Full steam ahead for Doughty Valley Steam Days on July 23-25
Doughty Valley Steam Day will move forward with precautions for its July 23-25 event near Charm. This year marks the 20 reunion at the Mast Farm on state Route 557 and will feature 20 different models of threshing machines.
After debating for weeks to divine whether to host the annual Doughty Valley Steam Day near Charm due to the threat of COVID-19, the board decided to forge ahead and present another chapter in the annual effort to showcase the steam engines and tractors that pushed America forward for many decades before electricity became the key source of powering farm equipment.
“As a board, we all really wanted to move forward, but we were cautious and debated for a while,” member Joseph Miller said.
The group contacted both the Holmes County Health Department and the Holmes County commissioners, getting their thoughts and ideas before moving forward.
“We have already heard a lot of very encouraging feedback about the show,” Miller said. “I think a lot of people are really looking forward to getting back to something that feels regular, and the fact that we are outdoors lets us social distance a lot easier.”
Since it is held outdoors, the committee felt it could conduct business and practice social distancing fairly effectively. However, one thing they can never control is what kind of weather the three-day events will present. Over the years the Doughty Valley Steam Day has seen weather from temperatures near 100 F to driving rains, as well as perfect days and nights that make for a very pleasant opportunity to showcase these giant steam engines.
This year’s event will take place July 23-25 at the farm location at 5023 state Route 557 north of Charm.
This year marks the 20th reunion for the show, and the board hopes it will be something special. In honor of its 20th reunion at the Mast Farm, where the show has taken place the past two decades, the show will feature 20 different brands of threshing machines.
“We will have 20 different threshing machines from different brands,” Miller said. “It’s really pretty neat to see the different machines.”
While most of them threshers will be provided from local owners, Miller said there are several coming in from outside the area including one from Pennsylvania and even a wooden one.
The show always presents a number of steam engines to provide a good glimpse as to how the world operated under the power of steam. Included in the demonstrations will be live threshing and saw mill demonstrations, the battle of man versus steel in a giant steam engine in a tug-of-war, an auction and saw tractors, and around 14 steam engines during the three-day event.
Miller said while things haven’t changed dramatically for the show, there is some comfort in knowing a much beloved show continues to provide the same attractions people want to see.
“I think above all, people just love seeing the old steam engines in action,” Miller said. “But we have so much more that people always look forward to seeing each year.”
There will be a mini pony and draft horse pull Thursday, July 23 at 5 p.m. with High Country Bluegrass performing at 7 p.m. There also will be an antique consignment auction that afternoon. On Friday there will be an old-fashioned tractor pull at 5 p.m., and Gospel Band will play at 7 p.m. Saturday morning will feature some steam engine games and a garden tractor parade.
Throughout the event there will be live demonstrations that are always a big draw. Included will be oil-field engines, a shingle mill, antique tractors, plowing, threshing, baker fans, a sawmill and baling. There also will be a flea market featuring many vendors and plenty of activities for young and old alike.
Thanks to the various food vendors, patrons can stay all day and not miss a thing. Local vendors will have plenty of food, in addition to the hit-and-miss homemade ice cream, kettle corn, homemade pretzels, and Byler’s Real Barbecue with chicken on Thursday and pork ribs on Friday with all the fixings.
One of the biggest assets Doughty Valley Stream Day has going for it is that it hasn’t gone commercial in its presentation. The goal of the Doughty Valley Steam Club is to continue to make it a weekend for steam hobbyists and enthusiasts to gather and enjoy reminiscing about the old days of steam. The event is nonprofit, and the serene setting in the Doughty Valley has kept it simple. Yet the grounds are still able to host a large complement of activities.
One of the more enjoyable events continues to be the evening spark show, in which steam engines burn cedar chips and produce a cascade of orange embers that light up the night sky. That show will take place Friday evening at dark.
The tractor pull also will have a new look this year, with two lanes providing simultaneous pulls.
Member John Leck said while they do charge a small fee to get into the show each day, the backing and support of the community has become critical as the event grows each year.
That commitment from the local community has helped to draw both local people and tourists to the show.
Leck said during last year’s event that they heard plenty of stories about people from near and far designing their schedules around this event.
“We hear stories like that a lot,” Leck said. “People come here looking for something different, something that is relaxing and kind of a throwback to the old days that they aren’t going to find anywhere else. I think that when people can see all of the steam engines operating and doing work, it is exciting to watch because you don’t see that very much anymore today.”
Whether it is the sound of the chugging of the steam engines, the huge plumes of steam rising and wafting in the air, the smell of burning coal and wood or the fiery dance of the embers of the spark show, Doughty Valley Steam Day continues to provide steam and tractor hobbyists with a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.
Admission is free to all Doughty Valley Steam Club members and is just $5 per person each day. The gates will open each day at 8 a.m.