By Cindy Ladage

PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. – Marilyn Brickhaus was one of four rope makers hard at work at the American Thresherman Association’s Fall Show on Oct. 15, 2021. Busloads of local school children and preschoolers were arriving to learn all about farming and rope making was just one of the crafts on hand for the children to see.

Not only did they get a chance to see, but they also got a chance to make a bit of rope on one of the machines. Brickhaus learned how to make rope from her father.  “Back in the late 60s, my dad came home with a rope machine, then he brought home a second one. He taught himself then my brother and me.”

Brickhaus said that over the years she has improved her technique. “We are supposed to have 500 kids here today,” she said around noon that Friday.

This festival came about 35 years ago, she explained. “Thirty-five years ago, we decided to have a fall show. We made jump ropes and after several years, Jilbert Helvey asked to help. He joined in and learned how to make them. After six years, David Logsdon on our board, wanted to help, and he joined in.”

So, Brickhaus said that Logsdon joined her and Helvey rope, and soon, Terry Johnson, who already knew how to make rope, also joined the group. “Terry goes to historical events and makes ropes. The three men decided to create an organization, so we are the Heartland Ropemakers Guild. They were making rope during the dark ages,”

She explained that it was an art, a craft, that is why they are a guild. “Now we go to events, historical ones. We have other members too. There is a huge following on Facebook, an international following too. We have 202 members. We not only make rope, but knots too and have some that do artistic work and some metal work as well. Jilbert is our president.”

Besides the rope making, a group was also demonstrating the art of making sorghum. The sorghum was grown on the show grounds and the process was similar to making maple syrup. The sorghum was run through a press that was powered by mules. The sweet sorghum was then cooked down with water in a 10-to-1 ratio.

There was also a huge pile of apples, and the group was making apple cider as well. The general store was open and Annie Jansen, one of the show members, said that the store is one of the ways, along with the Sunday auction, that the club raises funds. The general store was filled with lots of fun fall items from turnips to apples to cider and more.

Visitors could enjoy a buggy ride and see tractors on display as well as enjoy a variety of vendors. There was a neat Baker fan where tractors at the fall show test their rpms.

Kent Jansen, of Jansen Bro’s Garage in Sigel, Ill., brought a variety of corn shellers, and a wagon of corn that he pulled with a Samson tractor. He also had a cool ear corn crib that kids could play in after hearing corn school. In the corn school, Kent showed kernels of corn explaining that the corn that the kids saw in the fields was the same corn that was used in the various products they used every day. Examples of these products were displayed on a picnic table. The kids could then go up and see the products and get an idea of what corn is and how it is used.

Many of the school children also included a stop at the Illinois Rural Heritage Museum, located across the street from the Thresherman grounds. The purpose of the museum is, “Above all, the museum provides an opportunity for non-agricultural raised individuals (town and city folk to us) to experience the changing rural lifestyle from 1850 forward. The museum’s interactive exhibits, displays and videos also provide an important teaching venue for children and young adults.”

Charlie Greer said they have added some new items over the past year. They have a new house showing what life was like at the turn of the century. There was a cool canning display focusing on women and the farm.

There is a lot of farm equipment with several unique pieces. Greer’s 1929 McCormick Farmall Regular, the first tractor his grandpa ever bought, is at the museum. He drove it when he was plowing at 7. “My older brother was 15 and he made a board where I sat,” Greer said, so that he could reach the pedals.

There is also a very rare Avery One man Road Razor that the Greer family owns.  Greer and his wife, Mary, enjoy showing the museum to the kids that come through. For details about the museum, visit https://illinoisruralheritagemuseum.org/

The education day offered a chance for kids of all ages to enjoy a bit of “farm” history and learn about the art of farming. For more information about the American Thresherman Association, see https://www.americanthresherman.com/.