By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Get plenty of sleep and be well-rested for two days of fun this weekend at the Santa Fe Trail Center Museum in Larned. The 23rd Annual Tired Iron Show returns on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14-15. Museum Director Seth McFarland said it's a way to highlight antique farming equipment and something the whole family can enjoy.
"We've got food trucks, we've got arts and crafts and collectibles," he said. "We've got a number of pieces of equipment, including two steam engines. We've got an active sawmill, a flour mill, wheat thresher, then we also do an anvil shoot multiple times of the day."
Fun begins at 9 a.m. with a peddler's market at the museum just west of the Fort Larned National Historic site. Day one will feature a steam traction engine plowing demonstration at 1:30, and a crowd-favorite anvil shooting three times on both days.
"They thought back then that a loud noise would conjure up a storm," McFarland said. "That's what it originally was used for. It was used later to mark celebrations. Before they had common fireworks, they would use something like this to attract attention."
Day two also begins at 9 a.m., and will feature a tractor pull competition at 10 a.m. Admission to the Tired Iron Show is a freewill donation. A full schedule of events can be found on Facebook.