I don't know if you guessed or not, but last week we were out-of-town on a much-needed family vacation. We headed north, and spent the week with family in South Dakota and Minnesota. We had such a wonderfully relaxed week! It was great.
Our first day of the vacation just-so-happened to coincide with one of our favorite fall traditions in South Dakota--the Pioneer Power Show. (I'm sure you can guess which one of us loves this tradition more!) I believe this is always held the last weekend in September.
This was the 25th annual Pioneer Power Show. This picture pretty much sums up the whole event to me--good people, young and old, enjoying life in a farm community.
I love that the Pioneer Power Show doesn't change from year to year. We can expect the exact same things every year.
Oh, you betcha there are tractors! Rows upon rows of shiny old tractors...
And the old-timers (did I just call him that???) debating over which brand is the best...and which one in particular he used to ride on his grandpa's farm... Oh, and Dave would want me to tell you, this one was not on his grandpa's farm. I just snapped his picture here.
I just love acting really interested in the tractors with my husband. I love saying things like, "Well, that Standard 77 was a good model, but nothing like the Super 66. That was one good tractor." Dave kept asking me if I really did want to look at the tractors with him. I told him that of course I did, and I was taking pictures to make a tractor calendar for him.
Really, I was just buttering him up for some donuts that I knew were nearby...
At noon on Saturday, there is always the tractor parade through the middle of the grounds. Tractor, after tractor, after tractor driving past--oh, and a few classic old cars, too. Personally, I think the people-watching is more interesting. But, what do I know? I'm just a city slicker.
There's a flea market out front, when you first walk in. The glassware always draws me in. You'll almost always find me fingering the pretty glasses and dishes, trying to justify buying yet another pressed glass bowl. This time, I nearly bought a $37 clear glass elephant that used to be a Grapette bottle. I wanted it because it was stamped "Camden, Ark." It was a cute little thing--and was from near my hometown. But, it wasn't $37 cute. *sigh*
There's an old school building they moved from nearby Walz to this location. It's the real deal--with the old cook stove inside, as well as desks, a bookshelf, and even a map on the wall. How do I know it's the real deal?
Because that old fella right there attended this very school! He was pointing out where he used to sit, and how everything looked the same as he remembered it! Except the fire extinguisher. I don't think that was there...
There are buildings full of cool old antiques, where you can show your kids how people used to pump gas...and your kids can ask you questions like, "If that wheel ran over you, wouldn't it CRUSH you and KILL you?" "Why, yes, sweetheart, it would kill you."
There's even a very cool collection of old ball caps. Moms of sons--see? This is why your son needs those new hats every season. So that someday, he can donate them to a local festival, and forever have them mounted on the wall for all to see. I actually love this collection! In fact, the building this is in houses a very large, very impressive steam engine. I'm sure most engineer types would be posting picture after picture of the engine here. But, not me. Nope, I'm posting pictures of the hat collection...as well as one of my other favorite things at the Pioneer Power Show...
Ah! Here it is!!! The mini donut maker machine. No, no, no--it's not a mini machine. It makes mini donuts!!! I love this thing! You better believe we bought a bag of mini donuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. You know what? If my husband really loved me, he would buy me this for Christmas... And make me mini donuts every Saturday morning.
What are our girls' favorite things at The Pioneer Power Show? Here--I'll show you!
Love the little animals! I wanted to put that little pony in my back pocket and take her home!
This is such a fun old playground! I mean--can you imagine any school putting up a 20-foot slide nowadays? Whew! I'm just glad the girls didn't ask their heights-challenged mama to slide down it. It also might have been embarrassing if my rear end got stuck halfway down, too.
At these kinds of things, most kids would be whining about wanting another ice cream, or more mini donuts, or another Coke... But, Rebecca--every time we'd do another activity, she kept wanting to head back to the wagon wheel loom. The same lady is there every year, and every year she is kind enough to let Rebecca weave a while. I think we went back to this like 419 times that day. Okay, maybe not that many...but it seemed like a lot. I think we may have a future weaver on our hands. (Does this make the song "Dream Weaver" get stuck in your brain? Good--cause now it's stuck in mine, too.)
And one of the favorites of the day--the mini ferris wheel!! Something about the girls holding hands in line together just melted my heart.
Okay, that's enough. If you want to know more, you'll just have to go along with us next year and see for yourself. But, don't ask to share my donuts. Get your own $3 bag!
The Pioneer Power Show is always a low-key, laid back family kind of day! Just the kind of day our family needed!
Do you have a favorite festival /event in your area that is a family tradition?
