The smaller wagon next to the tractor collects the grain after it is run through the threshing machine. The threshing machine separates the grain from the straw, much like today's combine.
Threshing grain required many people and lots of work. One man is pitching bundles into the threshing machine while the other is watching the steam engine.
A team of three horses is pulling a binder to cut the grain and puts it in individual bundles. A man is riding the open binder The second man is gathering the bundles and placing them in shocks to be later thrashed.
The threshing machine is powered by a belt coming from the steam engine. One man is tossing the shocks of grain into the threshing machine. The straw is blown into one pile while the grain is being collected in a wagon.
A man is standing on the back of the steam engine watching and operating the controls to make sure the steam pressure will be high enough to operate the threshing machine, but not so high as to blow up the boiler.
Two men are top of the pile of grain bundles pitching them into the threshing machine. The steam engine is providing power to the threshing machine by the belt.
Several man are working on this threshing crew. Even a young child is standing with a pitch fork in hand. As the day and work progressed, men would take off their coats and hang them on anything convenient.
Aerial view of the Marvin Dorn farm facing west. This farm is at the present day junction of Minnesota Highways 19 and 217. The farm yard is surrounded by trees to act as a windbreak and stop some blowing snow from entering the yard in the winter. Behind the house is the barn and silo and a field of shocked grain, ready for a thrashing crew.
Portrait of Jens Hans and his family. The family are grouped together in the foreground, with some of their personal items incluidng an Edison phonograph. The house and the barns are also visible.
It took many people to thrash grain. Most of the work was done pitch forks. The pile in the rear is the straw blown out from the thrashing machine after the grain has been separated.
Originally this house was built in Ash Lake Township. In 1889, it was moved to Shaokatan Township. Six children were raised in this house. Every one is lined up outside the house with many of the other farm buildings in the background.
A belt is running from the tractor to the threshing machine. Two men are on the stack of bundles pitching the bundles into the threshing machine. The threshing machine separates the grain from the straw. Along side it two horses are hooked up to a wagon. Two women came to bring lunch.
A man has gotten off from the steam engine and is smoking a cigarette for a break. The dog is sitting with his tongue hanging out. This is part of a threshing crew.
The typical farm had a house, barn, and several other buildings for chickens, hogs and grain storage. Several horses and cows are also seen as well as rows of corn starting to grow in the field.