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| NewsTuesday, August 28, 2007 4:10 PM CDT |
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Pontiac gearing up for Threshermen's Reunion
PONTIAC -- At Threshermen’s Park, four miles north of Pontiac on Illinois 23, there are open fields with farm equipment and a small village with a blacksmith, a school and a general store. Most of the farm equipment is considered antique, and the buildings date to the early 20th century. Only a handful of people are usually at the park, but this weekend could bring more than 12,000 people for the 59th annual Central States Threshermen’s Reunion. The reunion, which runs Thursday through Monday, is described as a family event that celebrates and remembers the history of farming and labor work. “It’s a fun time for us and a lot of fun for everybody that comes down,” said Bill Carroll, Threshermen’s first vice president. “It is just a good time for people to come down with the same interest and meet with them. It really is about keeping the history alive.” Demonstrations for wheat threshing, sheep shearing, horse and tractor pulls, and saw mill operating are scheduled over the weekend. Family entertainment includes live music, games, a flea market and other activities. This is the second oldest show of its kind. “It definitely brings back a lot of memories to the people that attend year after year,” said Cheri Lambert, president of the Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce. “People from all over the U.S. attend, and it really is a great thing that the Threshermen work year round for this and make sure our heritage is preserved.” Carroll said the reunion features a specific tractor manufacturer each year, and this year will focus on Allis-Chalmers. GO! What: 59th annual Central States Threshermen’s Reunion When: Thursday to Monday (Aug. 30-Sept. 2) Where: Threshermen’s Park, four miles north of Pontiac on Ill. Route 23 Cost: $7 daily; 13 and younger free Thursday: 10 a.m., opening ceremony; noon, whistle dinner Friday: 11:30 a.m., School Days with Abe and Mary Lincoln; 1 p.m., Parade of Power; 7 p.m., fun tractor pull; ITPA sanctioned antique tractor pull; Modern Cowboyz Saturday: 10 a.m., humorist Jack Hughes; 11 a.m., Friend to Friend, ladies barbershop quartet; 1 p.m., Silver Wings performance; 1:30 p.m., Threshermen’s Olympics; 7 p.m., Battle Creek performance Sunday: 9 a.m., church; 11 a.m., Allis-Chalmers history; 1:15 p.m., Threshermen’s parade, downtown Pontiac; 5 p.m., tractor/semi truck pull; FS tractors and semi trucks Monday: 9 a.m., tractor pull; 11 a.m., gaming/fun horse show Demonstrations are daily. For a full list of events, visit www.threshermensreunion.org. “It seems like a walk back in time,” Lambert said. “It’s just fun to see what their lives must have been like back then and I have always enjoyed watching people share their passions with others. They are so energized about their passion or their employment that they come out and share it with us.” E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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