Smith family hobby still going strong

(Matt Smith of Bloomington operates his steam engine Thursday in Pontiac)

One particular engine displayed at the Threshermen’s Reunion has been at the show almost every year since 1954.

Matt Smith of Bloomington, who grew up in Gridley, was operating his half scale steam traction engine Thursday morning which was built by his grandfather in 1954.

“We primarily just come to the Threshermen’s Reunion and this engine has been here every since year since 1954 aside from one or two years of restoration and rebuild.”

Smith plans to shell corn this weekend with a half scale model corn grinder that his grandfather also built to go with the engine.

“It has been a family hobby for 70-plus years,” recalled Smith. “I’m the fourth generation then my kids will be learning how to do this.”