It’s only about two weeks away. The annual Anderson County Flywheelers Gas Engine & Tractor Show, to be held Friday and Saturday, October 4th and 5th in the City of Garnett’s North Lake Park and this year, a couple of special treats. A 1906 16 horsepower advance steam engine tractor will be on exhibit and demonstration. Steam engine tractors, such as the 1906 advance, would have been used for several important agricultural and industrial tasks in the early 20th century, including threshing, plowing, sawmill operations, road construction and hauling, pulling heavy loads. Considered the “workhorses of the 20th century agriculture and industry,” these steam engine tractors performed tasks that would later be taken over by specialized gas and diesel-powered equipment.
In keeping with the event’s featured Minneapolis Moline Tractors, the Flywheelers have also acquired a 1920’s Minneapolis Moline Prairie tractor. The “Prairie” models of MM tractors were also the workhorses of their day, helping farmers increase productivity from small family farms to large-scale operations breaking new ground on the prairies. More information coming soon!
