Froelich Fall-der-All takes visitors back in time Sept. 28-29
Old time-demonstrations, hit and miss engines and, of course, tractors will highlight the annual Froelich Fall-der-All, held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29. (Times-Register file photo)
By Audrey Posten
Take a step back in time at the annual Froelich Fall-der-All. This year’s event will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Froelich Tractor and 1890s Village Museum four miles east of Monona.
Froelich is the site where John Froelich invented the first gasoline powered tractor able to propel itself both forward and backward in 1892. The tractor led to the Waterloo Boy tractors and was the forerunner to the John Deere tractors of 1918.
So it’s only fitting that Fall-der-All weekend will kick off with a tractor ride. Sign up will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, and the ride will leave Froelich at 9:30 a.m. For the third year, a UTV ride is planned too.
Froelich Foundation Executive Director Denise Schutte noted the rides will take separate routes due to the speed difference. Both will meet back at Froelich at 12:30 p.m.
Organizer Blake Rochleau encourages more people to join the UTV ride.
“The Froelich ride is pretty low key. There’s no charge,” he said. “We go north from Froelich on the back roads of Clayton and Allamakee counties. It’s a three-hour ride, and we stop at two different spots to visit and stretch our legs.” The goal, added Rochleau, “is to get people to Froelich and see what it’s about.”
Throughout Saturday and Sunday, visitors can enjoy a variety of old-time demonstrations, including blacksmithing, rope making, cider pressing apples and wool spinning. Threshing displays are planned for both days, around 1 p.m. Tractors will be on display throughout the weekend too, especially on Saturday.
Keith Kerr’s mini steam engine and baler, now operated by his family, will be at Fall-der-All along with hit and miss engines. The Monona Wood Carvers will share their craft, and visitors can also learn about bee keeping and honey, then soak up train history in the Froelich Depot. Farmers market goods will be available as well.
Kids can ride in Jim Cowell’s mini semis and enjoy barrel rides. Sunday at 12:30 p.m. is the non-sanctioned kids pedal pull.
“This year,” said Schutte, “we’re going to have a bouncy house in addition to the corn dig and kids games. It’s free as part of coming to Fall-der-All. There’s no fee to come, period.”
Fall-der-All attendees can also take self-guided tours of Froelich. The 1890s village includes a one-room schoolhouse, depot, 1891 general store and post office, Froelich tractor replicas and educational DVD, freight warehouse, blacksmith shop, 1903 barn and Cowell semi building.
Tasty food is planned both days, with pork loin and turkey dressing sandwiches, hot dogs, beans, chips, homemade pie and ice cream on Saturday and Breakfast in the Barn on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. That meal includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, applesauce and a beverage.
Fall-der-All wraps up with a big raffle drawing at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
“Bodensteiner’s always donates a kid’s pedal tractor. That’s very popular,” Schutte said. “There are also cash prizes and many prizes donated by local businesses. You don’t have to be present to win.”
Schutte assures Fall-der-All will be a fun weekend for both new visitors and those who’ve attended previously.
“It’s an opportunity to step back in time and enjoy these demonstrations from days gone by,” she said.
Find a full schedule of events at froelichtractor.com.
