Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum preparing for show

With Roger Langis on the tractor and Colin Stratichuk on the 103-year-old binder, wheat was taken off a field last Thursday.

The 39^th annual Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Show is coming up soon and preparations are underway.

To help get ready for the Aug. 8-10 show at Co-An Park in McGregor, wheat was removed from a Concession 4 North field farmed by Amherstburg resident Tony Simon. The wheat was removed with a 1922 Massey Harris binder that the museum has in its collection, with the binder having been donated by Amherstburg resident Morris Kurzuk.

The binder was pulled by an antique tractor and the volunteers that were out last Thursday stacked the wheat on two wagons. The wheat will be used in an antique threshing machine during the show.

The feature of this year’s Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Show is Allis Chalmers tractors and equipment.

The Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum presents the show and its president Gary Struhar estimated there were about a dozen volunteers out last Thursday to assist with the binding of the wheat. They were out late Wednesday to make sure the binder was working properly and with the bulk of the work being done Thursday.

Struhar said the wheat that doesn’t run through the threshing machine will be put to a good purpose. The remaining straw will have tokens put in it so children can search for them as part of the “turkey in the straw” event.

“The kids collect as many as they can and they can buy whatever they want at the show,” said Struhar.

The show will feature its traditional tractor parade through McGregor Aug. 9 at 9 a.m., using Walker Road and Concession 11 in Essex on the way to the park. Other events and activities on the museum’s grounds will be sawmill demonstrations, tractor and engine displays, vendors, tractor pulls and mini-tractor pulls, children’s activities, entertainment on Saturday by Crystal Gage, pony rides from Sarah Parks Horsemanship, and Anita’s Chip Wagon.

Struhar added radio controlled airplanes will also be flying during the show with a live auction being presented by OS Auctions and Dunn Auctions.

The museum is still offering regular tours, with Struhar adding there was recently a group from Peterborough that came through. 

The museum is part of the Southwestern Ontario Heritage Council, a group of museum operators around the region. They meet four times per year and discuss issues they are facing, with Struhar stating many issues involve volunteers.

“It’s an informative meeting,” said Struhar.

Admission to the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Show is $8 for adults, $6 for children 6-12 years, with children under age six being free. A three-day pass is $12. Half-price admission for seniors is Friday only.

Show hours are 12-6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10.

Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum preparing for show

By Ron Giofu