Steam engines, antique tractors, threshing machines and more soon will be rolling into Mt. Hope for the 31st annual Holmes County Steam & Engine Show.
“This may be our biggest show yet,” HCSEA President Melvin Wengerd said. "The $10,000 purse featured for our Thursday evening horse pull is the largest in the state and always attracts some of the greatest pulling teams around."
The 31st annual three-day event will be held on the Mt. Hope Auction Grounds/Holmes County Event Center, in Mt. Hope, Ohio, Thursday, Aug. 3, through Saturday, Aug. 5.
In conjunction with Thursday’s horse pull, new this year is a mini pony pull, starting at 2 p.m., and a draft pony pull starting at 4 p.m. Other new events are Friday’s tractor pull and Saturday’s garden tractor and mini rod pull. Visitors won’t want to miss threshing and sawmill demonstrations, tractor games and Saturday’s final drawing for the pedal tractor. The event offers daily activities for kids, including a pedal tractor pull, a money scramble and arts and crafts workshops.
Each year features a brand and make of tractor, with 2023 the year of Minneapolis Moline. Next year highlights are Cockshutt/Co-op.
According to Wengerd, one of the newest events, the tractor tour of Holmes County, has quickly become a favorite.
“Our first tour had about 60-plus tractors. We expect that to have many more this year,” he said.
To complete the 90-minute tour on schedule, tractors must be able to travel at least 10 mph.
“This year’s tour will head south and east of Mt. Hope, some truly beautiful back roads to discover,” Wengerd added.
Board Member Benji Weaver suggested visitors take in the live entertainment on both Thursday evening at 5 p.m., featuring "County Line," and Friday evening at 5 p.m. with "Destiny.”
HCSEA regularly invites local bands to excite the crowd going into the evening events.
“Friday’s Steam Engine Spark Show at dusk is a must see. It’s almost like fireworks and never disappoints,” Weaver said.
The Holmes County Steam & Engine Association held it’s first annual summer show in 1993 at an Amish Farm near Berlin, Ohio. From an early membership of 80 members, the association has now grown to more than 400 members and boasts more than 14,000 paid admissions at our most recent show.
The event closes at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, visit hcsea.com or follow us on Facebook.
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