Huron, South Dakota

Thursday, we took two tours, Lankota is a family run business that manufactures meet industry standards in the most efficient and economical manner possible. They have pursued manufacturing perfection with a precise mix of quality, service, delivery, and price. They make stalk stompers for combines mostly John Deere, they help from damaging the tires from getting holes while picking corn, mostly used in the mid west. They also make Red Devil Snow Blowers, three point hitch mount for tractors. Ken had asked the guide girl if she ever heard of Messicks, in Elizabethtown, and she said yes.


Stalk stompers, black bottom part.


Red Devil Snow Blowers

The next tour was through Trussbilt, the company has been a leader in hollow metal manufacturing for more than 85 years and has completed more than 4,000 projects. Their detention doors can be found throughout the US, Canada, Singapore, Cuba, China, Puerto Rico and other international locations. They design and manufacture security products including prison cells, cell doors, wall panels, security ceilings, floors, detention furniture and speciality products.


Prison door


Frames for windows and doorways

Friday, we really didn't do much, put late afternoon, we had a tornado warning. We went to a public restroom and waited it out with quite a few other people and dogs. It got really black and the wind really blew with reported speeds at 85 mph, and the rain was coming down in sheets going sideways. One tree branch came down and smashed in the cap rear window, and we have branches laying all around, some trailers have no electric, put most do have electric, part of town is also out of electric. Our unit, three trailers, where to have a limo ride to the restaurant last night and they canceled because they had no electric, plan to go next week.


Black clouds, storm coming


Barn on fairground with National Guardsmen cars

Saturday, today, some people are still out of electric and they are calling for some of the same weather today.




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Huron, South Dakota

We've been here six days now and have met with some old aquaintances and have met some new people. Huron is known for having the Worlds Largest Pheasant and has 20 murals painted throughout town on buildings, which I haven't taken any pictures of yet.


Over the weekend, on the fairgrounds where we are parked, they also had an Antique Power Show, with old engines, tractors and cars. They also had a flea market, I saw a Gibble's Chip can at one stand, and they also had a parade each day.


Depression Tractor





On Sunday, we had a Father's Day Luncheon downtown and then watched the parade of tractors. On Tuesday, we had worked 4 hours and then off on an early workers tour. JeLuss Manufacturing is a shop parts manufacturer and production of Pipe & Tube Bending Equipment.


Owner and parts they make


Tube Bending Machine

Today, early workers pancake breakfast started and then off we went on another tour. Overbuilt, manufacturer of heavy machinery including Car Crushers and Baler/Loggers.


Two thousand ton press



The car crusher has 159 tons of crushing power and can handle as many as 6 cars at one time.


Car and scrape metal baler, bales into a 2x2x4 foot bales.



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Huron, South Dakota

Sorry, having trouble posting the blog!

Mitchell, South Dakota

We had left Hasting, Nebraska, yesterday morning, Monday, June 10, and headed north towards South Dakota. We arrived about 5pm, and the campground was full, but they let us park in a hotel parking lot overnight next door. When we arrived, there was quite a few Airstreams already parked, and most left this morning. We got parked after we went to a truck wash and washed the truck and trailer.

This afternoon, Tuesday, June 11, we took a drive north to Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop, what a really enjoyable tour. They are motivated by a love of history and a desire to preserve our heritage, they have grown to be the premier builder of authentic horse-drawn vehicles. For over thirty years, their experienced staff of dedicated craftsmen have fashioned a line of superior quality wagons, wheels, and equipment, to suit a wide range of individual budgets and interests. They are working on restoring the Budweiser wagon with heavier wheels and just beefing up the undercarriage.


Working on a Budweiser Wheel


Budweiser Wagon


Making a new couch to replace old one in background.


Coaches in barn, four rows of them.


Making the seat.

