Old Fashioned Threshing To Highlight 57th Annual Weekend Celebration At McLouth

The McLouth Threshing Bee is one of the longest running old time threshing bees in the nation, now celebrating 57 years.

“Come visit our annual threshing bee and all of the related activities Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29-20-21, at the show grounds in McLouth,” welcomed Rick Stitt of the coordinating committee.

“This year, we are proud to have tractors of the 1960s as the feature tractor of the show. We’ll also an extra special event featuring the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club and the Historical Construction Equipment Association demonstrating their equipment during a work weekend.

​“You won’t want to miss seeing these machines in action,” Stitt said

“The McLouth Threshing Bee was started in the 1950s when a local man by the name of Slim Watson had the idea to invite people out to his home, serve them some food, and give a little demonstration on how his farm equipment worked. It was a really big hit, and it has continued since that time, and with the help of many the tradition is continuing today,” Stitt said. 

“This special attraction helps to keep alive the art of planting, harvesting, threshing and storing of grain forage crops, along with the domestic arts, and the tools, implements, instruments and machinery showing the culture of pioneer days,” Stitt continued. “Educational and historical exhibits and displays are illustrated through reenactments with the working machinery.”

In addition to threshing daily at 10 o’clock, and again at 2 o’clock, there will be a flea market open all three days, as well as a rock crusher, corn picking and shelling, and a sawmill in operation throughout the show.

An antique and classic tractor pull for tractors 1950, and earlier, is set for Saturday, Sept. 20, with weigh in at 12:30, and competition beginning at 2 o’clock.

A Parade of Power, at 1 o’clock, will also feature a Drive-In Car Show, and the Pedal Tractor Pull begins at 5 o’clock. Sunday’s highlight is the Garden Tractor Pull at 1 o’clock.

Admission to the 57^th annual McLouth Threshing bee is free for all spectators as well as exhibitors with no charge for coolers either, although no glass bottles will be allowed. Likewise, donations have been welcomed to keep the show continuing for years and decades to come.

Overnight camping sites are available, although seating is limited, with those attending asked to bring lawn chairs.

Information is available at www.mclouththreshingbee.com, and on Facebook.

Those interested in the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club and the Historical Construction Equipment Association can learn more about the organizations at www.acmoc.org, and www.hcea.net.