Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Prepares for Final Bow

The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta (PHF) celebrates its 70th Anniversary and final Fiesta this weekend at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. It is the oldest antique farm show in the state.

Pioneer Harvest Fiesta committee member Del Parks has been on the committee since 2018 and is sad to see the show end.

“We just can’t keep it going,” she said. “Volunteerism has dropped off and so few people are still around who know how to run the old machines.” She recalled her parents attending every year as she was growing up.

The annual parade will be Thursday evening stepping off at 6 p.m. down north Main Street and rounding onto National Avenue. Malaki Schmidt is grand marshal of the parade.

Parks said Schmidt is licensed to inspect the steam engines.

“A lot of safety comes into play for the show. Everything must pass inspection,” she said.

Committee member since 2009, Jim Kemmerer also exhibits his family’s corn sheller at the show. He most looks forward to “family, friends, and customers coming to see the event and this will be the last time the Kemmerer corn sheller may be in KS. It will go on loan to the WCTA (Will County Threshermens Association) of Will County, IL. It's the county that the sheller was born and used in.”

The organization does have a swap meet in the spring and committee members say that will continue.

“We are hoping to expand the swap meet and have some of the equipment on display,” Parks said. “People can still see the steam engine. It’s very impressive. We might continue the quilt show too.”

Activities are scheduled all weekend long, including demonstrations, entertainment, quilt show and a Sunday morning worship service. For the full schedule and additional information visit www.pioneerharvestfiesta.com.