In 1954, brothers George and Ralph Melby, along with their nephew Kenneth Bratvold decided to harvest some of their grain the old fansioned way, or threshing. George had stacked 6 stacks of grain and October 6th, they thrashed it. George and Ralph each had their old engines. George's engine was a 25 hp rear mounted single cylinder Gaar Scott and Ralph's was a 25 hp side mounted double cylinder Gaar Scott. Kenneth purchased a 75hp Case engine. The threshing machine they used was a 36" Minneapolis. Even with no advertising, around 500 spectators arrived.
Since the show was a success, an annual event was made of it. For the second show, there were two new engines brought in. George and Ralph Melby bought a 25 HP Advance Rumely and member #4, Nels Fossan brought in a 25 HP Woods Bros. engine. In addition to the engines, a 10 bottom plow was brought in as well as another threshing machine.