Fall and harvest go hand-in-hand. Next weekend, visitors to Larned will have the chance to see how harvest traditions have shaped this area over the past 150 years. The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum and Research Library will host the 16th Annual Santa Fe Trail Tired Iron Show on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8 and 9. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Highlighting antique tractors and gas engines, the Tired Iron Show draws a large crowd from central Kansas as well as surrounding states. Admission to the event is $5 for ages 16 and up. Children 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
One of the many returning activities at this year’s event includes the ever-popular Anvil Shoot. Sponsored by Great Bend Farm Equipment, Inc., the Kansas Anvil Shooters will shoot the anvil three times each day.
ITC Great Plains is sponsoring the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Demonstration. Added just last year, the shooting demonstration is a real crowd pleaser.
Sunday, just west of the Frizell Depot, Pawnee Valley Feed Yard is sponsoring a harnessing and horse drawn plowing demonstration at 12:30 p.m.
Another returning event is Punkin’ Chunkin’, sponsored by Ward Feed Yard, Inc. On Sunday at 1:30 p.m. an air powered pumpkin cannon will launch pumpkins far out into the pasture southwest of the museum grounds.
Beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday will be the Tractor Pull Competition, sponsored by First State Bank & Trust Co. Ribbons will be awarded to the first, second and third places in each weight class.
On both Saturday and Sunday there will be scheduled demonstrations of wheat threshing sponsored by Carr Auction & Real Estate, Inc., corn shelling sponsored by Standish Farms, blacksmithing sponsored by Producers Hybrids, wheat grinding sponsored by Ruff Stuff Parts & Supply, and horseshoeing sponsored by Josefiak Farms.
Kids will enjoy the Pumpkin Patch sponsored by Mull Farms and Feeding, Inc., Class in the One-Room Schoolhouse sponsored by James R. Boyd, Kids Corn Coin Hunt sponsored by Bar F Farms and K & K Cattle, and barrel train rides on the Schartz Express sponsored by Prolific Resources.
Throughout both days, people can visit the working miniature farm equipment and enjoy a special traveling exhibit on Kansas Agriculture. On Saturday there will be wood carvers demonstrating different techniques on the west porch.
With so many activities schedules, attendees may want to give their feet a break and catch a ride on the People Mover, sponsored by Farmers Bank & Trust.
Sunday at 9 a.m. there will be a Worship Service in the Historic Johnson Street Escue Chapel. The service is sponsored by Debes Farms.
For a full schedule of events or more information check out the museum’s facebook page or website at www.santafetrailcenter.org or call 620-285-2054. The Santa Fe Trail Center is located two miles west of Larned on Hwy K-156.
