Farmers Weekly Review

By Karen Haave

A rain-free weekend, coupled with a 90th birthday celebration and the crowning of a king and queen, made for another memorable Antique Tractor and Steam Show hosted by the Will County Threshermen’s Association.

The 61st annual show, held at the Spiess family farm in Manhattan, featured Minneapolis-Moline and Single Cylinder Engines.

The Will County Threshermen’s Association (WCTA) is a 501(c)(3) organization serving the greater Will County, Illinois area. Members of the group share an interest and passion for agriculture, engines, steam engines, tractors, and machinery.

Their annual show demonstrates what engines and tractors looked like many years ago, how equipment has changed, and how farming practices have modernized. Public attendance and donations enable WCTA to continue to preserve the history of the Will County agricultural community.

Daily activities during the four-day event include working steam engines, steam powered sawmill, daily parade of power, tractor and machinery exhibits, fieldwork demonstrations, food and concessions, craft and flea market, antique tractor pull, garden tractor pull, kid’s activities, horse and wagon rides, live music and Civil War Living History exhibit.

With great weather, marketing by Jess Crane, community outreach, and plenty of hard work by WCTA members, this year’s show drew record-breaking attendance of vendors, exhibitors, sponsors and spectators.

“Saturday was our busiest day,” Crane noted. “Over 1,400 patrons came to the show. This is the first time in at least six years that we didn’t have rain during our show.

“It has been a growing effort over the past three years to get our group and show more recognition by the public. Because of the quality of our work in everything we do, from food, merchandise, activities, signage, etc., and all of the effort put into working with the community, we have really been achieving this goal.

“Our members are so talented, and they all find WCTA as an organization where they can use their skills. It really shows.”

Special recognition for their efforts this year went to Sue and Ron Schubbe, who were named Queen and King of the 2023 event.

“Each year, we choose an individual or couple to honor who have done a lot for our show,” Crane explained.

“Ron is a longtime WCTA Director and does a lot of everything. If there is something to set up, fix, etc., Ron is on the job. Sue helps out with many things involved with our show and is also a long-time volunteer with the Will County Fair.”

Like other area farmers, the Schubbe family enjoys collecting tractors and owns an impressive selection of David Bradley tractors.

A special surprise during the show, Crane added, was presentation of a birthday cake to honor WCTA member/director George Schaaf’s 90th birthday.

“That was a big deal,” Crane smiled. “We made a cake, and it had George’s beloved 1923 Case Cross-Motor on it.”

The WCTA Steam Show always includes live music, often featuring the popular Frankfort Brass Band and its patriotic music. But this year, there was a second music program by the Elwood Garden Ukulele Strummers.

The group formed after taking beginner ukulele lessons from Stan Ketcik in the Elwood Children’s Garden in 2017.

“They had so much fun in the classes, they decided to continue meeting,” Crane said.

“They have since had many ukulele enthusiasts join the group from all over Will, Grundy, and Cook Counties, playing all types of music including folk, traditional, country, old time rock and roll, patriotic and island music.”

Next year’s steam show will be held from July 18 – 21 and feature J.I. Case engines. The WCTA Antique Tractor and Steam Engine Show was founded in August 1963 by Ray Kestel, who organized a threshing bee on the Ed Kestel farm/ in Will County.

In later years, the show was held at the Ray Kestel farm, three miles south of New Lenox. On February 15, 1966, Ray called a meeting to propose that an organization be formed to support the annual show celebrating old-time agricultural methods.

The 45-five men in attendance approved Ray’s plan, and the Will County Threshermen’s Association was born. Ray served as the club’s president for its first five years. The organization’s purpose is to honor and preserve America’s agricultural legacy.

Long-time supporters of the organization remember that, in its early years, the show took place at the Fred Francis 4-H Field in New Lenox. At the fourth annual show, 25 acres of oats were fed through a steam-powered thresher while plowing with oxen, horses and steam engines making history come to life.

By the 1970s, the show had grown and moved to the Will County Fairgrounds in Peotone. Later, it moved to Byron’s Woods then Burns Woods, and in 2004, to the Dollinger Farm in Channahon.

In 2013 and 2014, the show was held at the Manhattan Round Barn Farm Park, then in 2015 at the Crawford Farm in Manhattan.

In 2016 and 2017, the show moved to the Jean and Charles Kestel farm in Frankfort. The association at present is holding its annual show on the Steve Spiess Farm in Manhattan near Wilton Center.

Karen Haave is a freelance reporter.