Annual steam show returns to Mt. Hope
The Holmes County Steam and Engine Association held its first annual summer show in 1993 at an Amish farm near Berlin. From an early membership of 80 members, the association has grown to over 400 members and boasted over 12,000 paid admissions at its most recent show.
Holmes County Steam and Engine Association will host its 26th annual Steam and Engine Show at the Mt. Hope Auction Grounds in Mt. Hope from Thursday, Aug. 2 through Saturday, Aug. 4.
A fun and explosive weekend for engine and tractor fans, admission is $5, and children age 12 and under are free. A dozen or more steam engines at the show will be kept busy powering a sawmill, threshing machines, power-eater, Baker fans, steam engine games and spark shows at night.
There will be a full schedule of activities and contests including children’s petal tractor races and pulls that locals and vendors alike are encouraged to participate in. There will be many different events throughout each day, but some of the main events will include:
—Mid-Ohio Championship Horse Pull with a $7,500 purse on Thursday at 6 p.m.
—Antique Tractor Pull on Friday at 6:30 p.m., using two sleds, which means no dull moments.
—Lumberjack Show (new this year, contestants will be local loggers).
The Lumberjack Show is a third-year event and will have a chainsaw, cross-cut, Skidder driving and knuckleboom competition where local loggers are competing for prizes. Other events in the show will be a nail-driving contest and the skid steer rodeo.
Nail-driving will have kids participating as well as adults. The prizes for chainsaw, crosscut, knuckleboom and the skidder driving competition are donated by local businesses. New logging equipment from numerous equipment dealers will be on display.
“We as a club strive to have a better show every year. This year we are featuring Oliver, Hart-Parr, and Cockshutt Tractors and Equipment. Be sure to check it out,” said Steve Fender, president of the HCSEA.
Entertainment will be local bands: Silverstone on Thursday at 5 p.m. and Six Strings on Friday at 5 p.m.
The Holmes County Steam and Engine Association held its first annual summer show in 1993 at an Amish farm near Berlin. From an early membership of 80 members, the association has grown to over 400 members and boasted over 12,000 paid admissions at its most recent show.