The first Thresherman’s Demonstration was held on July 24, 1982. It was started by neighbors Louis Milleville and Wayne Mueller who thought it would be fun to thresh wheat and oats with a 1930’s era 2238 McCormick Deering threshing machine owned by Louis. The first event took place on what is known as “Mill Road”, which is just south of the I-70 interchange in Altamont.
A group of friends and neighbors gathered together with their antique tractors, implements, hit-ad-miss engines, and cars. They threshed oats in the morning and after an “old fashioned lunch”, served by the Altamont JC’s, wheat was threshed in the afternoon. The day was a big success with over 400 people registered in attendance. It was decided to move the next show to the Effingham County Fairgrounds, where every show since has been held. That show was on, July 16-17, 1983.
The group also wanted to find a steam engine to use to power the threshing machine. The Blomberg family of Farina owned the nearest operating steam engine and agreed to let the group use it, provided they could find a capable operator. A local man, Ben Winter, had extensive knowledge and experience in operating steam engines. Ben agree to run the steamer and an even bigger show was held in 1983. In order to help organize and operate the next show in 1984, the group incorporated as the Mill Road Thresherman Association Inc. on May 1, 1984.
After the next show, held July 14-15, 1984, which was the first show held without sponsorship from the JC’s, the charter and bylaws were approved and signed on October 5, 1984 by the three original directors. They were Marlin Milleville of Altamont, Ed Jansen of Sigel, and Eldo Tate of Stewardson. Officers elected were: President – Louis Milleville, Vice-President – Ben Winter, Secretary – Roy Cochran, and Treasurer – Art Trost.
The Mill Road Thresherman Association is a group of men and women whose goal is to preserve and demonstrate farming as our grand-fathers and great- grandfathers knew it. We strive to preserve not only the equipment, but also the techniques those old farmers utilized to plant, harvest, and process their crops.
The annual Mill Road Thresherman’s show is a place where families can come to enjoy the sights and sounds of farming’s past. Not only the thumps and grinds of old equipment but also the clank of a horse harness, the whish of a spinning wheel, or the sounds of bluegrass filtering over the grounds.
Best of all is the laughter of children, as they hunt through the straw stack treasure hunt, participate in the pedal pull, or walk the grounds with grandpa checking off items for the scavenger hunt.
