Mid-America Threshing and Antique, Inc. in Tipton is celebrating its 50th birthday with an event August 8-11 at the Tipton County 4-H Fairgrounds.
Mid-America Threshing & Antique, Inc. started in 1975 with 20 people meeting in Bunker Hill. These 20 people each donated $20 to start the tractor club. On April 18, 1975, Mid-America Threshing & Antique, Inc. was officially incorporated. The very first show was held at the Tipton County Fairgrounds on August 8 through 10 in 1975. There was a lot of horse- and mule-drawn equipment, steam engines, tractors and other equipment. There was a horse and mule pull, which was very popular. Today there are very few horses working in the demonstration area, a handful of steam engines, and a lot more tractors. Mid-America Threshing & Antique, Inc. used to cut and bind wheat for the Pioneer Village at the Indiana State Fair. Today the organization still cuts wheat, but uses the wheat for demonstrations at the show.
“My family has been there from the beginning, watching the show progress into what it is today,” said Tiffany Garrison, board member. “My grandpa, Jim Ploughe, and uncle, Terry Ploughe, were both founding members. They were both board members for years, holding various positions. My parents, Tim and Jan Garrison, have held numerous positions, and now my dad and I are board members together. We are now onto the fifth generation on the show with my son, Preston. It is always great to see the ‘tractor show family,’ and just be at the show with people who have the same passion as you.”
The opening ceremonies for the event begin at 9 a.m. on August 8, but this is just the beginning for a weekend full of festivities.
“The event is an agricultural history of farming, and we get a lot of guests who say they really enjoy the program,” Vice President of Mid-America Threshing and Antique, Inc. Tex Nunemacher said. “We have an antique farm machinery show that is very popular. We have machine demonstrations for threshing and wheat, shelling corn, and field demonstrations.” Nunemacher said there will also be demonstrations of large steam engines, garden tractors and other equipment.
“Every year there is a specific focus on a featured brand, and this year that focus is on John Deere,” he said. “All tractors are welcome, but we are really featuring John Deere. Every year we raffle off a tractor. This year our tractor is a 1951 John Deere MT with a mounted plow. You can purchase one ticket for $10 or three tickets for $20. Next year we will be featuring Oliver tractors and equipment.”
Nunemacher said there are also demonstrations for picking corn and grinding corn. There will also be a parts booth with farm equipment.
“We will also have a working sawmill,” Nunemacher said. “You also can bring a tractor or a plow. There is space available for demonstrating tractors or plows.”
Nunemacher said the popular Mid-America Threshing & Antique, Inc. flea market will also be back.
There will be a spark show with steam engines and fireworks at dusk on Saturday, August 10.
“The whole event over the weekend is really fun for the whole family,” Nunemacher said. “We are really promoting the 50th anniversary. It feels good to be able to celebrate this. There are a lot of things that don’t last that long. A lot of great people have put a lot of effort into keeping it lasting this long. It takes an army to raise a family, and people involved with Mid-America Threshing and Antique, Inc., have made this show last over the years.”
Comments 1
Hello we love antiques how many booths or vendors willbe there as we will be drivibg 2hrs to come! Thanks so much!