Last weekend was especially busy and successful for the Rae Valley Heritage Association members hosting their 36th annual show at Charlie’s Park northwest of Petersburg.
The Nebraska State Antique Tractor and Horse Plowing Bee attracted total attendance estimated at over 2,000 people from Friday evening through Sunday.
Attendance has grown over the past several years.
Some 50 tractors arrived Friday evening on the annual tractor cade from Creston to Petersburg.
The annual cream can supper was served to about 200 people at 6 p.m., and was followed by an open “jam session” and barn dance.
Saturday’s attendance was largest, with all parking lots full and more than 300 tractors on display. Allis Chalmers was the honored brand this year, and AC tractors were on display from a wide area. A big crowd was on hand for the antique auction Saturday morning, and there were more than 110 competitive pulls at the Old Time Tractor Pull.
All of the usual demonstrations were also featured on Saturday, including hay baling and stacking, corn shelling, threshing and more.
A Parade of Power, Knights of Columbus steak fry and the annual steam engine spark show rounded out events on Saturday, followed by the jam session and open barn dance in the evening.
Sunday, Aug. 26, began with church services in the barn loft, followed by tractor games and working events, horse and mule plowing, antique tractor plowing and a kids’ pedal tractor pull.
Carson’s Cow Tippers Clown Alley entertained children Sunday afternoon.
Following the Sunday parade of power, the kid’s money scramble and T-shirt shoot were held, followed by awards and drawings.
