Jewell County Threshing Bee Results

Jewell County Historical Society hosted the 44th Annual Antique Farm Machinery and Threshing Bee on July 16 and 17, 2022. This year's featured volunteer was Roger Feddie in appreciation for his many years of volunteerism and participation in the threshing bee. The featured tractor was a 1941 Farmall H. There were more than 100 tractors on exhibit this year including 13 from the Winslow Collection (Guide Rock) and 10 from the Alcorn Family Collection (Mankato). Interesting note, three tractors from the Winslow Collection were driven from Guide Rock. We were told it only took an hour and a half.

The event hosted a wide variety of events including: steam engine saw mill demonstration, blacksmithing demonstrations, hit and miss engine demonstrations, a chain saw artist, wheat threshing and straw baling, corn shelling, cross cut saw competition, antique tractor pull, kiddie pedal pull, garden tractor games, watermelon popping competition, children's washer Hunt and the threshing bee parade.

In addition, food and flea market vendors offered a variety of tasty treats and shopping. Entertainment this year included: Good Sam Band Friday night, sponsored by the Mankato Public Library, Good Sam Band Saturday morning, sponsored by the Jewell County Historical Society, and Kill Creek Rising, sponsored by the Mankato Chamber of Commerce.

Winners of the washer hunt game included: Haven Silsby (Topeka), Logan Brown (Topeka), Phoenix Wright (Belleville), Addie Silsby (Topeka), Soren Stratman (Topeka), Val Jean Ryder (Formoso), Elam Stratman (Topeka), Kay Winslow (Guide Rock), Adalee May Winslow (Guide Rock), Eli Angleton (Esbon), Ava Angelton (Esbon) and Wren Ernst (Jewell). Each winner received a toy tractor donated by Jewell Implement and Carrico Implement as well as an entry ticket to win the pedal tractor give away.

The Cross Cut Saw competition is always entertaining to watch and a test of true teamwork. Saturday's winners were: Dale Wright and Brett Ernst in the men's category and Justin and Mandy Angelton in the couples category. Sunday's competition winners were Mike Silsby and Tim Brown in the men's category, Justin and Mandy Angelton in the couples category and Tim and Logan Brown in the new category, adult-child.

The antique tractor pull competition is another fun one. The tractor pull is sponsored by Jewell Implement and Midway Co-op.

Saturday's winners include:

Small Class: 1st, Joe Eilert (Silver King), 2nd, Caleb Eilert (JD 420), 3rd, William Cockroft (Farmall Super A)

Medium Class: 1st, Lloyd Johnson (JD AR), 2nd, Oren Underwood (Farmall H), 3rd Dale Swope (JD50)

Large Class: 1st, Aaron Underwood (Farmall M), 2nd, Chase Wagner (JD A), 3rd, Chad Winslow (Farmall Super M)

Heavy Class: 1st, Ben Bruming (JD 830), 2nd, Mike Ehn (JD730), 3rd, Tyler Cumming (JD G)

Sunday's winners include:

Small Class: 1st, Terry Garman (Farmall H), 2nd, Waude Underwood (Farmall Super C), 3rd, William Cockroft (Farmall C)

Medium Class: 1st, Oren Underwood (Farmall H), 2nd, Amry Neal (JD B), 3rd, Jack Alcorn (JD50)

Large Class: 1st, Karry Winslow (Farmall 560), 2nd, Chase Wagner (JD A), 3rd, Chad Winslow (Farmall 560)

Heavy Class: 1st, Terry Garman (Farmall Super WD9), 2nd, Oren Underwood (Farmall Super WD9), 3rd, Terry Garman (JD G)

A special feature of Saturday's activities included a watermelon popping contest sponsored by the Mankato Chamber of Commerce. This year 15 teams of two and all ages competed. In this fun, messy and tasty event, teams wrap rubber bands around a watermelon until it explodes. The winning team was Chase Wagner and Michael Saint.

Each year the Historical Society raffles off a pedal tractor and a feature tractor.

The pedal tractor was donated by Jewell Implement. The winner was Wayne Reba, Mankato.

The Farmall H was donated by the historical society. The winner was 10 year old, Logan Brown, grandson of Cliff and Susan Silsby, Topeka.

This year's threshing bee parade's featured more than 80 tractors, cars, and other vehicles. Each day the parade was led off by two new tractors supplied by Jewell Implement. The lead tractor carrying United States flags and the playing of the National Anthem and some parade participants including a 1948 Oliver 77 owned by the Hooley Alcorn Family.

On Sunday, Hooley Alcorn served as the parade grand marshal. Hooley is a founding father of the threshing bee. His son, Jack, who drove him through the parade is the current historical society president. Other participants included Farmalls, Olivers, Internationals, Massy Harrison, Ford and John Deere, lawn mowers-garden tractors, a steam engine and antique grain truck, and cars ranging from a 1928 Model A to a 1988 Ford 150.

As many know, the Lehrling Chevrolet building was torn down this year. In honor of Rick Lehrling, a 1950 Chevy Deluxe Hardtop driven by Lynette Lehrling Alexander, Mankato, participated in this year's parades.