The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Joy Swearingen
The 54th annual Western Illinois Threshers Bee and Antique Show will begin thiso Friday, Aug. 6, near Hamilton, and continues with three days of demonstrations and activities on Aug. 7 and 8. This year's show highlights Oliver tractors. The button this year features an Oliver Orchard 66 tractor owned by Gary Spitznogle. The raffle tractor is a 1955 Oliver Super 55.
Parades of antique cars, trucks, tractors and steam engines brought by exhibitors will run through the grandstand at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. A full dinner is offered each evening at 6 p.m. for $10. Friday night is ribeye steak, potato salad and baked beans. Saturday features smoked pork chops, au gratin potatoes and fresh tomatoes.
Friday night is an antique tractor pull in the grandstand, followed by music by Bocephus Wayne at about 8 p.m. b Saturday evening begins with music by Crossroads Country Opry during and after the pork chop supper. The quilt auction is at 8 p.m. followed with more music.
Friday's schedule starts with tractor games at 9 a.m., an antique tractor pull at 11 a.m., kids' pedal tractor pull at 3 p.m., and an antique tractor pull at 6 p.m. in the grandstand.
Saturday begins with a pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. There will be pony pull at 8 a.m. at the grandstand. In the afternoon, see tractor games at noon in the grandstand, and horse plowing in the field before the antique tractor and car parade begins at 3 p.m.
Sunday begins with a pancake breakfast breakfast at 7 a.m. and worship in the country church at 8:30 a.m. There is another antique tractor pull at 9:30 a.m. and horse plowing at 1 p.m. The Sportsyex offers fun and games for kids at the grandstand at 1:30 p.m. before the second antique tractor and car parade.
Winners of the antique tractor, quilt, pedal tractor and other prizes will be announced after Sunday's parade. The 50th show history book dedicated to Fred Buckert and outlining the origin and growth of the Western Illinois Threshers is still available at the show.
Throughout each day demonstrations and exhibits are planned. Steam engines are used to power threshing machines and the large and small saw mills. A large collection of rail handcars is exhibited, and rail motor car rides are available on the track around the grounds.
Again this year are sessions of Bingo throughout the weekend in the large shelter house. Work continues on the 1850s circa Bolton Barn, that is being rebuilt on the grounds. The barn from rural Nauvoo was disassembled by Bolton family and other volunteers. The foundation has been poured, walls begun and work continues on reassembling the barn this year.
See sheep shearing, rock crushing, corn shelling and corn meal grinding, pony-powered threshing, small gas engines, quilting and rug weaving. The growing village on the 80-acre grounds includes log cabins, church, one-room school, depots, print shop, blacksmith and a post office.
There is an antique gas station, two large museum buildings, and two renovated TP& W depots. A flea market sets up on the north end of the grounds during the show.
Fun for kids includes a petting zoo, hands-on corn shelling, playground at the school yard, the pedal pull on Friday afternoon, and games at the grandstand on Sunday.
In addition to nightly meals, food and drink are served at many locations. Camping hook-ups of 20 and 30 amps are available. Golf carts/ATVs are not rented on the grounds but are allowed. Owners must register and pay a $20 fee at the headquarters building upon arrival at the show. A $5 commemorative button allows admission for all three days to those 12 and older. Children under 12 are admitted free. To find the Western Illinois Threshers Show, turn north at the signs in Hamilton, IL, at North 19th Street, and continue on the blacktop two miles north. Parking is free. President Ed Hartweg...319-795-2982 or see www.westernillinoisthreshers.org.
The grounds phone is 217-847-2572.