We then went to the World's Only Corn Palace. The Palace stands as a majestic, uniquely American, folk art icon on the rolling prairies of South Dakota. The first palace was built in 1892, when the city of Mitchell was just 12 years old. Early settlers displayed their agricultural bounty on the building's exterior to prove the fertility of the soil and to attract immigrant farmers to settle here. Each fall a festival was planned to celebrate agriculture and the productivity of their people. Each year a new decorating theme is chosen and the outside of the palace is stripped and redecorated with new corn and grains. This palace is actually the third Corn Palace in Mitchell, but it's purpose hasn't changed.


Front entrance of Corn Palace.


Changing of the decorations, on the side of building.


New design, made with different colored corn, with grain around edge.

On Wednesday, it was windy and chilly all day, didn't really do much today. We did go to Menards and walk around, nice store, better than Home Depot and Lowe's, just has more stuff in it.

Today, Thursday, June 13, we left and headed north to Huron, SD, arrived at noon got parked and will be here for a little over two weeks, before heading north toward Canada. Today's weather is nicer, not much wind and sunny, temp mid 70's.





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Hastings, Nebraska

We've been here for five days attending a Good Sam Samboree, they really know how to play different games. They have played Bull Toss, Skip Bo, Bean Bag Baseball, Dominoes/Mexican Train, Beanbags, Pinochle, Pegs & Joker, Washer Toss, Cribbage, Horseshoes, and probably some that I missed. They have seminars, crafts, vendors, jam sessions, door prizes every night, coffee and donuts every morning, and dinner every night, and even pancakes one morning. We worked on different puzzles they have out, open trailers that you can tour and purchase, a walk every morning, and even a back seat driving (tractor rodeo).

We had decided to stop here, because we stopped here in 2006 and met some nice people, and have met up with them again. The one lady told me tonight she thought she would never see us again, but we surprised her. We do keep in touch with the one couple but not the other. We've also met a few people from PA, West Chester, Erie, & Bethlehem. They have 218 trailers here, they told us earlier that this is one of the best Samborees' in the nation.

We plan on leaving today, Monday, and head north toward South Dakota. We had said our good-byes to one couple, played cards with the other couple this afternoon, they are leaving tomorrow, also, so we'll see them in the morning.


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We left Jackson Center on Monday and have traveled long days to get to Hastings, Nebraska. We had traveled on an old road just to see the scenery, it ran the same as Route 80 but below it. It's amazing how the scenery changed along the way. We had arrived here in Hasting about 9 pm last night and plan on going into the Good Sam Samboree sometime this morning. It's been raining along the way yesterday and overnight, they say tomorrow will be nicer weather, chilly and dreary today.


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Alumapalooza Four

On Friday morning, they had a products feedback session for women and men, the company what's to know what we like and what we don't, they take the input and use them for further reference, very interesting to see what people really like and dislike. They had awning replacement seminar, another Dutch Oven Cooking, making burrito dish, which was very good, a backup derby to see who could backup the truck and trailer with windows blacked out and mirrors turned in, they just used walkie-talkies to communicate. Happy hour, open grill and music in the evening, put on by a fellow Airstreamers, very good entertainer.


Burrito dish




Backup derby


Josh Rogan, musician

Saturday we had a swap meet, Ken sold some stuff, I didn't sell any doilies, I then went to watch people compete in a rivet competition, watch an Aluminum Chef demo how to cook a different meal in trailer, I also went to a Bloggers Roundtable, and then off to a Sideshow Arts problem, with sword swollers, fire blower, really great show. In the evening we had a catered dinner; ribs, green beans, cole slaw and a cookie, ribs were great. After dinner we had entertainment, Trailer Park Troubadours, really great.


Rivet competition


Sword swallower


Trailer Park Troubadours

It has rained here quite a bit here, we had moved out of the field and onto pavement on Saturday and today, Sunday, we had moved again into the terra port at Airstream for the night. Jackson Center, the town, has been having a town fair this weekend, and this afternoon we had gone downtown to watch a parade and watch a talent show, very entertaining. We plan to pull out tomorrow morning and head toward Nebraska.


Talent show, a guy dressed as a women, very funny

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