Days of Yesteryear expands this year
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 08/12/2010 8:35 AM
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ROCHESTER, Minn.— Agricultural history will be celebrated Aug. 14-15 in the biggest Days of Yesteryear show ever held.
The event takes place on the grounds of the History Center of Olmsted County in Rochester. It givesvisitors an opportunity to see what farming and rural life was like in the past.
"For today's current generation, it's unique. It's an opportunity for them to see what went on to make a living," said Ed Strickland, past president of Mechanical History Roundtable, the non-profit organization that puts on the show. Their mission is to preserve antique equipment and rural lifestyles in Olmsted County.
Now in the show's 36th year, MHRT is joining forces with the history center to double its size, taking up the full 46 acres, with more activities.
"This is a big, big expansion," said Melody Hanson, the center' resource development coordinator.
Some people in local communities don't know the area's farming heritage, she said. Adding more family-friendly activities will help attract, and educate people who typically wouldn't come to a farm show.
MHRT members are looking forward to a larger attendance.
"It's a win-win," said Gene Ohnstad of Oronoco.
Demonstrations will be held daily involving steam tractors, gas engines, saw milling, shingle milling, oats threshing, straw baling, corn cob splitting, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, historic electric and wind power generation, rock crushing, broom making, chair caning and rug weaving.
A Parade of Power will be held at 1 p.m. both days and an antique tractor pull will be held Sunday at 11 a.m.
International Harvester equipment will be featured. Organizers are particularly hoping collectors bring their IH trucks and tractors to display. Other antique or classic tractors, cars, trucks and engines may also be exhibited. No pre-registration is necessary. Exhibitors get free gate admission and a plaque. Organizers are expecting about 100 tractors.
The expansion will reach into the history center's George Stoppel Farmstead, where organizers plan to create a pre-1900s county fair atmosphere. The farmstead dates back to 1856 and has the original limestone house, a barn and a smoke house.
A craft sale will be held in the barn. Re-enactors will walk the grounds while visitors check out a farm animal petting zoo, medicine show, prairie cabin and a one-room school house.
Children may play old-time recess games, carnival games, shell and grind corn, wash clothes on a scrub board and make butter. Pony rides as well as tractor- and horse-drawn wagon rides will be available.
MHRT member Gene Plantz of Byron helps children make rope. He goes through some 3,000 feet of twine between the Olmsted County Fair and Days of Yesteryear.
"I think the children have fun," he said.
Educating young people is particularly important to MHRT members.
"We want them to carry on our heritage," said Ohnstad.
Food and beverages will for sale.
"Enough to satisfy a threshing crew," said Hanson.
Music and performances of square dancing, round dancing and clogging will take place on two stages.
The air will be filled with the sound of music boxes, brought by the Minnesota Chapter of Musical Box Society International. Mechanical music will come from boxes ranging in size from handheld to as large as a cargo trailer.
"It's really going to be something for everyone here," Hanson said.
At least 200 volunteers are involved and organizers are expecting 3,000 people.
Money raised will go toward restoration of the Stoppel home and the history center's educational activities.