A walk through the showgrounds...

Main Gate
(North Gate)

Here is where the majority of visitors begin their journey into the wonders of the FCT Threshing Show.

Get your wristband and head on in.

​Kids 12 & under are free!

Feature exhibit Lot

Located in the northwest corner of the showgrounds, this open area is reserved for the feature tractors and related equipment each year. A festive sign designates the area and is a prime location for photo ops and your feature tractor or implement.

Women's Activity building

This recently constructed structure contains displays oriented towards women’s traditional role in agriculture- managing the the family, home, and farmstead.

Sue Carlson of Mannanah had taken a the lead on presenting a working rug loom, helping to bring the display building alive!

Tobacco Grower's Shed

Probably the most significant display of growing tobacco in Minnesota and the upper Midwest, this display shows how tobacco was grown and raised in Meeker County.

What started as a 4-H research project for Laura (Shoutz) Niece in 2014, has grown into one of the most popular displays on our grounds. Dan Ruprecht of Eden Valley presents the rich history of tobacco growing in Meeker County. As a member of a tobacco growing family, Dan brings a plethora of knowledge and passion to this ever-growing display. 

​From planting to harvest, displaying planters to spearing machines, to baling and the final shipping- no other display in the Upper Midwest tells the story of tobacco like this unique exhibition.

Vinar Toy display

​The white garage next to Tobacco Shed holds a display of farm toys and farm structures built by Duane Vinar Sr.

​A fine example of his craftmanship and dedication to rural life.

Loch Display Building

Dale Loch of Watkins area has assembled a broad montage of ag related artifacts from the northern Meeker County communities Eden Valley and Watkins. Ranging from milk cans to cream separators and numerous mercantile items, it is certainly a display worthy of visiting.

Milkshake Stand

Just north of the hamburger stand, is where you can now find the ever-popular milkshakes! This structure housed the pop stand for many year- which as now been relocated to the burger stand!

Burger Stand

​Fresh hamburgers are served up in a timely fashion for those who are anxious to continue their tour of the show. This is also where you can grab your pop, water, or coffee!

Lindberg Family Shed

Located just south of the hamburger stand, the Matt & Mary Lindberg family has put together a fine display of ag-related items that cover a wide spectrum of the rural economy during the 1920’s through the 1960’s. The ‘Barrel Train’ is also headquartered from this location.

Meeker County patent office

A relatively new display that highlights patents that were granted to Meeker County residents. Steve Becker of Litchfield has documented the majority of patents that were granted in the area and also has on display some of those patented items.

Workshop/Garage

Starting on the west end of the Ideal Building, Dave Jutz has a repair shop showing a variety of old cast iron tools & equipment that would have been used to repair farm equipment in the 30/40’s.

Meeker Couty Lumber Yards

The Lumber Yard Display shows not only who had operated the lumber yards in all of the communities of Meeker County, but also a selection of hand tools utilized by early carpenters. 

​This display is located in the second bay of the Ideal Building.

Meeker County Grain Elevators

A display dedicated to the grain industry of Meeker County. Included are seed corn sacks from seed corn growers of Meeker County, cast iron corn planter lids and grain drill ends, corn graders, and the original scale from the Litchfield Farmers Elevator.

Rick Sandry of Litchfield has created this display and brings his first hand knowledge as he himself worked at a local elevator "back in the day."

Open Face Bay

Used primarily for the display of hog oilers and other ag related items. Additional displays are of milk cans, past FCT annual show posters, and occasional in-progress projects.

This is in the open face bay of the Ideal Building.

Telegraph Office

​Recently constructed by Bob Bohrer of Cosmos, this is the terminal for telephone & telegraph equipment house in the Depot.

Many hours of tedious work has brought together and educational display as well as several fully wired "telephone poles" connecting the office and the Depot with the ability to send messages between the locations. (This comes in handy considering today's cellphone towers provide minimal signal at our grounds!)

Cast Iron Garage

 A new display area as of 2024, the Lysdal Family are working on an exhibit of a variety of cast iron ag-related items such as cast iron seats, cast iron corn planter lids, horse drops, cast iron drill ends long with several engines.

​This a new exhibit and is currently considered "in-progress", but had an impressive first year showing.

Corn Shellers & Jutz Family Display Shed

Dave & Jan Jutz display a wide variety of vintage farm equipment from corn shellers to manure spreaders to feed grinders. A glimpse of old time farming in the 30’s & 40’s.

The hand-crank corn shellers offer a fun hands-on activity for kids and adults alike!

