Annual Show Dates

Friday, Saturday, Sunday of the weekend following Labor Day weekend

~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~
Other Events
in 2012

~~~~~~~~~~

Annual Spring Indoor Tractor Show

April 14 & 15, 2012

Westridge Mall

Fergus Falls, MN

An opportunity to see 25-40 farm tractors and/or garden tractors members have restored on display.

June 23, 2012
Tractor Pull
at the
LRPTA-Dalton
show grounds
~
~
~
Copyright 2012
lrpta-dalton.org

e-mail   lrptadalton@ymail.com
~


History of Lake Region Pioneer Threshing Association
When the first threshing machine was invented, it was considered the greatest labor saver for threshing grain. Horses and steam engines that powered threshing machines were replaced in the 1930's with "modern day" tractors and combines were beginning to appear. In the summer of 1954, three men from the Dalton, MN area gathered together with a dream of doing their own "threshing bee."


George Melby, with the help of brother, Ralph Melby, and their nephew, Kenneth Bratvold, began on October 8, 1954, with six stacks of grain using George's Minnepolis separator (with wing feeders and powered by steam). Although not advertised, over 500 people came to observe the event on George's 10 acre field. It has been an annual event ever since. In 1960 it was moved to the present site on 40 acres of leased land on the southeast side of Dalton. Eventually the "Thresher's Club" grew in members and equipment. In 1973 they purchased the land. Over the years, buildings have been added to the grounds -- some moved in and others built by dozens of volunteers. Many of the buildings are used for storage as well as displays and functions during the yearly event. The focus is to bring back some of the ways of life of the pioneers that settled in the area, and also an appreciation for our heritage.



Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen's Association is a non-profit "501c-3" organization with donations and receipts used for upkeep and improvements for current and future years.