Perham Pioneer Fest

The late Luverne Ehnert donated a sawmill wood planer that will be in operation at this year’s Pioneer Fest.

Living history

Perham Pioneer Fest brings the past into the present

BY BARBIE PORTER | FOR SUMMERSCAPE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY PINE TO PRAIRIE ANTIQUE TRACTOR & GAS ENGINE ASSOCIATION

IF YOU GO

What: Perham Pioneer Fest Where: Pioneer Grounds, 1251 1st Avenue North, Perham When: Saturday and Sunday, August 13-14, most hours of the day How: $5/car, no additional admission cost

Perham Pioneer Fest brings history to life with “living history” exhibits and demonstrations.

The Perham Pioneer Fest will be bringing history to life on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 13-14.

The festival is entering its 52nd year at Pioneer Village – located at 1251 1st Avenue North in Perham – and operable antique machines, including a sawmill, are being added to the list of live-action events this year.

“The sawmill is in honor of Luverne Ehnert,” said Jeff Janke, the president of Pine to Prairie Antique Tractor Gas Engine Association, which hosts the festival.

Janke said the honor was given to the late Ehnert for the Frazee man’s generosity. Ehnert provided years of service to the Pine to Prairie association, and gifted the group with the antique mill. He passed away in January.

Janke explained that Ehnert’s wood planing mill takes rough-cut boards and transforms them into finished lumber. Other antique machines that will be featured at the festival this year include a tool known as the mother of tools – a lathe. The lathe was invented in 1751 and played an integral part in the Industrial Revolution, as it was one of the earliest machines that led to the invention of other machine tools.

“The machines will be placed on concrete slabs that were donated by Archie and Linda Wiedewitsch,” Janke

A car show, with a variety of hot rods, is part of the festival.

The Perham Pioneer Fest allows visitors to get a good look at antique tractors. This year, an antique tractor pull is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13.

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said. “They will all operate on a jack shaft, or hitand-miss engine.”

In addition to the antique machinery, the festival’s annual antique tractor pull is also a big draw – for competitors and crowds alike. The pull is set to take place Saturday at noon. Mark Sonnenberg of rural Vergas defined antique tractors as being 40 years and older.

“Generally, we see from the 1930s through, oh, like the mid-1960s,” he said.

For those unfamiliar with tractor pulls, a load is attached to the tractor and each tractor tries to pull a set amount of weight through a 300-foot course.

“If someone goes beyond that, and another in the same class does the same, we re-hook the skid and set it to pull harder to see who wins,” Sonnenberg said.

“Last year, it was a smaller show and we saw about 50 enter,” he added, noting that the event was about three hours of free entertainment. “This year we are hoping for a similar or better turnout.” Pioneer Fest-goers are also treated to ‘living history’ vendors, tractor exhibits, a car show, hearty meals and more. “We will also have 25 or more vendors,” Janke said, adding that many of those dress as pioneers and perform old-time trades, such as blacksmithing. “And there is also live music (on Saturday). If the weather is not nice out, the live music will be in the ballroom.” There is a $5 per car charge for the festival.

Vendors with age-old “There can be 10 people in the car, trades sell their wares at we don’t care,” Janke said. the festival. More than 25 vendors are expected to attend this year’s event. The Pine to Prairie Antique Tractor Gas Engine Association is a group of 28 members. They reviewed the regional calendar of events and worked hard to pick a weekend where there wouldn’t be any similar events going on nearby, Janke said. “We bumped the dates up a week this year,” he said. “That way, there will not be any conflicts for people who may want to bring a tractor or vendors who want to come to Perham.” ‰

DL Chamber events this summer:

• Women’s EDGE Speaker Series • 4th of July Fireworks • Cruise DL Nights • Art in the Park • Crazy Daze

There is so much to do at the Lakes! Check out our website for more information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 218-847-9202 700 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN www.VisitDetroitLakes.com

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