
Every year in early August, the Pioneer
Engineers Club holds what we
like to call our annual reunion. While some would simply refer to this
as our show, we see it as more than that. It is in fact a reunion, a
time to renew old friendships and make some new ones. All of this old
equipment would hold little meaning to any of us if not for the experiences
we've shared with each other while working with it or working on it!
Dates and featured equipment
for this year's show
But we
do gather to entertain and be entertained as well. We have a full slate
of activities planned each day. You can come for day or camp out here
for the weekend. Although things can change a little
from year to year, generally speaking, our schedule of events will be close to
what you'll find on the links below.
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Cost of admission is $5.00 per person for the entire
weekend. Children under 12 are free. You will be issued a
wristband that must be intact and in place to be re-admitted into the grounds.

Some of
our activities can be enjoyed each day. Come early if you like
explosions. We fire a cannon every day at opening ceremonies! Unless there is a downpour, you can count on getting to see various steam
engines and work crews running the sawmill and threshers or hooked to the
Baker fan or dynamometer much of the day. The straw produced from threshing will be fed
into a baler. As you walk the grounds being serenaded by our steam
calliope, you will see various tractors, gas engines, and machines running. They
may be pulling an implement of some sort, or powering a saw, a rock crusher, a pump, a washing machine - you name it! You might even run into our
clown, Farmer John. Brace yourself for the noon whistle - every whistle
on the grounds is pulled. Believe me, you'll know when it's lunch
time. Of course, we have our parade of engines each
afternoon. That is a good time to sit and rest under our shade
trees.
But if you've got extra energy to burn off later, maybe you'll
want to try your hand at cross-cut sawing. Our flea markets are open
throughout the day for you to explore. You never know what invaluable
treasure you might find! And if you are hungry - wow! We make sure
to have a variety of top quality food vendors. Don't
forget to stop and visit the craftsmen. The kids' games are a lot of fun
too. We play tug-of-war with a scale model steam engine
and then we throw a bunch of coins into a stack of straw and let the kids dive
in and see what they can find.
The office is located next to the main walk-in gate. This is where you
become a member and register your exhibit. Also be sure to visit our souvenir
stand located across from the main building. We offer a variety of merchandise as a remembrance
of your visit.
In
addition to these daily activities, there are other special activities.
Sometimes late Friday afternoon an exhibition-type antique tractor pull is
organized. On Saturday morning we challenge the youngsters to test
their power in the Kiddy Pedal Tractor
Pull.
On Saturday afternoon there is Catholic Mass. After Mass, we have a
"Block Race" for steam engines. Stick around because in the evening
there is a spark show (weather permitting), which is a way to use a steam engine to
generate "fireworks" - something to see! On Sunday morning we
have non-denominational church services. Then during opening ceremonies, we'll have a memorial service for our members who have passed away
since the last show.

One
of our members wrote an excellent poem describing the sights, sounds, smells,
and atmosphere of our reunion. You can read it here!

I'd
like to bring an exhibit.
Contact info for
vendors, campers, general information
Camping Questions and
Answers
Dates and featured equipment
for this year's show
Caldwell
Pioneer Acres
More
about Rushville, IN

Shots from past shows:
Hauling in wheat bundles

Engines Parading In
Farmer John

The
Steam Calliope