PINCKNEYVILLE -- The 60th Annual Steam, Gas, and Threshing Show put on by the American Thresherman Association filled the Perry County Fairgrounds to overflowing levels last week and included various activities celebrating the heritage of steam power for farmers in the development of this nation.
This year's show featured Oliver, Hart-Parr, and Caterpillar tractors and all crawler earth movers, as well as Vertical Hit and Miss Gas Engines.
Demonstrations of farmwork with the featured tractors, as well as by teams of horses, added to the experience of the weekend. Nightly tractor pulls, crafters, bluegrass music, the midday Parade of Power, a pedal-powered tractor pull for kids, and an antique auto show rounded out the schedule.
Hundreds of people stayed around the fairgrounds for the weekend as camper-trailers covered every available space, and the thousands of people attending the show also greatly support the 50-plus, citywide yard sales in Pinckneyville, slowing the pace of traffic to an average golf-cart speed to be able to check out everything available.
The 33rd annual Fall Festival that includes many similar activities takes place on Oct. 18-20.
