Exhibits

The Blacksmith Shop contains an original line shaft powered by an upright steam engine, and three forges that are operated throughout the weekend by several experienced blacksmiths. Watch them as they work with this equipment that dates back to the turn of the century.

This unique, 8-sided building near the Petting Barn is the home of the Broom Factory. Antique machines are used to hand-wind the broom straw onto handles that are then sewn, by hand, to make the shape. You will be amazed at the good quality house brooms, whisk brooms and kids brooms that they turn out each year! Be sure to stop over, meet the happy broom makers, and watch a broom being made from start to finish. Also, don’t miss the chance to purchase one of these quality hand-made brooms!

Ever wonder how furniture and wooden items were made before power tools came around? Visit our carpentry shop to see how those old hand-tools that were seen sitting on Grandpa's workbench were used. Jim Carpenter has been collecting and restoring these tools for 30 years and has been demonstrating the use of the tools at the show for 25 years. Stop by the shop, see which tools do what, and even try your skill at working with them!

While visiting the grounds, you will find a variety of antique and classic cars and trucks on display, including vehicles as old as the 1910 Maxwell to the classic cars of the 70’s. All vehicles are kept behind ropes to encourage their safe display while owners visit other exhibits and activities on the grounds. Please feel free to join our display and have the chance to show off your antique or classic vehicle in one of the daily parades.

A special treat for the ladies is the large Craft Show that takes place all three days. Located in the big red building and the corn crib area at the south end, it features 40-50 talented crafters that have a wide variety of original, hand-made items for sale. If you have questions regarding the Craft Show, or might be interested in buying booth space and displaying your items, please contact Marlene Osborn at (712) 424-3804.

Take a tour of our farm house and see how earlier generations lived their day-to-day lives. See the antique dishes, utensils, and appliances people used in the preparation, cooking and clean-up of their meals. Not to mention the home furnishings they had and the style of clothes they wore.

There is much excitement about the tractors and implements that will be operating in the field during the show this year. They will be cultivating and picking checked corn, as well as shelling corn. The threshing machines will be running as well as some combining the standing wheat. The field will be full of Allis-Chalmers machines as they plow and disk the soil. Rakes, and balers will be busy with the straw. As always, the horses will be disking, plowing, well-drilling, as well as assisting some of the other displays. This year we will once again be having a garden tractor area, demonstrating a large variety of garden tractor implements.

The mill was manufactured by Meadows Mill on July 27, 1933 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It is a Stone Burr Mill, which is run by a tractor belt pulley. Today, the mills are still made by the same company, only are now run by electricity. The Meadows Mill Company had its beginning around the 1900's. A mechanically inclined Baptist minister, Reverend William Calloway Meadows, designed and built a burr mill with stones mounted in a vertical position as opposed to the horizontal type generally used up until that time. The reverend began manufacturing these mills and obtained a patent on his design in 1907.

It wouldn’t be Threshermen’s without lots of great food, and we certainly strive to please! Start your day with a large breakfast hosted by the Marathon Fire Department, or a fresh doughnut and cup of hot coffee at the Threshermen Café. The Snack Stand, located in the Store Building, serves up stuffed baked potatoes, nachos, smoothies, candy bars and popcorn. Hop on over to The Southside Cafe for a slice of pizza, a fresh-made funnel cake, homemade French Fries, or a cool glass of lemonade! At the Feed Bunk they're busy grilling rib eye steak sandwiches, pork chops, beef and pork burgers. So many decisions — so little time!

Freedom Hall was ready for guests for the 2014 show. The new building was designed to honor all members of service--past and present. The new building is 64' x 128' and is located at the south end of the show grounds.

What ran the washing machine between good old-fashioned elbow grease and electricity? The answer: a stationary gas engine. These small motors came in a variety of sizes and horsepower. They ran all kinds of useful appliances such as: water wells, oil wells, stationary hay balers, and yes, even washing machines. Stop and see the variety that are displayed and running at the show. From the smaller ones pumping water and running washing machines, to the large 3-cylinder diesel motor used as a power plant, there’s something for everyone to see.

Depending on the weather and the availability of teams and teamsters, the "Gentle Giants" can be seen: plowing with a sulky plow or walking plow, pulling the trolleys around the grounds, cultivating, binding corn, discing, harrowing, threshing using horse power, moving grain wagons and unloading the wagons using horse power, well drilling, etc.