International Windmiller's Trade Fair bridges past and future of wind power

"Wind power" is the new buzz phrase when referring to energy. Giant wind generators with their mammoth blades are a hot commodity in alternative methods of power generation. June 3rd through 5th, the beginnings of this new technology will be on display in El Dorado at the 21st Annual Windmiller's Trade Fair.

The Trade Fair will showcase the history of wind power through exhibits, demonstrations by collectors, and a lecture by noted historian T. Lindsay Baker. Baker has written 20 books, many of them related to industrial history and the evolution of technology. He has authored multiple books on the history of wind power. His A Field Guide to American Windmills is considered to be the most comprehensive book on the subject.

Exhibits of rare wood, Kansas made, and steel windmills, as well as rare salesman samples of windmills and farm equipment, and collectible windmill weights will be on display at the trade fair. The "Joker" windmill, made in Peabody, Kansas, the "Kirkwood" windmill, made in Ark City, Kansas, and the "Alta" windmill, made in Wichita will be part of the exhibit.

Kevin Moore from Northern California will give a presentation on the William Isaac Tustin windmill that he researched, built and erected in San Diego. William Isaac Tustin was a pioneer windmill maker on the Pacific Coast who began his experiments with wind power in 1840, and designed this windmill in the mid 1800's. There were no known Tustin windmills when Moore started on this project, which took two years.

Other Trade Fair events include a watercolor workshop taught by windmill enthusiast and coordinator of the Shattuck Windmill Museum in Shattuck, Oklahoma, Phillis Ballew, an agri-tourism tour to Walters' Pumpkin Patch, and a barbeque and tour of the windmill collection at the farm of Joe and Donna Harper of Sedgwick, Kansas.

Approximately 225 attendees are expected at the Trade Fair which will be held at the Butler County Fairgrounds, 206 N. Griffith in El Dorado. The public is invited to view the exhibits between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. The event is sponsored by the Butler County History Center and Kansas Oil Museum, Flint Hills Windmill and Pump Service, and the El Dorado Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For more information or for registration forms visit www.internationalwindmilltradefair.org