The 27th annual Stump Lake Threshing Bee over Labor Day Weekend was deemed a success by all who attended. Sure it was pretty hot outside. Yes, the smoke from the Canadian wildfires was a bother, too. But hundreds came for the food, the music and the visiting with neighbors and friends, both old and new.
Yet, they did announce, regrettably, that attendance was down this year, most likely because of these factors and that harvest is in full swing already throughout the area as everyone who drove to the Stump Lake Village either Sunday or Monday could attest to. No matter where you came from – south, west, north or east – in the fields the combines and trucks were busy from early morning to nearly dark – that’s the way harvest goes in this part of the world.
Most everything, however, was just as it has been each year for the past 27 years. There were demonstrations of old time steam threshing twice each day. The old fashioned saw mill was fired up and cutting logs. Horses pulled covered wagons made for rows of people to enjoy the whole village without having to walk all the way. Fresh lefse was rolled out and fried on griddles, covered with melted butter and on sale following the parade in the Food Building. Just as Juneberry Pie with Ice Cream and Scandinavian favorite, rommegraut, was sold in the big barn. Several food trucks lined the village Main Street, some were there for the first time this year. Live music was enjoyed in the Main Street Museum building on the Wamduska Stage.
The photos on this page are just a sampling of the many activities that took place at this historic event.
