Heatwole kicks off a month of threshing bees

For the second time in two weeks, there will be a definite orange glow eminating from rural Hutchinson this weekend. But instead of farmyard full of orange Allis-Chalmers tractors at the Orange Spectacular in Acoma Township, fans of vintage farming equipment will see orange from dozens of J. I. Case tractors gathering at the Heatwole Threshing Show.

The Heatwole Threshing Association’s 29th annual event takes place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9-10, on the club grounds six miles southwest of Hutchinson on Walden Avenue, in Lynn Township. The show is free.

The show begins at 11 a.m. each day.

Below is a list of other threshing shows in the coming weeks within an easy drive of Hutchinson:

Aug. 9-10
Hanley Falls: Minnesota Machinery Museum’s 34th annual Good Old Days & Threshing Show. Admission is $6. Visit: www.mnmachinerymuseum.com.

Aug. 15-17
Montevideo: Minnesota Valley Antique Farm Power and Machinery Association’s 28th annual show. Admission is $6. Visit: www.heritagehill.us.

Nowthen Historical Power Association’s Threshing Show. Admission is $8. Biscay’s former Milwaukee Road depot is displayed. Visit: nowthenthreshing.com.

Aug. 16-17
Forest City Thresher Days is five miles north of Litchfield on State Highway 24, across from the stockade. Admission $4 adults or $7 for two days.

The 42nd Butterfield Thresherman’s Steam and Gas Engine Show. Admission is $7. Visit www.mtlakenews.com and click on Threshing Bee.

Aug. 22-24
Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Association’s 35th Show, six miles east of Le Sueur. Admission $6. Visit: www.pioneerpowershow.com.

Aug. 29-Sept. 1
Rollag: The 55th annual Western Minnesota Steam Thresher’s Reunion. Admission $12. Visit: www.rollag.com.

Sept. 5-7
Dalton: 55th Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen’s Association Show. Visit: www.lrpta-dalton.org.

Sept. 6-7
Atwater Threshing Days. Call (320) 974-8588 for more.

Sept. 12-14
Albany: 34th Pioneer Days Threshing Show. Admission $8. Visit: www.albanymnchamber.com/pioneer.htm.

Read the Leader’s Aug. 7 print addition for more Heatwole’s complete schedule and more on the other shows.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)