By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

Dave Anderson has brought tractors to Goessel Country Threshing Days for 20 years, but the past two years he has brought something different.

In addition to their two tractors, Anderson and his wife bring a 1909 Marine Band Player that they’ve owned for five years.

“I’m a musician and I also like machines, so this is mechanical music,” he said.

While noticeably different from the other equipment, Anderson felt the player blended with the atmosphere of Threshing Days.

“I didn’t know how it would be received because this is a tractor show, not a music show,” he said. I knew they used to have live music, so I thought it might work. It’s not modern music, it’s old music, so it fits in with the tractor show.”

Most of the wood cabinet and the drums were replaced, but Anderson made an effort to keep the original pipes and some of the trim.

“It’s an exact replica of the original, you’d never know, he said.

When it comes to preserving history, Jack Hobbs has a front row seat.

“That’s what I like about it, but I’m 90 years old,” he said. “When you get to be 90 you look at the world a little differently.”

The Hesston resident has been attending Threshing Days for 30 years, and two years ago became the announcer for the Parade of Power.

Threshing Days celebrations keep getting better as the years go by, Anderson said.

“We know what to expect, but they’ve made some big improvements,” he said. “The generation that took over started these field demonstrations which are excellent because it gets the younger kids involved.”

While he enjoys the festivities’ historical recognition, Hobbs also recognizes the changes and innovations around him.

“There are a lot of new and different things going on,” he said.