing up.
I have attended about 8 threshing shows this season, and while they were all fun for me, a number of them had poorer attendance than recent past years. There is one in particular that has a great site, but has shrank every year in the last 15, and I wonder how long it will continue to function. The group at Atwater seems to have figured out how to get young people to attend, and because of that, I think their future looks pretty good. The other shows would be wise to invest more in activities for the kids.

I go to the Texas Early Day Tractor & Engine Show in Temple Tx every year.

They have a kids play area and hand cranked corn shellers. They a a big hit with the kids!

I see a lot of younger families there with kids. Teens too, it's pretty much a community wide attraction.

The engine start up demonstration is a big hit for the kids too, especially this big kid!

A friend and I went to the Prairie Homestead show this year. It is not a very large show but had a lot of things that were kid friendly. There where a lot of young families there too. One other thing I noticed was they had food a very reasonable prices. Meal deals for $5. Not big servings but drink, chips and a sandwich for a reasonable price. It caught my attention when a young family in front of me got all their food for just under $20. I think that show will continue for a long time in the future. I do not think it will ever be a big show but that is good too. Smaller friendlier is great.

On the opposite end of that is what the JD Expo became when it was at Waterloo. Nothing at all to do for adults or kids. Just a bunch of pristine JD tractors setting doing nothing. The last time I went it was a picture perfect day. I bet there were not fifty people there besides the exhibitors. I never went back either. I was pretty Green back then but even I get bored just looking a museum pieces.

So I will say any show that has kids friendly stuff and stays reasonable in price will more than likely survive.

Since I am now retired I got to attend a few more shows this summer and also travelled more than ever. Had a lot of fun doing it but found out quickly that advertising hype and old reputations don't always equate to a quality experience. Sorry to say but there is apparently far more shows than interest at the present time. Our local show has remained very well attended by diversifying and as mentioned kids stuff is utmost important for young families as is reasonable admission,, free at our show. It also seems that show organisers have forgotten that some people work for a living since they start middle of the week and everybody leaves Saturday AM. This summer I attended most all of the big name shows within a 6 hour drive and outside of Rantoul Ill by far the best attended, meaning spectators not exhibitors, best working demonstrations and over all experiance was at Lagrange Indiana. Anyone who can find fault with what those guys are doing is looking way to hard for fault. Will be going back to that one.

No matter what the activity or event, if not attended by kids or young people it will disappear within a generation.

Field Day of the Past does a nice job of meshing the old with the new,lot of commercial support plus active exhibits.Located just off I64 East of Richmond VA.

Correction the show WEST of Richmond,its East of where I live.

Field Day of the Past has ticked off a lot of folks this year. Several of the Southern Heritage groups had their vendor applications and checks returned, along with a letter advising them they were not welcome to return. Supposedly this was done because people complained that the Stars and Bars "triggered" them, whatever that means. I've heard the rumor that the Executive Director told the board that she was doing this to keep out the "rednecks" and "white trash!" Lots of folks are saying they are boycotting because of this! I hope this doesn't kill the show, because they contribute lots of money throughout the community. I wish them well!

We are working to be more "family/child" friendly also.
we have a train/barrel ride and I found a small carousel that
small children can pedal. Both the ride and carousel were busy
the whole time.

My son works the sawmill at his show in Rose City, MN. Each day he takes 2 skidloader buckets of sawdust and dumps them on the grounds. Then toss in about ten bucks of quarters and let the kids find them. Little tykes first for a given time, then the bigger kids. Our show at Forest City MN has a miniature train with free rides, toy backhoe, potato picking, etc.

That's a stupid thing for them to do for sure.I haven't kept up with the management down there the last few years must have been some changes.Oh well the way it goes,maybe the
Gov can show up in 'character'(LOL).

Maybe! Probably be the best place for him. If he's there, at least he won't be downtown, screwing things up worse than they already are!