Deer Creek Sodbusters Hosts 44th Annual Antique Tractor & Machinery Show

Deer Creek Sodbusters, Inc. will host its 44th Annual Antique Tractor and Machinery Show and Plowing Bee on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the Deer Creek Showgrounds, located at 72927 610 Ave, 4½ miles south of Sterling or 2½ miles north of Highway 136 on 610 Ave (Sterling Road). The event will be held rain or shine. 
This long‑standing Southeast Nebraska tradition offers a full day of family‑friendly activities celebrating the region’s rich agricultural heritage. Gates open at 8:00 a.m., beginning with a flag‑raising ceremony performed by American Legion Post 140 of Sterling, who will also lead the afternoon parade at 1 p.m.
Immediately following the flag ceremony, a nondenominational outdoor church service will begin at approximately 8:15 a.m., and all are welcome.
At 11:30 a.m., guest speaker Jody Lamp will present “A History of Nebraska Agriculture – A Life Worth Living,” a Humanities Nebraska Speakers Bureau program. Lamp’s presentation highlights Nebraska’s agricultural legacy through stories of the people, innovations, and events that shaped the state’s identity as both The Beef State and The Cornhusker State.
Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy hands‑on demonstrations of historic farming equipment, including:
Threshing, corn shelling, corn binding, silage chopping, stationary baler, small grain binding, and horse‑drawn farming equipment. Morning demonstrations run from 9:30 a.m. to noon, with additional sessions from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Plowing demonstrations will follow the parade in the afternoon. In the event of rain or muddy field conditions, plowing demonstrations will be postponed to Sunday, August 30 at 2:00 p.m.
The grounds will also feature antique tractors, hit‑and‑miss engines, antique automobiles and trucks, arts and crafts, a flea market, and a souvenir stand. Concessions will be available all day, and shaded seating areas offer a comfortable place to relax.
Families will find plenty to enjoy, including a children’s playground, barnyard area, and the popular Straw Pile Scavenger Hunt for ages two through pre‑teen. The hunt begins at approximately 1:45 p.m., immediately after the parade.
The Deer Creek Sodbusters’ sawmill will operate throughout the day, demonstrating traditional lumber‑cutting techniques. A blacksmithing area will also be active.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the barn loft museum, featuring antique tools, household items, and small implements, as well as the Rusty Iron Museum, which showcases unique pieces of machinery no longer in operation but rich in historical value.
This year’s featured equipment includes Massey‑Harris tractors and D‑E‑F engines. The highlighted tractor for 2026 is a 1937 Massey‑Harris Challenger, owned by Bill Truscott of Sterling, Nebraska. Regardless of your favorite brand or color of tractor, the Deer Creek Sodbusters club would like to invite you to bring your antique tractors and machinery to the show.
Admission is $10 per person, with children under 12 admitted free. Proceeds support the nonprofit Deer Creek Sodbusters organization to help maintain and improve the showgrounds for future generations.
For details about the show, club history, museum exhibits, or other activities, visit www.deercreeksodbusters.org or follow the club on Facebook at facebook.com/deercreeksodbusters.