View from the Cab: Threshermen's time

By Kent Casson

It’s almost Labor Day and that means the annual Threshermen’s Reunion at Pontiac.

The 77^th annual reunion features the Massey Expo of North America from the Massey Collectors Association, which was established in 1999. The event runs Thursday, Aug. 28 to Monday, Sept. 1 at Threshermen’s Park just north of Pontiac along Route 23.

“We hope you enjoy the agriculture demonstrations from the past and present,” said Dave Herz, reunion president.

Daily attractions include the general store, 1900 country school house, 1920 Conoco gas station, corn shelling, soap making, women’s exhibits and the Alvin H. Immke Jr. farm museum.

Thursday is Welcome Day, Friday is Education Day for the young and old while Saturday and Sunday will be full of field demonstrations with times to be announced. Don’t forget about the country tractor drive on Saturday with $20 registration. Tractor lineup is at 7 a.m. Register by calling 815-471-6166.

Transportation from the parking lot to the show is provided by the people mover or rent a golf cart by the hour or day to see it all. There is a $20 registration fee for personal transportation and all drivers need to be 16.

This year’s annual Threshermen’s Parade runs through Pontiac on Sunday (Aug. 31) which steps off at 1:15 p.m.

The parade theme is “Honoring Our Past and Future Through our Educators.” The South Shore Drill Team, a crowd favorite, returns to the parade here in 2025.

Don’t forget to look for our family riding on my father-in-law’s 1968 John Deere 4020 tractor through the parade route. It is always a fun time seeing everyone crowding the streets and waving as we cruise past on that green machine.

Keep in mind everything will be north of the Mill Street bridge this year due to bridge work continuing so you won’t be able to watch the parade on those two blocks south of the bridge and the staging area is changing as well they tell me. Everything else is the same. Hopefully we are back to the normal route next year.

Hard to believe another Farm Progress Show is here this week as well. It is always exciting when it is back in Illinois every other year featuring the latest and greatest in  agriculture.