There is perhaps no state that can boast more Western grit, gumption and panoramic nostalgia than Montana. It is a place known for its vast open spaces, abundant natural beauty and time-kept appreciation for the ways of yesterday. From the wooden homesteader cabins and barns dotting the wind-blown prairie to the remnants of bygone farming equipment, its rural setting can captivate home-grown farming community folk and city slickers alike.
And for those who call the Treasure State home, it’s darn important to keep those enduring pioneering traditions of long ago and the stories told by those who lived during that time, alive and well. That was the mindset that kept the original charter members of the Northeast Montana Threshers Association going. Since then, 50 years have gone by. Yet, today the Association is strong. And they are always looking for more interested members.
It was their appreciation for the way previous generations worked the land that helped them celebrate their 50th Anniversary this past summer during the annual Culbertson Threshing Bee. The weekend long September event has long been an opportunity for its members to showcase their historic collection of tractors and farming equipment dating back as far as the mid 1800s.
The Association began as a group of less than 20 people and over the years has grown. “We were just a small group of people that all had an interest in the older machines. We grew up with them and watched our parents and grandparents use them on their farms. There were other groups that had started associations and we felt like we could do something like that too,” recalls Rodney Iverson, a Charter Association Member.
Part of their mission is to get younger generations interested in learning about and preserving the area’s rich farming history. The annual Threshing Bee enables youngsters and patrons an opportunity to see the aged machines up close, feel the rusty uneven metal and hear the churn and chug of the engine and its wheels. “Our Association wants to leave a lasting impression on everyone who sees old tractors. We want them to see the colossal conglomerations of metal off in a field and connect with it and understand what the earlier generations had to do to ensure they ate,” said David Krogedal, President of the Association.
Commemorative buttons are still available from the September event. If you would like one, please contact Rodney Iverson at 787-5265.
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