Steam-O-Rama offers a glimpse into the technology of yesteryear

The Ozarks Steam Engine Association held their 58th annual Steam-O-Rama from Thursday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 15. The event featured old steam engines, antique and vintage gas powered motors, vehicles and equipment, tractor pulls and much more.
During the festival, skilled machine operators demonstrated how many manual tasks, including baling hay, harvesting cane, threshing, cane pressing and sorghum cooking, and sawing lumber were performed by early 20th century machinery.
Brothers Patrick and Brian Field, with the help of Dana Erickson and others, demonstrated the use of a John Deere Junior Stationary Hay Press during the festival. The hay press was powered by a tractor engine, which was connected to the hay press with a mechanical belt. The motor turned the belt, which then turned the machinery of the hay press. A mechanical arm would press loose hay, fed into the press by workers, into square bales. The bales would then be tied manually by workers on the other end.
Erickson said hay bales were developed as a way to move hay more efficiently.
“They (at one time) hauled loose hay into cities, like New York City,” Erickson said. “As the population of New York City grew, they couldn’t haul enough loose hay in to supply the animals that they used for everything, so they started these hay presses so they could haul it in on boxcars more efficiently.” Erickson estimated that workers using the hay press could make about 100 bales per day, whereas modern balers can make 1,500 bales per day.
Patrick Field said the press, built in 1942, was designed with female workers in mind.
“It makes a little bit smaller bale than the standard one,” he said, “because during WWII, the women were doing the farm work, so this makes a little bit smaller bale so the women could handle it.”
Not only could spectators see the old steam engines at work, they could also see domestic machines, powered by gas motors, which performed several domestic tasks before electric motors were widely used. Charley Richardson, for example, had a washing machine with a gas-powered motor which he rebuilt. The motor would agitate laundry in a tub filled with hot and soapy water; when the laundry was clean, it would be put through a wringer which was also operated by the motor. The laundry would then be rinsed in a tub of clear water, and then put back through the wringer a second time before being hung out to dry.
Another gas-powered device was a garden plow which local resident Chad Hopper put on display. Built in the 1950s, the garden plow was refitted by his grandfather. Hopper himself built a seat attachment which allows the operator to ride on the plow while using it to break soil on a garden.
Cathy Haralson came to Steam-O-Rama with her sons, Tyler and Mason. She said it not only gave her a chance to spend quality time with her son, but also reminded her of some pleasant memories.
“I just like the old equipment (like) that I’d see … on my grandpa’s farm,” she said.
Rosanna Miller, of Washburn, came to the festival with her husband, Ben and her children, Sage and Otto. She said the event was a natural draw for them.
“We’re big Farmall fans, so (we enjoy) coming out, seeing the old tractors, watching the old folks drive them around, kind of reliving their farm life, and seeing history,” she said.
The festival featured two tractor pulls; the Classic Tractor Pull on Friday, Sept. 13 and the Antique Tractor Pull on Saturday, Sept. 14. The Classic Tractor Pull featured tractors built in 1957 or older, while the Antique Tractor Pull was for tractors built in 1938 or older.
Josh McCauley entered his 1957 John Deere 730 Diesel tractor into the Classic Tractor Pull. Unlike many of the entries, his tractor was actually in the same condition it was when it came out of the factory.
“It’s not something I do for competition,” he said. “I just do it for fun.”
John Kabraun entered his John Deere 830 Gunner Diesel Tractor into the Classic Tractor Pull.
“I guess I’ve been pulling since I was 19, and I’m 68 now,” he said when asked why he entered the tractor pull. “It’s just in my blood.”
Steam-O-Rama is held by the Ozarks Steam Engine Association 10 days after Labor Day every year.