10th Annual AgRail Festival draws nearly 3000 happy visitors

After a slow damp start due to the rain lasting all of Saturday morning 688 people braved the cooler temperatures and wet grounds in the afternoon and came out for a wonder visit. On Sunday with the warmer and dryer weather 2,239 people came out for a great day of music, railroads and tractors.

During the event on Saturday local radio personalities Larry & Don from Nostalgia Theater on KSCJ Talk Radio 1360 AM were once again broadcasting live from the event from 9:00 until 11:00 AM and a new comer to the event, Cowboy Bob from 101.3 FM Y Country Radio was also on hand and broadcast his show live from the museum complex from 10:00 am until 1:00 PM. Many local country and bluegrass bands performed live all weekend at the Car Shops Stage filling the air with wonderful music for all to enjoy.

Golf carts and a hay rack ride were used to provide transportation around the 31 acre complex for visitors and a staff of over 30 volunteers eagerly greeted and treated all of our guests. Hundreds of families enjoyed the leisurely 10 minute ride on the motor car experiencing the “feel” of the track that only railroad Maintenance of Way (track workers) get to experience as they travel the rails to their work-sites. Some riders were even treated to a race with a hand car as our Hobo actors were having a tough time trying to get a ride to Omaha.

The muddy conditions caused by the rain forced the cancellation of the tractor parade on Saturday, but with dry sunny conditions on Sunday even more tractors showed up and a great tractor parade was enjoyed by all. Along with a full scale antique tractor pull a favorite event for the kids was the scaled down pedal tractor pull event which had many young competitors battling for ribbons and ice cream bar prizes.

Thank you to everyone that came out we truly enjoyed having you out for a visit!

The 10th Annual AGRAIL Festival is this weekend Aug 18th & 19th

Call your friends and family and make your plans for the 10th Annual AGRAIL Festival happening this weekend August 18 & 19 from 10:00 am till 4:00 pm both days. This annual festival celebrates the close relationships between the farmers and the railroads and their interactions to get goods to and from the market. During this special two day event local farmers bring out their antique tractors and threshing machines and put on live demonstrations throughout the day. Each day a tractor parade is held as all the tractors make their rounds throughout the complex prior to their antique tractor pull demonstration. Many other pieces of farm equipment and displays of smaller machines that were state of the art at making life easier will also be on display.

Food vendors will be on hand to satisfy your appetites and live music will be performed throughout the day from our outdoor stage. Pull up a seat under the trees, enjoy a cool breeze and listen to some good old toe tapping, foot stomping country and bluegrass music. A petting zoo and small pony rides will also be available for the youngsters to learn about farm life and the animals of the prairie farms.

Our rail yard characters will be out to entertain you as well. Our Hobo’s always get a laugh and the youngest members of your family will enjoy meeting the Polar Express Conductor, and Mr. Conductor and Sir Topham Hatt from the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends stories.

Turntable demonstrations will be performed throughout the day so you can witness the operation of our 1917 turntable and see a locomotive drive on and get positioned to a different track.

Bring out the whole family. Compare where we were then to what we have now. This is a great way to visit the past and learn about the future. Come to the railroad museum where history gets back on track to the future. We can’t wait to see you!

2012 AgRail Heritage Festival Schedule

Railroad History Presentation (11am and 1pm Saturday Only)
In the Preservation Gallery ~ Roundhouse Bay 1

Motorcar Rides – All Day
Tractor Parade – 1:00pm
Antique Tractor Pull – 2pm
Pedal Tractor Pull – 2pm
Turntable Demonstrations - 11am, 1pm, 3pm
Music – All Day
Food - All Day
Model Trains – All Day

Antique Farming Demonstrations West Field
(threshing, plowing, shelling)