The 16th annual Stump Lake Village Threshing Bee, Sept. 4-5 at the entrance of Stump Lake Park, located 10 miles south of Lakota. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and free for kids under 6. There is an additional charge for meals.
Activities scheduled for both days include a Thresherman's Breakfast from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., an all-day craft show, a Giant Parade at 2 p.m. There will be grain threshing, free white mule team rides, old-time demonstrations, sawmill and blacksmith demonstrations and tours of the village. Also, the Village Gift Shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and there will be food vendors and live music, listed below.
Activities set for Sept. 4 include church service at 8 a.m., kids' games at 12:30 p.m., a Slow Tractor Race at 3 p.m. and Kids' Pedal Tractor Pull at 3:30 p.m., with registration for that opening at 2:30 p.m. Activities set for Sept. 5 include an Antique Hat Show at 1:30 p.m., the Stump Lake Tractor Club-Tractor Pull at 3 p.m., with Weigh-in from 10 a.m. to noon, and prizes for the top three, and the Kids' Money Scramble at 3:30 p.m.
Article Photos
Submitted Photo - - The Dakota Keys Accordion Club is one of the groups scheduled to perform at the 16th annual Stump Lake Threshing Bee Sept. 4-5 in Stump Lake Park.
The event is hosted by the Nelson County Historical Society. For more information, log on at (www.stumplakepark.com).
Live music
Among the groups scheduled to perform Sept. 4 in the Old Main Street USA building are The Country Cousins at 10 a.m., Amy Redding & Family at noon, and The Dakota Keys Accordion Club at 3 p.m. Live music planned there for Sept. 5 include The Diers family at 10 a.m., the High Plains Trio at noon, and the Pecka Band at 3 p.m.
Country Cousins musicians Gary and Gordie Grad started playing instruments when they were quite young. They were asked to play on their aunt's 90th birthday. Since then the band added three singers.
Gary Grad is from Devils Lake and plays guitar. Gordie Grad is from Martin and plays the keyboard. Mike Schmidt is from Devils Lake and sings lead. Mary Ann Rheault is from Rugby and is vocalist and plays harmonica. Marlene Grad is from Harvey and is also a vocalist.
The Dakota Keys Accordion Club was organized by two of its present members a dozen years ago. The primary emphasis of the group is to try to preserve the "old time music of yesterday" as it was played at the many Germans from Russia social events beginning in the 1920s.
The accordion was the instrument of choice because it was easy to transport and could be used as a lead instrument or could be accompanied with other instru- ments like percussion, piano and guitar.
The Dakota Keys Accordion Club presents eight accordion players plus a "honky tonk" piano queen. The primary purpose of the program is to replicate those songs that were played at social events. They include waltzes, polkas and the popular two-step.
The performers are Bernie and Jan Stein, Vern Cermak, Jim and Emanuel Geiger, Bob Dulia, Bill Mastel and Harvey Schilling on the accordions and Diane Schilling on the piano.
Each of the players has belonged -- and some still belong -- to local dance bands. If they were to combine the total number of years that each of the players brings to the club, they have more than 300 years of playing experience. The master of ceremonies brings in some local humor and history of great songs. They hope to bring back memories and enjoyment for all who attend the program.
The Diers are a Grand Forks-based family trio consisting of Mark Diers, guitar and vocalist along with his two daughters, Kathy Diers, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and vocalist and Hannah Diers, guitar and lead vocalist. They play a range of music that encompasses country, bluegrass, classic rock, folk, blues and jazz.
The Diers started out playing local coffee houses and have expanded into fairs, festivals and community events throughout North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Some past performances have included the Medora Musical, the North Dakota State Fair, Jamestown's 125th anniversary celebration, Grand Forks County Fair, Grand Forks First Night, Pekin Soundfest and Pekin Days Art Show.