A tractor on display at the Flywheelers Antique Gas and Steam Engine Tractor Show.
The Anderson County Flywheelers recently hosted the third annual Flywheelers Antique Gas and Steam Engine Tractor Show at Lake Garnett in Garnett, Kan. The event brought together enthusiasts, spectators and area elementary school students to celebrate the history of farming practices and tractors.
Crest FFA members who led event rotations.
This year’s event, which took place on Oct. 4, 2024, set a record for attendance, with more than 560 students in first through sixth grade. With the guidance of Crest FFA members, students were led through stations facilitated by community members and those from surrounding areas.
Participating students had the opportunity to watch gas and steam engines be fired up and used to power various machinery. The demonstrations included the operation of a thrasher, square baler, steam engine and shingle maker. Additionally, students could observe the traditional crafts of blacksmithing, shingle making and rope making.
Participating students watch a thrashing demonstration.
The Anderson County Historical Society also provided a fascinating history lesson to enrich the experience and add an educational dimension. Students strolled through the tractor show, and they could also take tractor-pulled cart rides.
A representative from the historical society described the event as “a great way to share basic things that happened in early America so we can have a bright future.”
Participating students watch a blacksmith demonstration.
“I love this event because it brings the history of the agriculture industry,” another attendee says. “My father used to work with some of the same type of equipment shown here today. It skipped a generation with me, but I love seeing my children have the ability to learn this.”
Students ended the day by watching the tractor parade and enjoying ice cream from a gas-powered ice cream maker, which capped off a day filled with immersive historical experiences and valuable insights into America’s agricultural and industrial heritage.
The gas-powered ice cream maker churns a sweet treat.
