In 2008, we celebrated our 52nd Annual Rock River Thresheree Reunion Friday, August 29th, through Monday, September 1st (Labor Day). On Saturday, August 30th, we set two world records, one for most steam-powered separators threshing at one time (30), and the second for most gas-powered separators threshing at one time (30).

Rosie the Riveter (portrayed by Cheyrl Ryan) was on-hand in our Rock River Machine Works while our Fulton Town Hall displayed the catalog collection of the Wade Bros.

Barb Henningsen was our Reunion Queen (shown at right with her escort, Ken Henningsen). Our 2008 Souvenir Album was dedicated to Don Lux and Edward "Red" Nelson. This was the first year we had a full-color album.

Kind corporate donor:

2008 Souvenir Album Index:

• Front Cover - Henry & Judith Gilbertson's 1914 20-70 Nichols & Shepard steam traction engine No. 13768, restored by Emmet Schultz; photo by Jamie Young
• Inside Front Cover - Welcome from Rock River Thresheree, Inc. - [photos] Board of Directors - Paul R. Anderson - Cal Bader - Glenda Beggs - Charlie Hendrickson - Jim Homann - Bob Langer - Todd Ligman - T. J. Pelletter - Ed Riese - Terry Welch - [photos] Officers - Mary Langer - Wava Jean Nelson

