Quilts and toy tractors a big part of this year's steam show
Just down the road from this year's American Thresherman's steam show in Pinckneyville are two remarkable displays you need to see.
The first is a quilt show with between 60 and 65 quilts on display. See story above about one of the most breathtaking quilts on earth.
The second is a toy tractor display which celebrates the entire history of Case tractors, this year's signature manufacturer.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during this weeks' show and will reopen late next week for those who didn't have a chance to see them.
The 56th Annual American Thresherman Association Show opened Wednesday in Pinckneyville on Wednesday with a Farm Horse Pull. Admission.
Today, there were opening ceremonies with the raising of the American Flag and National Anthem being played at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Grandstand. This will be the first day that events will be going on throughout the day at the Fairgrounds. Admission into the Fairgrounds is $7.00, with children under the age 12 admitted for free. Some of the events that will be going on during the day at the Fairgrounds include a large flea market, blacksmithing, steam engines, wheat threshing, veneer mill, saw mill, grist mill, dynamometer, gas engines and tractors, baker fans, corn shelling, as well as tractor activities, and plowing with steam engines, tractors, & horses. For music fans, there will be bluegrass music playing on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sunday, August 16, 2015, there will be an antique auto show & swap meet sponsored by the Egyptian Antique Auto Club with the featured car being a pre-1965 Orphan. For the children there will be a corn pit and petting zoo, and on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., there will be a pedal tractor pull for the kids to take part in. The pedal tractors will be provided. And one of the biggest draws for kids is the steam train rides. There is literally something for everyone!
Tonight at 5:00 p.m. there will be a tractor parade through the streets of Pinckneyville, which will be followed by an Antique Tractor Pull in front of the Grandstand at 7:00 p.m. Admission to the Antique Tractor Pull is $5.00.
Friday's events for the Grandstand include a parade of power at 12:30 p.m., as well as the ITPA Tractor Pull at 7:00 p.m. Grandstand admission is $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6-12, and children 5 and under are free.
Saturday Grandstand events include another ITPA Tractor Pull at 7:00 p.m. and the admission price will be the same as Friday night. In addition to the three nights of tractor pulls, there will be a 50/50 drawing nightly.
To start Sunday, August 16, 2015, the last day of the show, will be an outdoor worship and memorial service at 8:00 a.m.
The American Thresherman Show has a long history at the Pinckneyville Fairgrounds, with each year it getting bigger and better. Definitely a part of farming history that everyone should experience.