The 2024 LIRPF Show will be held on August 16th, 17th, and 18th!
Welcome to Lake Itasca Pioneer Farmers
Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers, Inc., is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and display of historic, rural/logging related Americana for the cultural, educational, entertaining, and heritage-related benefits of the public. Incorporated in 1976, LIRPF has been located by Minnesota’s Itasca State Park since 1990! Our organization holds annual three-day reunion/shows the third three-day weekend in August, hosting them on our 25-acre show grounds, which is located adjacent to the north side of Itasca State Park on Minnesota Hwy. # 200
The LIRPF grounds consists of 84 acres with 40 historic/rustic buildings. The grounds work began in 1988 and most of the lumber used in building construction has been milled and processed on site.
All year long the grounds of have volunteers putting in countless hours to prepare for the 3 day weekend. “Volunteers are not paid not because they are worthless but because they are priceless.” The quote says it all the members and people on the board absolutely love this place. Preserving history and sharing it with other people is something that they find joy in and for a lot of them a way of life. Being able to preserve part of their life and share it with others so they too can continue to share it.
It is like another world down there for many people. A place where you can go back in time, a place to learn about history, where you have no cell phone reception and can enjoy life. For many people it turns into a time where they don’t want to see one day come to an end and are sad, not wanting to leave when the weekend comes to a close. Which has turned into a tradition over the years for many people and families to attend the event every year, drawing more people to the attend the event every year.
Every year the show starts on Friday and runs through Sunday. With daily activites for each day along with activites that are specific to each day of the weekend. The gates of the show open at 7 am each day. Friday includes Supper, County Gospel Show as well as the Pioneer King & Queen Coronation. Saturday starts off with Breakfast at 7am, Kid’s Pedal Tractor pull at 2pm, the Country/Old-Time Music & Supper at 5pm. Sunday begins with Breakfast at 6:30am, Worship Service at 9am, The Tractor Pull which follows the parade and concludes that show for the weekend. Events that are happening on the grounds everyday include: Logging, Threshing, Lumber Sawing, Blacksmiths, Threshing, Broom Making, Seeing the engines and machinery running, Making Birdhouses, The railway is always up and running during the show for people to take a ride on. Everyday at 1pm the parade begins.
The LIRPF grounds consists of 84 acres with 40 historic/rustic buildings. The grounds work began in 1988 and most of the lumber used in building construction has been milled and processed on site.
All year long the grounds of have volunteers putting in countless hours to prepare for the 3 day weekend. “Volunteers are not paid not because they are worthless but because they are priceless.” The quote says it all the members and people on the board absolutely love this place. Preserving history and sharing it with other people is something that they find joy in and for a lot of them a way of life. Being able to preserve part of their life and share it with others so they too can continue to share it.
It is like another world down there for many people. A place where you can go back in time, a place to learn about history, where you have no cell phone reception and can enjoy life. For many people it turns into a time where they don’t want to see one day come to an end and are sad, not wanting to leave when the weekend comes to a close. Which has turned into a tradition over the years for many people and families to attend the event every year, drawing more people to the attend the event every year.
Every year the show starts on Friday and runs through Sunday. With daily activites for each day along with activites that are specific to each day of the weekend. The gates of the show open at 7 am each day. Friday includes Supper, County Gospel Show as well as the Pioneer King & Queen Coronation. Saturday starts off with Breakfast at 7am, Kid’s Pedal Tractor pull at 2pm, the Country/Old-Time Music & Supper at 5pm. Sunday begins with Breakfast at 6:30am, Worship Service at 9am, The Tractor Pull which follows the parade and concludes that show for the weekend. Events that are happening on the grounds everyday include: Logging, Threshing, Lumber Sawing, Blacksmiths, Threshing, Broom Making, Seeing the engines and machinery running, Making Birdhouses, The railway is always up and running during the show for people to take a ride on. Everyday at 1pm the parade begins.
Our First Threshing Show
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At a little town called Bagley, A certain well-known pastor,
Where the Prairie meets the pine; With his "GP" green machine; We had ourselves a threshing show, When he hooked on to pull the skid, Beneath the bright sunshine; Ran out of gasoline! Our efforts were rewarded though, For when the day was done, Eyster, Haney, Trefz and Hoie; We found more than 1,000 folks, Fittje, Madden too; Had come to share the fun! Fischer lent a helping hand, Twenty-five old tractors, And Johnson's not a few! At the "Old Time Tractor Pull," Iverson and Luggar, How they entertained the crowd, Bilden, Chase and Sunderland; The grandstand, it was full!! All contributing their part, Al Johnson and his Advance, To make a show so grand, Well, I think he stole the show; When he paraded 'round the fields, Eastwood was our thresherman, The folks with him did go! Ole Ysen, too; Jerry Torgerson split wood, Jim Abraham sawed lumber, He found no stick too big; With his efficient crew; While Strandlien's natty old Ford Tuck, Martine, Moen and Selzler, Stood by one threshing rig; Made their gas engines go! To have its box filled up with grain; Yes, we really had ourselves a time As it poured out so clean; AT OUR FIRST THRESHING SHOW!! and Willberg's team and wagon, Were beside the other machine! |
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"Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers, Inc., is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and display of historic, rural/logging related Americana for the cultural, educational, entertaining, and heritage-related benefits of the public. Incorporated in 1976, LIRPF has been located by Minnesota's Itasca State Park since 1990."