ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – A Labor Day weekend tradition has taken over the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba.
The U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Association is hosting its 48th annual show now through Monday, September 4.
“Back in the 70s, there were a bunch of guys that got together and decided that they should preserve some of the historic ways of farming,” said Steam and Gas Engine Association President Jim Yoder. “It’s to promote and show the younger generation how things used to be done before you just turned a key and went and did everything.”
Tractors and automobiles of all kinds are on display along the midway.
“I think we’ve got 190-some registered exhibitors this year and a lot of them bring more than one tractor, so there’s several hundred different pieces of machinery here,” Yoder said.
Attendees may see a few antique cars cruising through the fairgrounds throughout the weekend. Joe Vanevera, an Air Force veteran from Wallace, brought his 1915 Model T.
“It’s a very simple car to work on, easy to fix,” he said of his automobile. “That’s why they were really so popular in the day, was farmers could fix them and they were hearty cars for the roads. At one time, every other car on the road was a Model T Ford.”
Vanevera is one of many creative vendors at the show. He sells miniature tractors made out of old sewing machines.
“If you’ve got one and it’s not sentimental, it’s really kind of worthless,” said Vanevera. “Rather than see them just thrown away, I take them and I make things out of them.”
Yoder says guests will have plenty to see and do, whether they are steam and gas engine enthusiasts or not. They can enjoy one of the U.P.’s largest flea markets, live music and dancing, food, and demonstrations at the Antique Village.
“Hopefully we’ll have a good time and a good crowd,” said Yoder. “Come and see how things used to be done before everything became mechanized completely.”
Click here to see the full schedule of events at the U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Association Show.
Tickets are $6 for a day or $10 for the weekend. Exhibitors and children ages 14 and younger will be admitted free of charge.
