7. Red Power Roundup comes to Albert Lea

About 30,000 people descended on Albert Lea in June to participate in the Red Power Roundup, an annual gathering of fans of International Harvester products ranging from tractors to lawn mowers to kitchen appliances. People came all over the Midwest, of course, but also the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Texas, California and Washington, among others. There were also attendants from New Zealand, Denmark and Canada.

Organizer Bruce Jensen, who this year has served as president of the Minnesota chapter of the International Harvester Collectors Club, said between 1,200 and 1,300 units were exhibited, including about 700 tractors and 250 Cub Cadets.

The three-day event was at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds from June 23 through 25, but people started arriving in town a few days prior.

Restaurants were busy. Hotels and campgrounds were full. Signs could be seen at multiple businesses around town that welcomed the visitors to the community. Some businesses even offered special discounts for Red Power Roundup participants. Some people had to stay overnight in the neighboring cities of Mason City, Iowa, Faribault, Owatonna and Austin.

Reinertson’s Embroidery, which goes to farm shows to sell products regularly, reported its best show ever. Dairy Barn at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds also reportedly had its best day ever. Visitors also flocked to the Freeborn County Historical Museum to exhibits about TV star Marion Ross and musician Eddie Cochran.

A stagecoach led a long parade of IH equipment through the fairgrounds on June 24. Each piece of equipment drove through one at a time, as an announcer took a minute to describe each.

In December, Jensen was voted to the board of directors for the National International Harvester Collector Club. His term begins next month. The International Harvester Collectors Club has 41 chapters in the United States, two in Canada and one in Sweden.

Jensen represented the Minnesota chapter at the Red Power Roundup in Missouri in 2008, where he beat out Iowa to get the show and bring it to Albert Lea.