Firefighters, specialized equipment from St. Clair, local industry help put out ethanol plant fire in Chatham
Full steam ahead at the Western Ontario Steam Threshers’ show
August 9, 2026
Blake Ellis/The Independent
Rain threatened the fun Saturday, but it was full steam head at the Western Ontario Steam Threshers 69th annual show over the weekend.
Saturday morning rain threatened to spoil the evening tractor pull, but after a hour delay, the pull went ahead. The weather was beautiful Sunday drawing hundreds to the Forest Fairgrounds.
The Parade of Power at the annual Western Ontario Steam Threshers event held at the Forest Fairgrounds had several local entries.
Among the entries Sunday was a 1975 Cockstutt owned by Eric Jackson of Wyoming. The tractor is a front wheel drive with a front wheel assist. This is a rare tractor as only 35 were ever made like this. They were sold new out of Salem, Ontario. Ryan Jackson with Eric Jackson riding on the fender drove the tractor.
David McLean drove a 1949 Massey Harris Pony in honour of Grandfather Earl Moloy who owned a Massey Harris dealership in Forest.
Later in the afternoon on Sunday, Blair Turk of Corunna was in the lawn mower division of the tractor pull. He pulled 272 feet. Elise Anderson of Dresden also pulled 254 feet.
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