Earlier this week, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said he was impressed with the Schuylkill County Fair because of its emphasis on farming.

There’s more than livestock and other 4-H displays to justify Redding’s assessment. One of the first things visitors notice on the grounds of the fair is a sign directing them to a farm museum.

The museum is filled with tractors, antique farm equipment, old wringer washing machines, antique toys and all sorts of interesting items of yore.

Fair Director Paul Moyer enjoys the museum. He’s especially proud of a 40 horsepower Bessemer, a 14,000-pound stationary gas engine.

The engine, as large as a train caboose, was obtained from a rolling mill in Fryburg. Moyer recalled how he physically helped to have the engine transported to the fair from the mill.

He goes into detail about how the building housing the machine had been built around it, and it had to be pulled a distance before it could be lifted onto a truck.

Also in the museum is a flour separator that was salvaged from the same building as the gas engine.

“We worked very hard to get them here,” he said.

“We’re really proud that we were able to save them.”

Another feature in the museum is an authentic Conestoga wagon.

The dirt lane in front of the museum is lined with antique tractors. Some of those tractors likely will be involved in an antique tractor pull at 10 a.m. Saturday at the fair.

Highlighting the fair today is the appearance of Elvis tribute artist Shawn Klush. He will be performing on the main stage at 7 and 9 p.m.

It’s a busy weekend set for the fair.

On Friday, country star Joe Diffie will be entertaining at 9 p.m. He will be preceded by another country performer, Chad Reinert, at 7 p.m.

Diffie has had numerous number-charted country hits including “John Deere Green,” “Prop Me up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)” and “Third Rock from the Sun.”

Also Friday, there will be a threshing demonstration at 6 p.m., a “Frenzy at the Fair” wrestling tournament at 7 p.m., and an adult hay bale toss at 7 p.m.

Saturday, there is more great music scheduled with the group Jay and the Americans set to perform at 9 p.m. Hits by Jay and the Americans include “Come a Little Bit Closer,” “She Cried” and “This Magic Moment.”

Before Jay and the Americans, the Jesse Wade Trio will be performing at 7 p.m. on Saturday.