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The Old Time Threshing Bee

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Categories: Recreation/Leisure

History will come alive in Fairview, Oklahoma on September 28-29. That’s when the Major County Historical Society will host its annual Old Time Threshing Bee, where attendees will get to experience a part of Oklahoma’s farming past that might otherwise have been long forgotten.

“We’ve held this event for 33 years,” says Don Vogh, one of the main organizers of the Threshing Bee. “We want people to know our history and where we came from.”

The event features living history from several periods in Oklahoma history, but concentrates mainly on farming techniques and machinery from the 1900s to 1930s. One important piece of machinery during these decades was the threshing machine, which was revolutionary in its time because it mechanically replaced the centuries-old method of manual threshing (or separating grain from the plant by hand). To show the public how these machines work, the Major County Historical Society begins preparing in spring when they plant ten acres of wheat on their 160 acre farm, which they harvest in June, using their vintage International Harvester or John Deere binders.  When the wheat is properly bound, they store it in pavilions in anticipation of their annual September Old Time Threshing Bee, where they will show how these amazing threshing machines worked until they were gradually replaced by the modern day combine after the 1930s.

During the Threshing Bee, vintage Red River Threshing Machines will run several times during the day to thresh the stored wheat. After the wheat has been run through these machines, it will be run through a cleaner and bagged for sale. Some of these bags will go to the old flour mill to be ground into flour, while other bags will be offered for sale.

Old time threshing machines may be the main attraction at the Threshing Bee, but these machines will be in good company with other vintage pieces from the era—stationary Bessemer engines, old time bailers, belt driven corn shellers, and John Deere and Allis tractors. There will be demonstrations by blacksmiths, house movers, and anvil shooters, as well as demonstrations of the Oklahoma Land Run and one room schoolhouses. The saw mill on site will run all day both days during the Threshing Bee. On Saturday around noon, “gunfighters” will kick off a parade of vintage tractors and machinery, some of which will be for sale at the event.  Organizers of the Old Time Threshing Bee strive to keep everything on display as authentic as possible. They even grow Turkey Red wheat, which is the type of wheat originally brought in by American settlers.

Major County Historical Society’s Old Time Threshing Bee is held on their acreage, located a mile east of Fairview on Highway 58A. The Major County Museum , which is dedicated to Major County’s farm community history and highlights the county’s inventors and inventions, is also located on this acreage, is open year round and will welcome visitors of the Old Time Threshing Bee during the event.

“The event is scheduled so that visitors can get a true feel for how farming and farming communities operated in the early 1900s, before the present day type combines took the stage,” says Vogh. “We want to educate everyone about the ways of our past.”

Schedule of Events:

Friday, September 28, 2018:

8:00 am: Gates Open

8:30 am: Registration

9:00 am: Train and Lego Display Opens in Train Depot

9:00 am: Craft Show Opens

9:00 am: Car Show Opens

9:00 am: Sawmill and Flour Mill Open

9:00 am - 2:00 pm: Story Telling In Pioneer School

9:00 am - 4:00 pm: Salt Fork Craftsmen Opens

10:00 am: Quilt Show Opens

10:00 am: Anvil Shoot North of Threshing Machines

10:30 am: Threshing, Shelling and Field Demos

11:00 am: Gunfight by Pavilion

11:30 am: Land Run by Pavilion

12:00 pm: Parade by Pavilion

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Field Demonstrations

2:00 pm: Threshing

2:00 pm: Anvil Shoot North of Threshing Machines

Saturday, September 29, 2018:

8:00 am: Gates Open

9:00 am: Parade to Fairview Fellowship Home

9:00 am: Train and Lego Display Opens in Train Depot

9:00 am: Craft Show Opens

9:00 am: Car Show Opens

9:00 am: School House and Blacksmith Opens

9:00 am: Sawmill and Flour Mill Open

9:00 am - 4:00 pm: Salt Fork Craftsmen Opens

10:00 am: Quilt Show Opens

10:00 am: Anvil Shoot North of Threshing Machines

10:30 am: Threshing, Shelling and Field Demos

11:00 am: Anvil Shoot North of Threshing Machines

12:00 pm: Parade by Pavilion

1:00 pm: Gunfight by Pavilion

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Field Demonstrations

2:00 pm: Anvil Shoot North of Threshing Machines

2:00 pm: Tractor Pull

2:00 pm: Threshing

2:00 pm: Anvil Shoot North of Threshing Machines

2:00 pm: Flour Milling

3:30 pm: Raffle Drawing

See more about The Old Time Threshing Bee:

https://www.valuenews.com/the-old-time-threshing-bee-news-article_4638

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