• Page 3 - [photo of Jim Blank, Jr. and Harry "Marty" Studebaker] Welcome letter from President Jim Blank, Jr. - Welcome letter from Vice President Harry "Marty" Studebaker - cover photo information
• Page 4 - Tribute to Don Lux, Edward "Red" Nelson and Go-To Crew of members and non-members - [photos] Don Lux - Edward "Red" Nelson - historical tidbit
• Page 5 - Thresheree Queens - [photo] 2008 Barb Henningsen - [photo] 2007 Mary Shepard - [2 photos] Rock River Cannonball - [photo of Cannonball conductor] - [photo of Charlie Hendrickson] - historical tidbit
• Page 6 - [image of 2008 Feature logo] - [article about the Wade Brothers] - [photos] Wade N&S from RRT's 1961 souvenir album - Howard and Dorothy Wade at RRT's 1993 Reunion - [letter] Thank you from the Wade Family - historical tidbit
• Page 7 - [8 photos of preparing the Wade Bros. Collection for the show] Wade's steam traction engines lined up in field - pulling the tractor convoy - Ron Wade with one of his Caterpillars - Harry "Marty" Studebaker cutting a tractor out of the trees - Barry Beggs "discovers" one of the Wade's Red River Special separators - Wade's big Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. 35-70 - Janet Freeman painting the letters & numbers on a Nichols & Shepard - two gas tractors and two Rumely OilPulls - [article] list of Wade Bros. Collection at the 2008 Reunion - historical tidbit
• Page 8 - [6 photos of the Threshing Event in 2006] - historical tidbit
• Page 9 - [16 photos of preparations for the 2008 Threshing Event] - historical tidbit
• Page 10 - [article] Into the Thrasher (excerpt from Herbert Quick's novel, The Hawkeye) - historical tidbit
• Page 11 - [article continued] Into the Thrasher - [2 lithographs of separators]
• Page 12 - [4 photos from Parade of Power 2007] Rory Esch, parade announcer - Scott Somerville & son on their 1917 28hp Minneapolis steam traction engine with passenger Peter Burno - International 8-16 kerosene tractor - Dave Clancy on his case pulling a half-track implement - historical tidbit
• Page 13 - [7 photos from Parade of Power 2007] Rumely OilPull owned by Howard Palmer of Clinton, WI - Scott Stamstad's 1915 Case tractor - Don Selmer's 1910 IHC 15hp Type A tractor - John Mullarkey on his Case steam traction engine - Dan Rynes on his Case 300 tractor - Dick Kuhlow on his tractor - Joel Albright on his home-made steam Doodlebug - historical tidbit
• Page 14 - [6 photos from Parade of Power 2007] Scott Stamstad's 1919 25-50 Aultman-Taylor tractor - Fordson Trackson tractor - Ennis Kottke's 1969 Gilson Ward Squire 12 Garden Mark riding lawnmower - Internation TD9 Diesel track tractor - 2 garden tractors - Blaine Stewart's classic Ford farm truck with Ford tractor on bed - historical tidbit
• Page 15 - [5 photos from Parade of Power 2007] Mike Rynerson's 1951 Massey-Harris 44 tractor - Matt Graves' 1941 Case SC tractor - Tiffany Masseur's 1941 John Deere B tractor - Ed Schott's 1916 Rumely OilPull 15-30 F tractor - scale steam engine with two wagons - historical tidbit
• Page 16-17 - [panoramic photos by Jamie Young] Threshing Scene 2008: (left to right) Vice President Harry "Marty" Studebaker on a Red River Special separator; President Jim Blank on a grain wagon; David Dean on a classic Farmall; Henry & Randy Gilbertson in front of Henry's Nichols & Shepard steam traction engine (same as on front cover) - Rock River Thresheree Members 2007
• Pages 18 - [photo] Henry, Randy & Don Gilbertson with Henry's Nichols & Shepard (same as front cover) - [6 photos of last year's feature, International Harvester] Sea of red "noses" and silver stacks - Eric Welch on his 1939 Farmall F-14 - Daylan Doerfer's 1946 Farmall M and separator - Doug & Brett Walt's 1950 Farmall Cub - Jim Milligan on his 1976 IH Hydro 70 Hi-Crop - Van Merchant on his 1942 McCormick O-4 orchard tractor - historical tidbit
• Page 19 - Upcoming events at Threshermen's Park - Upcoming RRT events around the area - historical tidbit
• Page 20 - [photo from interior of Glenn Beedy Museum of Agriculture & Industry] - historical tidbit
• Page 21 - [photos of Youth Activities] Boy sorting wood - boy in pedal pull - girl riding pony - boy making rope with Phil Blanchard - girl carving wooden handle - 2 kids in "drag" race - kids watching blacksmith - historical tidbit
• Page 22 - Attractions - [3 photos] Car Show - [2 photos ] Glenn Beedy Museum of Agriculture & Industry engines - [photo] Bill Nicholson with his model engines - [photo] John Deere wrench display in Flea Market - [photo] Thresheree Booth [photo] Harry Schell sawmill - historical tidbit
• Page 23 - Crops & Field Work - [photos] Plowing with a team of 4 horses - pitching bales - Mark Burdick in the Sorghum Mill - stripping sorghum - harvesting sorghum - historical tidbit
• Page 24 - [8 photos] From the Archives - historical tidbit
• Page 25 - [photo] From the Archvies - historical tidbit
• Page 26 - The Lighter Side - [10 photos] Cole Studebaker glowering - Dick Kuhlow & ? leaning on pitchforks - bib overalls - people covering their ears by the calliope - rare Rumely OilPull Model GC ("golf cart") - weird load (our Sears house) - Bob Langer handing out treats to Marian Anderson, G.G. Kuhlow and Dick Kuhlow - boy riding in Case steam engine coal box - ? and Guy Fay - musicians and dancers - historical tidbit
• Page 27 - Our members (membership list) - historical tidbit
• Page 28 - (membership list continued) - [classic advertisement] Port Huron Rusher Saw Mill - historical tidbit
• Page 29 - [photo] Wheat in field - [list] friends who have left us this year - [list] deceased members - [poem] The Old Thresher's Reunion - historical tidbit
• Page 30 - [photos] Pile Driver in 1961 - Pile Driver in 2008 - [credits to photographers]
• Inside back cover - [advertisement] Terry Printing Services
• Back Cover - Thank you to contributors

Advertisements from 2008:

At left is our 8.5x11" poster; center is our 3.6x8.5 double-sided handbill; at right is our newspaper advertisement.