Dairy Museum

Primarily a tribute to the dairy industry as envisioned by the late Milford Smith, this display includes a wide variety of dairy related equipment and collectibles from milking machines to memorable from the many creameries that once were a part of the Meeker County Landscape.

Gas engine intersecton

Although no structure exists, the Busch Family of the Atwater area set up and display their fine gas engine line-up along with their passion for ‘Ford’. A display noted for not just gas engines, but for what they could and did do for early Midwest agriculture.

Sawmill

Maynard Theis & others have been the visionaries of what an old time operational sawmill was like.

​Take some time to watch saw logs being made into usable lumber.

Small Engine Shed

The Mike Arends gas engine display shed is a vivid glimpse in to the wide variety of gas engines that once existed in daily life and how they were used. A must-see display.

Heuer Family Building

The father-son team of Don & Troy Heuer show off a vintage & working display of early ‘May-Tag’ washing machines, corn shellers, Galloway gas engines and a variety of other farmstead equipment. A true picture of farmstead “appliances" in the 1930’ & 40’s.

Tractor & Equipment ​Exhibit Lot

Located just north of the Johnson Curiosity Building and west of the Benson Generator Building, this area is reserved for those who bring their non-feature tractors and equipment to show for all spectators to enjoy.

Sno-Cones & Fry Bread

The Jakobitz Family along with several helpers put together a cheap and quick food stand serving cinnamon-sugar fry bread and several flavors of sno-cones.

​The best sweet treat deal on the grounds!

Benson Engines

Ross Jakobitz of the Hector area was the primary mover of obtaining and moving these huge electrical steam generators. They once powered the City of Benson MN and were relocated to the Forest City Threshers Grounds. Capable of generating enough electrical power for a small city, this display is a must see for those interested in how electrical power is generated.

Ross's son, Jason, has since taken over as the main "engineer" for the display, keeping the lights on for this electrifying display.

There is also free sweet corn provided by the Jakobitz family- cooked with steam power!

Blacksmith shop

​An old time blacksmith shop complete with forge and anvil. This display shows how old time blacksmiths forged & repaired old time horse drawn equipment.

Railroad depot

A portion of the original depot built in Litchfield in 1869/1870, this structure is a reflection of what the original depot would have been prior to 1900. It has a passenger waiting room, the depot agent’s office- which includes a vintage telegraph and telephone system- as well as a freight area.

​The Frank & Rita Berg Family have been the driving force of the reconstruction along with a wide variety of volunteers. As a bonus in the north end of the structure is Richard Dollerschell’s vision of what Forest City would have been if the RR had come through Forest City. Newly added in 2024, is a walking platform around the building and is handicap accessible!

Pulling track

At the “top of the hill” in the middle of the grounds sits the pulling track. The antique and garden tractor pulls are both held on this track, as well as the pedal tractor pull on the tar walkway between the track and west bleachers.

​The track is also equipped with several seating options including bleachers, a few covered areas to bring chairs, and space to set up tents and lawn chairs.

This area is the heart of the grounds- a lot can be been seen from this location!

Pulling track concession Stand/Taco Stand

Located on the west side of the tractor pulling track, delicious tacos in a bag are served up in a quick & timely fashion. Pop and water is also available here.

Beer Garden

Located just between the Cropp Family display building and the tractor pull track is an oasis for those who have a quenchable thirst for ‘Barley’ pop. A must stop for those who have a certain thirst.

Cropp Family Display Shed

Located west of the tractor pull track, ‘Red’ Merle & Betty Cropp show their passion for John Deere equipment and ag-related items in a spacious and airy structure that is dedicated to John Deere equipment and other ag related items. A must for John Deere fans.

Kid's Train Ride

Located just west of the Tractor Pull Track and south of the Cropp Building is a small train engine with cars sized for children. This attraction is provided by the Jakobitz family of the Hector area.

​A treat for the small ones they will long remember.

Threshing Shed

This building is used to store threshing machines and other farm equipment and supplies. Just to the west of this shed are also the windmill and small corn crib.

The windmill is a structure that recalls a bygone era when ‘wind power’ was used to provide water for both livestock and farmsteads. The corncrib is a reminder of what corn yields were in the 1920’s.

The actual threshing machines or separators are really what the threshing show is all about. This demonstrates how small grain was processed from a seed on a strand of straw into a usable grain that could be processed into flour. Corn binders, choppers and shellers are also at work in this general area. This area probably shows the most complete process of grain harvesting that existed in the first half of the twentieth century.