LARNED — The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum and Research Library will sponsor the 15th Annual Santa Fe Trail Tired Iron Show on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11.
The festivities run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The long running event promises to be a fun-filled and educational family affair. 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.
New this year is music by the Hell Creek Bridge Band, playing southern rock and country music.  The band will play on the museum’s west porch from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Sue’s BBQ and Bahama Mama’s will sell food and drinks during the performance.  Pawnee County Coop Association, Prolific Resources, and Sue’s BBQ are sponsoring the event. Admission to the performance is included with Tired Iron Show admission.  
Other new fun events that have been added this year include Cowboy Mounted Shooting demonstrations (both days) and Slowest Tractor and Tractor Barrel Races on Saturday.  
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. You don’t want to miss this unique experience.
Saturday, 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.
Children will enjoy the Kids Korral & Petting Zoo 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, games, and barrel train rides on the Schartz Express. Throughout both days, people can visit the working miniature farm equipment, model railroad demonstrations, and enjoy a beautiful quilt exhibit by the Quilting Bee’s. On Saturday there will be wood carvers demonstrating different techniques on the west porch.    
With so many activities to enjoy attendees may want to give their feet a break and catch a ride on the People Mover, sponsored by Farmers Bank & Trust.
This year the Santa Fe Trail Tired Iron Show will remember Dale Otte. Otte was a long-time member of the Fort Larned Historical Society Board of Directors and worked tirelessly as a volunteer.
Before each Anvil Shoot there will be someone speaking about his many contributions to the museum.  In addition, there will be a memorial for Dale Otte during the Sunday 9 a.m. 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 our website at www.santafetrailcenter.org or call 620/285-2054. The Santa Fe Trail Center is two miles west of Larned on K-156. Follow us on Facebook.