Mount Pleasant, Iowa — The 75th Annual Midwest Old Threshers Reunion is officially underway, and this year’s milestone celebration brings not only a packed schedule of events, but also a heartfelt tribute to the association’s origins.
The program turned to a special presentation honoring the four men whose vision created the Midwest Old Threshers Association back in 1949: Clark Everts, W.E. “Ted” Detrich, Ray Ernst, and Herman Elgar. Inspired by a steam engine and threshers gathering in Pontiac, Illinois, the group believed Henry County’s rich agricultural history and steam power heritage made Mount Pleasant the perfect place for a reunion. Their idea became reality in 1950, when the first show featured 15 steam engines, 8 separators, and drew an estimated 10,000 visitors to McMillan Park.
Seventy-five years later, the reunion continues in the same location, now attracting crowds from across the nation. Descendants of the founding families were invited to the presentation and recognized before the crowd.
The ceremony concluded with applause for the families, who wore matching shirts bearing images of the founding fathers, before the Mount Pleasant Panther Marching Band prepared to take the stage.
As the 75th reunion continues, organizers encourage visitors to not only enjoy the steam engines, parades, music, and exhibits, but also to remember the tradition and vision that began with four men in 1949 — a tradition that continues to bring generations together in Mount Pleasant.