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Founder to be honored this weekend
Leonard Lemmon leans against the side of his old pickup truck and chuckles when asked what he remembers the most about Pioneer Harvest Fiesta founder George Jackson.
"Well, I remember a lot in 50 years," Lemmon said.
Lemmon and other members of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Inc., along with other community members, will honor Jackson, the original founder of the annual steam-and-gas engine show during its 50th anniversary celebration this weekend, Sept. 29-Oct.1, at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
Lemmon, a retired firefighter who spent more than 30 years with the Fort Scott Fire Department, said he remembers when Jackson, one of his long-time friends, bought his first engine, a threshing machine that he purchased in the Jasper, Mo., area.
Lemmon has been involved with the show since its inception.
The three-day Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, which features a wide collection of early 20th century tractors, gas and steam engines, and other agricultural equipment, began in 1956.
"He (Jackson) would thresh wheat during the shows," Lemmon said. "Of course, it's not as big (today) as it was back then, but we're trying to revive it."
Lemmon said he recalls other memorable moments from the show's 50-year history.
"I remember this guy from New Mexico would come in and crawl in and clean the soot out of the steam engines," Lemmon said. "Another year, at the Girard fair, we paraded an old steam tractor in front of the governor."
Lemmon will display a restored antique Tom Thumb gas engine and a drag saw, which can be used for sawing trees, on the fairgrounds during the event.
Planners are also working on restoring a set of scales that were used to weigh tractors before the invention of electric scales. The antique scales can still accommodate up to 30,000 pounds worth of machines, association president Allen Warren said.
Warren said he will have a 1926 Reid oil field engine on display for exhibition.
The 150-year-old saw still operates and is "ready to go," Lemmon said. The saw was manufactured in a saw factory that began in 1872, he said.
Lemmon will get to participate in this years show after nearly missing last year's event due to health problems, Warren said.
"I think what should be noted here is that last year, Leonard had a hospital pass to come to the show after a heart attack, and on his own, he restored that (engine)," Warren said.
Girard resident Ron Sevart has restored a 1912 Baker Steam traction engine -- featuring a brand new boiler -- for display during the fiesta as well, Warren said. The engine, which was purchased brand new in 1912, was partially restored in 1965 and completely restored in 1983, according to Sevart's Internet site.
The engine, which was handed down from Sevart's great-grandfather, was used as a wheat thresher in the 1920s and 1930s, the site said. That engine will make its debut at the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta this year, and will be the featured tractor at an area tractor show next year, Warren said.
Over the years, fiesta organizers have displayed as many as 11 steam engines during a particular show, but were only able to display two engines this year, Warren said.
Other types of farm equipment, such as hand-operated saws and small corn shellers that were used in the early 1900s, are all operational and will be used to give demonstrations for patrons, Warren said. Weekend events include corn husking and shelling demonstrations, sorghum cooking, wheat threshing, and a blacksmith operation.
The show also features several gas engine and tractor exhibits, a quilt show, an arts and crafts show, a flea market, a model train display, and several types of tractor and draft horse pulls. Food booths and other entertainment, including a downtown parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, are also planned.
The fiesta will take place at the southwest corner of the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, located near the corner of 23rd and Horton streets across from Fort Scott Community College.
Admission to the three-day fiesta costs $5 for adults, while children 12 years of age and under will receive free admission. For more information about weekend events or to obtain a schedule, call Warren at (620) 224-7761.