Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen's Ass'n. - Dalton, MN

We made a trip to Dalton, MN, about 15 miles south of Fergus Falls.  

Sue and Ruth in Dalton prior to the parade.

First there is the parade.  Here the Fergus Falls high school band is marching by. 

This was a candy throwing parade and the participants did their share.

In this part of the country, you are either a green farmer, John Deere, or a red farmer, Farmall or Case International.

But occasionally there are some other colors.

Our friends Bob and Ruby in their 1955 Chevrolet.

These guys take any parade, large or small, to play with their toys.

Now a parade of green.

Inside the Threshermen's compound, guys always discuss equipment.

There is a French Steam Locomotive circa 1915 made by Decauville in Paris. 

The Decauville manufacturing company was founded by Paul Decauville (1846–1922), a French pioneer in industrial railways. Starting in 1875, his company produced track elements, engines and cars. Those were exported to many countries, in particular to the colonial possessions of European powers. Decauville railways were widely used in construction yards, quarries, farms, cane fields and mountain railways up to the 1950s. The company also produced road vehicles and construction engines.    
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decauville

 The engine takes on water for the production of steam.

And wood to heat the water in the boiler.

Sue and Ruth waiting for their ride on the railroad.

Ready to go.

Going around the one mile or so track.

Nearing the station.

A good ride!

This the second parade inside the grounds.  Most of the steam engines cannot travel on asphalt topped roads because of lugs on steel tires. My father, when he was about eight years old in 1911 on the farm in Missouri, spoke of the thrill of seeing the steam engine coming to thresh the wheat.

I also witnessed the end of the threshing era in 1944 on my Grandad's farm in Missouri.  Wagons pulled by horses and the threshing machine driven by gas tractors. The farmers cooperated in a "threshing ring" and neighbors assisted each other in the harvest.  After World War II the practice changed to combines for harvest.

Another steam engine with friends onboard.

There was a regular parade of steam engines.

What could I do with it?  Will it fit in my garage?

A parade of John Deere tractors.  Everything from lawn tractors to ancient models to modern large equipment passed by.

Then a parade of Farmall or Case International tractors.

A quick look at the flea-market and then home.