STURGIS, S.D. – The annual Black Hills Steam & Gas Threshing Bee coming up this weekend east of Sturgis is a chance for young and old alike to connect … and reconnect … to the pioneering spirit that helped settle these parts.
The three day event, August 16-18, offers something for everyone, says long-time volunteer William Huston.
“Over the years, we’ve become more family friendly with hands-on activities for the kids and playground equipment,” says Huston. He continued, “For both the younger generation and older folks who have never been around agriculture or agriculture equipment, they can actually see how it was done in the past and what it took to get a meal on the table. It’s presenting and preserving history at the same time.”
Beginning on Friday, August 16th with a Tractor Drive and Tractor Rodeo, there will be food available served by the Sturgis FFA Chapter. It’s also the first day of the parade that gets underway at 1:00p.m.
There are daily games and crafts for all ages, and steam shovel, saw mill and threshing displays.
Each year, the Black Hills Steam & Gas Threshing Bee, now in its 56th year and sponsored by the Western Antique Club, selects a particular make/model of tractor to showcase. This year will showcase a different kind of horsepower…the horse.
“When we look to the past, horses were the heart of agriculture prior to the steam and gas engine. We have a club member, Riley Kammerer from the Piedmont area, who for the past several years has brought a couple of his teams up to do demonstrations and show how the implements and the horses work on the ground. We wanted to show our appreciation to him for everything he has done while recognizing the importance of horses in early-day agriculture.”
He continued, “Quite often you see a team of horses pulling a wagon through the snow, feeding square bales or loose stacks. It’s still a common practice here in western South Dakota.”
Saturday’s events include a Kids and Adult Pedal Tractor Pull and a Tractor Pull. Parade time is 1:30p.m. There are exhibits, a flea market, original historic buildings to see and much more.
“From the flea market to looking at the exhibits to the Kids Pedal Tractor Pull which is always a big draw, you might see a seven-year-old kid and they’re just as intrigued at that old farm tractor as the 60-year-old guy standing next to him,” says Hudson.
Sunday Church Service is followed by Steam / Tractor Races and another parade beginning at 1p.m. The annual event, held at the Western Dakota Antique Club about 10-15 miles east of Sturgis on Alkali Road, brings entertainment and history together to share stories with people and youngsters from all walks of life.
“There are a couple of different ways I think the event reaches people,” observes Huston. “First, it tells a story through the equipment. We have equipment on the grounds or that club members bring that has been in the Sturgis or Meade Country area for the lifespan of the machinery. It’s often restored by generations of family members.
He continued, “We have the original Bear Butte Valley Post office on the grounds. We have a couple of old Meade County school houses on the ground. There’s a blacksmith shop. “It’s an atmosphere of no matter who you talk to, they will tell you a story about something that relates to the history in the Meade County, Sturgis and western South Dakota area.”
Ticket prices are $5 a day, per person and free admission for kids 12 and under. For more information go online to the Western Antique Club and see the Black Hills Steam & Gas Threshing Bee on Facebook
