The 19th Annual Old-Fashioned Threshing Bee is this weekend at Foster/Timmons Farm in Jefferson.

Tomorrow is filled with several activities and events. The day starts with an oats threshing demonstration at 10am with a gas-powered tractor, followed by another demonstration at 2pm with a steam-powered tractor. Later on at 4pm will be a steam plowing demonstration, which Co-organizer Nick Foster says will be showcasing the actual plows that were used to first break the soil in Iowa in the late 1800s. That evening around 6pm will be a free barbecue meal with live musical entertainment.

Sunday will start with a tractor ride at 7am. The ride will head up to Lohrville where participants will be treated to breakfast. Plus the Greene County Historical Society will serve cookies and beverages. Then at 2pm will be another steam engine threshing demonstration.

Foster points out that there will be blacksmith demonstrations, plus a cornbox, petting zoo and a hand-crank corn sheller for kids to enjoy. There will also be an antique tractor and truck show both days as well. He adds that attendees can get involved with their threshing and plowing demonstrations.

“We really do like people to get up there and to experience it. It doesn’t matter if you’re 90-years-old or if you’re nine-years-old. If you want to pitch off a whole load or if you want to pitch two bundles, it doesn’t matter. It’s about experiencing it and learning how things were done. We want you to be able to get up onto the plow and to experience operating the levelers on it because it’s a handlift. It’s a good time to get really close to the engines and see how they work.”

All activities are free and open to the public. Foster/Timmons Farm is located at 1176 M Avenue in Jefferson.