What started out as a small group of people trying to increase foot traffic to the Kosciusko County fair in the early 1990s has turned into more, according to a news release from Echoes of the Past.
When attendance at the fair was beginning to dwindle, the idea of bringing tractors and other agricultural implements to the grounds was born, according to the release.
Founding officers of the club, Echoes from the Past, Tom Harman, Leonard Estep, Jane Grady and Betty Brown initiated displaying antique tractors at the fairgrounds in the area now known as Antique Village. People could find all models of tractors on display, various farm implements working and some years even livestock. Back in the day, the tractors would also drive the parade through the fairgrounds so visitors could check them out while they devoured their cotton candy and elephant ears.
The club became official in 1994 when membership records began as the popularity of the club continued to grow. The name was changed to Echoes of the Past, and the 13 original members took the reins and started to run with it.
As membership continued to grow, participation at the fair also grew. More activities at the Antique Village and more tractors on display brought an increase in the number of visitors to the fair, stated the release.
Along with the threshing of wheat and shelling of corn, all live displays, the club added a sawmill demonstration to the village. The cutting of lumber proved to be a well-received activity.
As membership grew, so did the number of other activities the club became involved in. The club expanded from just the fair to participate in local community parades, tractor shows at local businesses and shows at community festivals. The club could be found in the surrounding small towns in the county showing off their tractors for all to enjoy.
Showing off the tractors did not feel like it was enough. The club wanted to have more purpose. The club members believe that the best way to succeed in the future is to be educated in the past. Understanding Agri-history helps future generations improve upon what countless generations have put into place before us. With that in mind, the club set out to find ways to help educate and serve the youth and those in their community. The club became a 501(c)3 in 2016 and took the club in the direction it currently serves today, stated the release.
As of today, the club has over 140 members all working together to bring agriculture to the forefront to those in the community and the surrounding areas, according to the release.
The club hosts three free community events each year; SummerFest the first weekend in August, the Fall Festival the second weekend in October and Cookies with Santa the second Saturday in December.
The SummerFest event has kids’ activities, a tractor show with more than 150 tractors, steam engines, tractor pulls, horse drawn wagon rides, food, live entertainment and more. People will also find a Vintage and Farmhouse Market and ice cream. All events are free to the public. Donations are accepted to help fund the activities. This is the fifth year for the August event.
The Fall Festival in October will find kids and adults alike able to participate in haunted hayrides, corn mazes, games and other kids’ activities. Duke is back to give more wagon rides. Fall food is served. Pumpkins are given away to the children who come to visit. Students from Claypool Elementary School are given a sneak peek with their own special day before the opening of the event.
The club partners with Wheels On Fire Cancer Crusaders during our August and October events. They serve delicious food at these weekend events. By serving the guests, Echoes of the Past has helped them give away over $74,000 to local cancer patients last year alone.
The club is also proud to support the local FFA chapters and 4-H kids. To date, $9750 has been given to local FFA chapters. Participation in the 4-H auction during the Kosciusko County fair began in 2014 and the club has contributed $33775 towards auction animals benefiting local 4-H members. Money donated to these areas is raised through the making of our ice cream, tractor driving experience, ropemaking and fair food sales.
Another area the club participates in giving back to the community is through the Toys for Tots drive. This past December was the third “Cram the Tram” event to collect toys for needy children in the area. The collection of toys begins in November and commences at the toy drop off at Martin’s Supermarket in Warsaw the weekend before the Cookies with Santa event.
Santa arrives the second Saturday of December on his sleigh with Mrs. Claus. Kids can visit with Santa, hear a story, make a craft, take a sleigh ride, enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. This is another free event for the community. Santa and Mrs. Claus heard the wishes of 150 children last year. Duke gave sleigh rides non-stop to the delight of the young and old in the crowd. The whole family thoroughly enjoys this event.
New to the organization this year is the development of a scholarship program for FFA and 4-H members. This year will be the first year a scholarship will be given to a graduating senior who has been involved in either FFA or 4-H. This is another way the club felt they could give back and aid in the development of educating the youth in agriculture.
As the club continues to grow and expand, the benefit to the community will also be relevant as the club is driven by giving back to the community through various ways, aiding the youth of the community and providing experiences the whole family can enjoy.
For more information on the Echoes of the Past, visit www.theechoesofthepast.com or their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/oldtractors.