Steiger fans unite: Biggest gathering of Steiger tractors and enthusiasts planned for WMSTR

The Steiger Heritage Club has a goal of making this year’s featured tractor, Steiger, the premier feature that the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion has ever seen. They have a chance to make that a reality when WMSTR returns this year Sept. 4-7, in Rollag, Minnesota. ADVERTISEMENT The club’s president, MaJeana L. Hallstrom, has a stake in making that claim come true as the daughter of Doug Steiger, one of the founders of the Steiger tractor. To the best of Hallstrom’s knowledge, this is the first time a Steiger event of this size has come together. It’s also the first time that Steiger has been featured at WMSTR, and Steiger is the youngest tractor to be featured at WMSTR. Steiger tractors got their start in 1958 when Maurice and Douglass Steiger, along with their father, John, built their first Steiger tractor in a barn converted to a shop. It’s that “born in a barn” ingenuity that helped Steiger find a permanent place at WMSTR in the Mark Yaggie Steiger Heritage Hall in 2019. It’s in that hall, which is a replica of the barn where those Steigers were first built, that some of the original Steiger tractors and their story will be found during this year’s event. At least 50 Steiger tractors are expected to come from across the region, including Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Those who want to see and touch these tractors won’t find a better place to do it. All barn-built models will be on display aside from a couple of early prototypes. "We have been working to have at least one of each of the models made over the years," Hallstrom said. A secondary exhibit at the WMSTR Expo Building will feature memorabilia, posters and apparel. "We will have people inside the barn, some that know the barn history, and a lot more that know the Steiger, you know, Fargo-based Steiger history. And so we have a lot of former Steiger factory employees that will be there answering questions, and we're going to have them at, not only at the barn, we will also have them at WMSTR's Expo Building," Hallstrom said. ADVERTISEMENT And if you want to learn from those who have had a hand in the past, present and future of the tractors, she said you are not likely to find a better gathering of minds either. Past staff of Steiger and — “Lord willing” — 93-year-old Doug Steiger himself will be present at the event. The Steiger Heritage Club got together in 2021 and was federally chartered in 2022 with a mission to share and preserve Steiger tractor history. Aside from the big historical displays at Rollag, a banquet takes place off the WMSTR grounds on Friday, Sept. 4 at Highland Hideaway Event Center in Hawley, Minnesota. That is another opportunity to get together with Steiger greats and others in the tractor world looking to share their unique work in preserving history. That venue has about 185 guests expected, with registration open through Aug. 31. That catered event includes talks by Howard Dahl, president of Amity Technology; Murray McIntyre, who helped shape Steiger tractor on its move to Fargo; and Lee Klancher, author of many historic tractor books. Klancher has a new book on the press right now and Dahl has a book of his own about historic figures in the tractor business that tractor enthusiasts may want to get their hands on. More on those books will be revealed at this event off the show grounds. For those interested in hearing from those most closely involved in the Steiger heritage, there’s not likely a gathering like this to come again. “There are a couple of guys that probably won't be around for another one like this," Hallstrom said of the group of figures that helped to shape this tractor company into what it is today. ADVERTISEMENT With WMSTR and the Steiger Heritage Club joining forces to share Steiger history there are several opportunities to take it all in. Friday, Sept. 4 Steiger Heritage Club hosted event at 6 p.m. at the Highland Hideaway north of Rollag. The evening includes a short Steiger Heritage Club meeting, banquet, speakers, special guests, door prizes and a silent auction. Tickets must be purchased by Aug. 31 on the Steiger Heritage Club online portal. Parades Sept. 4-7 - Friday, Saturday, Monday: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Sunday: 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tractor Pulls Sept. 5 and 6 - Saturday: 6 p.m. - Sunday: 1 p.m. - WMSTR sled weights: approximately 26,000–37,000 lbs. More information at steigerheritageclub.com/events/wmstr/ or contact info@steigerheritageclub.com.