Down here on the “slower lower shore” in Caroline County, Maryland, they have an Annual Wheat Threshing Steam & Gas Engine Show in August. This was their 53rd. Located on the route south from Denton, Maryland to Federalsburg, this hootinanny is held in a great big field and features an antique tractor show, flea market vendors, some sort of small engine race, and these amazing dinosaur steam-driven tractors. There are plenty of campers parked towards the back indicating it’s a weekend event for the exhibitors. And for the kids, there’s always Smokey Joe, a miniature steam-driven train.
Displays of small steam engines are set up in one area which show their application and modernization to the homes of families more than a hundred years ago. Considering that all the daily chores that people had to do like pumping water, doing wash, cutting logs, or sharpening stuff, were done by hand, the steam engine and its belts and pulleys was an enormous relief to hard-working people. It also represents the onset of the industrial age.
We think that’s fascinating history. Our kid was thinking about riding the train. And eating a snow cone. Blue raspberry with marshmallow of course. The food was scary but there was a lot to see with the demonstrations throughout the day and the multitude of antique/ flea market tables to wander around.
The show’s official opening was at 10:00 am on this first weekend in August, but we didn’t show up until noonish. The second video is a glimpse of antique farm equipment in action. Very dangerous and super cool. If you didn’t know you lived in a farming community, this is the best way to see the pride of its roots. For details on this event for the future, go to www.threshermen
