Threshermen Antique Tractor and Steam Engine Show Rained Out

Story and Photos Courtesy of Will County Threshermen’s Association

For the first time in 53 years, the Will County Threshermen’s Antique Tractor and Steam Engine Show, originally scheduled for July 16-19, has been rained out. The 3rd Annual Vintage Tractor parade Saturday will continue from a new location.

Since 1962, Will County Threshermen’s Association has hosted a four-day event to pay homage to farming traditions that shaped local agriculture. Annual show highlights include demonstrations of threshing, which is a process of harvesting grain from stalks, using antique steam engines. Due to the extreme rains, show organizers are unable to get into the fields for these and other demonstrations.

Tractor and machine enthusiasts have traveled from across the state, as well as Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa due to the thousands of antique tractors and steam engines on display during the show.

Members of the Will County Threshermen’s Association voted on the matter July 9, according to Al Heatherwick, association president. The event has been held at different farming locations throughout Will County over the decades. This year, it was to be held at the Crawford Farm, along U.S. 52 south near Manhattan’s Fire Protection District Station 2.

In light of the decision, the Vintage Tractor parade has moved the beginning and ending location to the Wilton Center Grade School, 29520 S. Cedar Road, which is along U.S. 52 in Wilton Center.

“We’re going to have over 50 tractors, if not more,” said Jim Robbins, tractor parade organizer.

For anyone wanting to watch the parade, or just dodge the traffic, it will depart at 8 a.m. traveling northbound on Cedar Road, then east onto Pauling Road, north onto Schoolhouse Road, west on Smith Road, north on Kankakee Street, west on Baker Road, north on Eastern Avenue, west on Delaney Road, which turns into Schweitzer Road. The half-way stop is the Chicagoland Speedway.

The return trip begins south on Ridge Road, then west onto Breen Road, south on Rowell Road, west on Brown Road, south on Chicago Road, west on Mississippi, south on Coldwater Road, then east on Hoff Road back to U.S. 52, south to Wilton Center Elementary.

The Annual Vintage Tractor parade is a fundraiser for agriculture education.