Prairie Land Heritage Museum hosts 55th Steam Show & Fall Festival
By Kyla Hurt
Photos / Julie Gerke and Special to The Source
The 55th Prairie Land Heritage Museum Steam Show & Fall Festival Days took place the weekend of September 27-29 on the Prairie Land Heritage Museum grounds in South Jacksonville.
The three-day event celebrated steam engines, International Harvester and Farmall tractors, plus Hercules small engines.
A “Little Miss & Mr. Pageant” was held the Friday evening. Prairie Land Heritage Museum volunteer Sue Radkiewicz shared after the event, “We want to thank all of our pageant contestants, our visiting royalty and [emcee] Sarah [Shellhammer] for their participation and help with our pageant. Thanks you all so much! See you next year!!”
Friday was also “Education Friday,” as all student groups and teachers were admitted free.
Over the weekend, there were a plethora of activities for families and all. Those included: a huge area full of activities for kids; the ever popular flea market; demonstrations on sorghum/molasses production, plowing, threshing, soap making, hay raising, corn shelling and blacksmithing; displays of steam/gas engines and tractors of all kinds; making and serving of steam engine-cooked ham & beans; live entertainment; golf cart and quilt raffles; antique tractor pull; and much more.
