KIESTER — The Threshing Festival at Farming of Yesteryear returns this weekend for its 31st year.

Gates open at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at 1736 600th Ave. There will be horse events in the arena, a children’s barnyard, lunch stands, different displays and various events such as horse plowing, wagon driving and a pedal pull.

James Meyer, a co-chairman of the festival, said the ever-popular parade will be going on this year as well. It begins at 1 p.m. Saturday  and 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the festival grounds.

Storyteller Al Batt will be appearing Saturday, and Barry Hoffman, Gus Courrier and Shellie Berndt will be among the scheduled entertainment throughout the weekend.

Meyer thinks the biggest draw of the festival this year will be the nice weather that’s predicted for the weekend. He also said that the featured brand this year is John Deere, and the festival will close out with the raffle drawing at 4 p.m. Sunday for a John Deere tractor and other prizes. Raffle tickets can be purchased throughout the festival this weekend.

Festival admission is $6 for adults and children 12 and under are free. The proceeds go toward operating costs and future building projects, according to Meyer, and attendees get a keepsake button with their paid admission. The festival is sponsored by Gopher-Hawkeye Power Association, a nonprofit organization.

No-charge camping is available in the primitive area, while the electric area is for paid reservations only at $10 per night. Camping reservations can be made at 507-294-3142.

For Meyer, the festival is not only educational, but is also meant to be a celebration of the agricultural industry.

“This show is a tribute to all the rural people who gave us the opportunity to be who we are today in the agriculture line,” he said.

 

Schedule 

Saturday

• Gates open, 7:30 a.m.

• Bingo, 9:30 a.m.

• Displays open, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Storyteller Al Batt, 10:30 a.m.

• Parade, 1 p.m.

• Barry Hoffman, 2 p.m.

• Gus Courrier, 3:30 p.m.

• Soup supper, 5 p.m.

 

Sunday

• Gates open, 6:30 am.

• Church service, 7 a.m.

• Pancake breakfast, 8 to 10 a.m.

• Displays open, 8 to 10 a.m.

• Entertainment, 10:30 a.m.

• Minnesota state-sanctioned kids pedal pull under roof, Noon

• Parade, 1:30 p.m.

• 10th annual singles cribbage tournament, following parade at 1:30 p.m.

• Shellie Berndt, 2:30 p.m.

• Drawing for John Deere tractor and other prizes, 4 p.m.