Georgian Bay Steam Show

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The Georgian Bay Steam Show is celebrating 60 years and many have made their way to Cookstown this long weekend to take in the action.

Tractor pulls will be the main event Sunday night with lots to do during the day.

“it’s a combination of antique power with the agricultural twist to it, with the farming equipment,” said James Few, president of the Georgian Bay Steam Show.

He added there is plenty for children to come and see as well including face painting.

“We have heavy horse pulls, garden tractor pulls, we have, talent contest, vendors, everything you could ever want to see,” said Few.

Stationary steam engines are back on the grounds after 20 years.

“Most of these steam engines here were built in Canada, and we’ll run different implements back in the early turn of the century,” said Few.

Andrew Webb grew up in Cookstown and owns a 1918, 25 horsepower Waterloo Steam Traction Engine, he said the machine is also a favourite at steam shows across the province. It was built by the Waterloo Manufacturing Company in Waterloo Ontario, and it was originally sold in Portage Prairie, Manitoba as a plowing engine out there,” said Webb. “And it came back to Ontario in 1932 and did all kinds of various jobs around the province.”

He credits the Georgian Steam Show for his passion in the industry.

“if it wasn’t for this show when I was probably 13 or 14, I probably wouldn’t be into the hobby as deep as I am today,” said Webb.

With Few adding its important to remember the agriculture history.

“This is where everything started and this is where we built, this is where this we became a country because we could expand the land and be able to farm it and bring it up and move it and advance ourselves as a society,” said Few. “And that’s why this is important, to go back to our heritage.”