The 44th Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, September 2-6,1993, was
quite the accomplishment. Despite two days of rain, the event was
pulled off with tremendous efforts by the staff and volunteers.
‘After the record floods and heavy rains earlier this summer,
we were expecting a tremendous turnout at this year’s
event,’ administrator Lennis Moore said. The crowds were very
good, with a record number of visitors coming in on Saturday. Total
attendance was 55,350, down just a little bit from last year
all-in-all a great turnout.
With 300-plus antique tractors on the grounds, the tractor
enthusiast could look to his or her delight. Besides parading in
the Cavalcade of Power Saturday and Sunday, exhibitors participated
in the antique tractor pull on Saturday morning. Baker fan and the
belt driven dynamometer demonstrations were held daily. One of the
highlights of the event was Dwight Shella-barger’s tractor of
the year, the La Crosse Line Drive. On several occasions we saw
Dwight putting the La Crosse through its paces on the Old Threshers
grounds.
This year’s featured gas engine was the New Way engine (it
goes and goes right!!!). Many New Way engines were displayed. With
nearly 1,000 engines on the grounds, visitors were treated to a
wide variety of demonstrations. Rock crushing, washing machines,
and even powering a mini Ferris-wheel were presentations put on by
the exhibitors.
The gas engine area also boasted two new engines. The first was
a 35 HP Olin, the second a 20 HP Reid. Both were previously used to
operate oil wells and were brought to Midwest Old Threshers through
funding provided by the Old Threshers Foundation. Louis and Barry
Tuller spearheaded the effort to bring the engines to the grounds.
They also coordinated the transportation of the engines from the
East Coast to Mt. Pleasant.
The grand finale of this year’s reunion was the annual horse
pull. What a close one that was!!! One inch separated the first and
second place teams. We appreciate all the pullers that make our
annual horse pull one of the most exciting events at our
reunion.
This year also marked the opening of a new exhibit at Midwest
Old Threshers. The Peterson Implement Exhibit is designed to show
visitors what an implement dealership would look like in any small
Midwestern town around 1939. It will be the introduction display to
the ‘American Farm Implement Exhibit’ which is scheduled to
be completed by 1995.
Campground volunteers are the friendly people you meet at the
Old Threshers Reunion. The volunteers, headed up by Director Bob
Woodall, pitched in and helped get Museum B ready for this
year’s reunion. It took just a half-hour for forty-five
volunteers to sweep out the Museum, which is, we think, a record!
Congratulations to Campground Director Bob Woodall, because at this
year’s reunion his daughter Bonnie was married to Steve Vogler
on Sunday afternoon in the Pleasant Hill Church, which is of course
located in the campground. Our best wishes to the bride and
groom.
Other things that went extremely well during this year’s
reunion were the food booths. If you went away hungry, you must not
have looked too hard to find something to eat. Everyone enjoyed
themselves and had looks of contentment as they left the food
tents. Thanks to Dave Timmerman, Director of Food Operations. Yes,
he gets the fun job of keeping all those tents organized.
Crafters were thrilled with the event as well, and more than
once the phrase was heard, ‘We’ll be back next
year.’
The many buildings of crafts were some of the reunion’s high
traffic areas all five days. Rain or shine, the crafters’
booths were jumping. Special kudos to arts and crafts coordinators
Judy Collora and Harrison Moore, for hours of dedication throughout
the year.
This year’s reunion was a great success, and our heartfelt
thanks go to the volunteers who made it happen. Without their help
and dedication, there would not be a Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.
We are excited about the good fortune of this year’s reunion
and hope that next year you and your family will come and join our
celebration of the great agricultural heritage that we all share
and Midwest Old Threshers strives to preserve.
