Antique Tractor, Steam Engine Show Rolls Into Manhattan Farm

MANHATTAN, IL — Fans of antique and vintage farm equipment have a unique opportunity to see them up close, with the return of an annual Will County Threshermen's Association show.

The Antique Tractor & Steam Engine Show, to be held July 20–23 at Spiess Farm, 14151 W. Arsenal Rd. in Manhattan, is a chance to step back in time, the association says.

"Those who attend the Will County Threshermen's Association Show can expect to be transported back to yesteryear," according to the website. "Steam engines, antique gasoline tractors, gas engines, antique automobiles, and other machines provide a working testimonial to the genius of previous generations."

The event is family-oriented, with food vendors, craft and flea market, magic show, petting zoo, Frankfort Brass Band, Civil War Living History exhibit, a daily parade of power, antique & garden tractor pulls, fieldwork demonstrations, saw milling, corn shelling, threshing and more. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 per adult and $4 per child (ages 2-11) daily. Cash only, and there is no ATM onsite. A full schedule of events can be found online.

The event boasts a full menu of options for guests to pick from, including:

• Papa's Mini Donuts & Cheese Curds
• Between The Buns Food Truck
• Jewel's Homemade Ice Cream
• Sweet Corn Kings
• Mia Bella’s Wood Fired Pizza
• Mel’s Tacos

The event will be held rain or show, but some demonstrations are weather-permitting. More information can be found online, or check the association's Facebook page for updates.

In its early years, the show took place at the Fred Francis 4-H Field in New Lenox, according to the website. At the fourth annual show, 25 acres of oats were fed through a steam-powered thresher while plowing with oxen, horses and steam engines, making history come to life. An ad promised 10 steam engines, 30 gasoline tractors, 25 gasoline engines and 15 antique automobiles.

By the 1970s, the show had grown and moved to the Peotone Fairgrounds. Later, it moved to Burns Woods in Wilmington, and in 2004, to the Dollinger Farm in Shorewood. In 2013 & 2014, the show was held at the Round Barn Farm Park, in Manhattan, the area where it had first begun, then in 2015 to the Crawford Farm in Manhattan. In 2016 & 2017 the show moved to Charlie and Jeannie Kestel’s farm in Frankfort. The association at present, since 2018, is holding its annual show on the Steve Spiess Farm in Manhattan.

In 2014, the Will County Threshermen’s Association became a 501(c)(3) organization.