Longtime farm museum volunteer Don Smith celebrates 95th birthday as annual steam show enters 57th year
By Jessica Brown
Photos/Special to The Source
Don Smith, right, and his partner, Barbara Suelter, in a recent portrait.
A former board president of the Prairie Land Heritage Museum (PLHM) will make history when he celebrates his 95th birthday on September 4.
Charles Donald Smith, or “Don” as he’s known to friends and family, is looking forward to that and one other milestone as well. The last weekend that same month, Sept. 25-27, will mark the 57th year for the Prairie Land Heritage Museum’s annual Steam Show & Fall Festival, which is held in South Jacksonville.
In 1990, Smith became president of the organization. The role of board president can only last for one year per individual, then a new one is chosen by a board the next year. Those officers consist of a secretary, treasurer, a president and a vice president, who together act as the board of directors of the Prairie Land Heritage Museum Institute. “It really is an institute, because it’s educational,” Smith says.
And it is. The nonprofit, education organization focuses on preserving the past, antique farm machinery, farming methods of the past and steam engines, according the group’s Facebook page.
A Navy veteran of the Korean War from 1951-1955, Smith was stationed in Hawaii at Hickam Air Force Base for 2 of those years. “I trained as an airplane mechanic,” Smith explains.
He then went on to be a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service for 26 years. Still, he has been a staple at the Prairie Land Heritage Museum and its events for over four decades. “I practically lived there at times,” he recalls fondly, remembering how he became involved. “One of the customers on my mail route was a member of the Museum and gave me a ticket good for a year in 1985.”
Don Smith works as a cashier for the ham and bean kitchen during the 1999 PLHM Steam Show event.
Traditions that have been long-standing haven’t gone by the wayside but rather have gone with the times. When the steam show started in the early 1970’s, many of the machinery shown included vintage pieces that would have been used long ago on farms. Currently, Smiths says the machinery shown is more modern.
In the past, many any of the tractors and machinery shown had been built in the first few decades of the 20th century. Smith comments that times are changing, though. “The new generations like things that are a little more modern,” he says. “We don’t do the old stuff, like when hand cranks were used.”
Smith notes that while many of the original board members have passed on, some from the younger generation have taken the reins. He admits, however, that over the years it’s been harder to get volunteers to assist with the museum and activities like the PLHM Steam Show & Fall Festival. “Families don’t have a lot of extra time and this year with the economic conditions, I don’t know if we’ll have a huge crowd,” he shares.
Dale Lair is a friend of Smith’s and a fellow member of the PLHM. The two became acquainted through their shared interests in the organization, and Lair agrees that getting volunteers to assist at events like the steam show has gotten more challenging with the times.
Lair said that he and his wife began volunteering their help in 1992. “We had always come to the show and we figured we might as well come out and see if we could do something,” he says. He shares that he, Smith and the many other individuals who make events possible are all volunteers.
Lair echoes what Smith says about recruiting younger members and in turn, that younger generations of visitors are becoming more common. “The membership is getting older and a lot of people still have jobs even after retirement,” Lair shares.
He and Smith have observed some changes over the years, like an aging of its members to the differences in some of the exhibits. Still, one aspect has stayed the same. “We have one goal in mind,” he states. “Persevering the past and the history of everything.” The two men agree that having members of the younger generations to take over positions on the board of directors is imperative to doing just that.
Don Smith, center rear, helps prepare wheat for the thresher in 1999 on Prairie Land Heritage Museum grounds.
Despite his concerns over changes needing to be made, Lair says he’s looking forward to the PLHM Steam Show & Fall Festival this year. “I always enjoy the show and over the years, I’ve just come to enjoy being around the crowd and seeing visitors enjoying themselves,” he says.
Barbara Suelter is Smith’s partner. The two met in 2011, after her previous husband and both parents passed away. Suelter had moved to the area and met Smith at the senior center she ran. “We realized we had a mutual acquaintance,” she shares, adding that she and Smith became good friends. Smith has a daughter, Laura, who helps with the steam show when she can.
Smith, who is a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, enjoys watching sports and continues to help with the steam show. He especially enjoys helping with one of the event’s most popular attractions. According to Smith and Suelter, visitors and even members of the community line up as early as 11 a.m. on the first days of the annual event to partake in the show’s famous ham and bean meal.
The food is made in kettles powered by steam engines and is prepared by individuals who show up in the early morning hours on the first day of the show. “They come in the middle of the night and start it up really early,” Smith reveals.
Smith has never retired from the PLHM, but his duties have changed in the past decade. He once did everything from helping to organize and run the steam show to managing other and events as well as performing as a leader.
He says he especially enjoyed working as a cashier for the food service provided during the show. He continues to assist with the ham and bean kitchen during the event and he helps with trays, silverware and letting customers know procedures.
The 57th annual Steam Show & Fall Festival Days will take place on the grounds of the Prairie Land Heritage Museum in South Jacksonville on the last weekend of September, Sept. 25, 26 and 27.
Admission is a $10 wristband for adults and free for children. Museum members can purchase tickets in advance from the museum’s office for $5.
There are many tasks during the event for which volunteers are needed, including assisting with food service. Those interested can call the office to sign up and ask about other locations and volunteer opportunities at 217-243-7262.
