Rural heritage celebrated in Ridgefield this weekend

Posted

The area’s best celebration of rural heritage, hosted at Alan Schurman’s Iron Ranch in July, is now known as “The Iron Ranch Antique Tractor and Engine Show and Flea Market.” It was formerly known as the Rural Heritage Fair. 

Now in its 24th year, the event has grown even bigger and will include many family-friendly activities for all ages, in addition to the ever-popular antique tractor and engine show, flea market and the massive private collection of Alan Schurman.

Visitors to Schurman’s Iron Ranch will be able to see firsthand what it was like to live in an era before electric power was commonplace in Clark County.  The show portion will feature live demonstrations in a blacksmith’s shop and of antique, steam-powered equipment including tractors, saws and an actual working sawmill relocated from Baker, Oregon.  An assortment of gasoline and steam powered tractors will be on display as well. 

Exhibitors will showcase a large number of working single cylinder engines, powering equipment such as ice cream churns, corn grinders, water pumps, washing machines and many other machines. Schurman will also open for viewing his vast collection of toys, bicycles, cars, engines, tractors, signs, motor scooters, classic bicycles, period kitchen/household items, industrial equipment and thousands of other unique items collected for over 60 years.  

Members of the Fort Vancouver Equipment Association will showcase their collection of steam- and gas-powered farm tractors, “hit and miss” single cylinder engines, antique garden tractors, antique cars, classic cars, farm machinery, fire engines, industrial equipment and many items used in Clark County in the 19th and 20th centuries.



Visitors can find a thing or two at the flea market, that will include vendors selling old tractor parts, tools, antiques, farming memorabilia and a host of other treasures. There is transportation across the farm aside from walking. 

About Iron Ranch

Alan Schurman’s Iron Ranch was featured on the History Channel’s “American Pickers.”  For the past 23 years, Alan Schurman has offered his historic Iron Ranch to host Clark County’s Rural Heritage Fair.  Iron Ranch celebrates the history of agriculture, logging and industrial mechanization in Clark County starting in the late 1800s.  This event has grown to cover 15 acres, several hundred pieces of equipment, and has drawn thousands of visitors from around the Northwest.