‘Horse Progress Days’ returns July 3-4
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By Trudy Feyereisen
The Lavern Yoder Farm located at 252 N. CR 575 East in Arcola hosts the 32nd annual “Horse Progress Days” Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.
The event opens with a hearty, homemade breakfast buffet from 6–10 a.m. followed by field demonstrations and seminars throughout the day.
The purpose of the “Horse Progress Days” is to “inspire innovative agriculture on the family farm,” and their mission statement is to “provide education and resources for small-scale sustainable agriculture and to demonstrate horse-drawn equipment innovations.”
In 2021, the event started featuring homesteading practices (farming methods for 40-100 acres that can survive without large machinery). Interest and offerings in this area continue to grow every year along with training in sustainable farming techniques (learning safe ways to prepare and preserve raw ingredients, raising one’s own meat, and gardening). They are excited this year to have nationally known speaker, holistic farmer Joel Salatin of “Polyface Farm,” who advocates stewardship of the land, connecting with local growers, becoming self-sufficient in food provision, and building soil health. Both Amish and non-Amish attendees can glean much information on how to approach agricultural life.
Although the event is known for highlighting horse-drawn equipment demonstrations, many of the innovative tillage equipment from locally owned ARC Manufacturing can be used with small tractors as well. Some of the equipment made by them will be seen and demonstrated for the first time, including pull-type combines for harvesting grain and newer hay equipment that can put together two square bales without having to handle by hand.
Another “first” will be live demonstrations of horse-powered logging by “V-Cross Logging,” including how to manually go up trees and trim the top down before it falls and how to safely drop trees. Seminars will also be offered in animal welfare, including dental work, shoeing, and training of horses, as well as caring for animals in general.
Over 300 vendors will be in attendance at the event. They include everything from farm and ranch items to equipment manufacturers, harness shops, and pallet and solar distribution companies. There are also several vendors whose products will be of more interest to the homemakers, including wellness companies, dishes, window coverings, and home and health products.
There is also a lot to offer homemakers with seminars on growing your own cut flowers, choosing joy in motherhood, benefits of A2A2 milk, benefits of fermented foods, bread baking, quilting, macrame, one-on-one hands-on sewing training, making angel food cake, bread baking, and more. Local “Miller Smokehouse” will be educating on the butchering process and how to smoke meats. Haying demonstrations are on the schedule along with the much-anticipated breed presentations that end each day.
The Breed Presentation, the last event each day, is the “icing on the cake.” There are close to 20 different breeds that will be presented each day. Breeds include Dutch Harness, Belgian, Percheron, Halflinger, Draft Ponies, Clydesdales, Morgans, Hackneys, Shetlands, Miniature horses, Friesians, Quarterhorse, Race Ponies, Gypsy Vanners, Mini Gypsy Vanners, and Tennessee Walkers. The last three are less well known in this area. Several six-horse hitches will entertain those in attendance. This parade of horses is always a crowd pleaser.
There are international guests planning to attend from France, China, and England interested in utmost hospitality and making them feel welcome.
There will be plenty of food on hand both days. Proceeds from food purchases will go to support two different missions — “Shriner’s Children’s Hospital,” whose mission is to improve the lives of children with medical challenges, and local “Project 61 Ministries,” which is a nonprofit dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing program for women and children in need. Some proceeds will also go to local schools.
To ensure everyone stays hydrated, watering stations to refill water bottles will be located throughout the grounds.
Children will enjoy a variety of animals that include a buffalo, camel, kangaroo, and the usual variety of farm animals at the petting zoo, and the play area for the children that is adjacent to it.
In addition to the event, there is a bus tour scheduled for Thursday, July 2. The bus will leave from the LaVern Yoder farm at 8 a.m. sharp and return by 4 p.m. The cost (to be paid in advance) includes upwards of 10 stops to area Amish businesses and an Amish meal. There is still room on the tour, so if interested, contact Daniel Gingerich at 217-543-3004.
A significant amount of teamwork and preparation go into putting together an event of this magnitude. The committees were chosen and have met regularly since 2023 to ensure a fun-filled, educational day for both young and old, Amish and non-Amish alike.
The local planning committee includes General Coordinator Virgil Yoder, Seminar Coordinators Bennie Schrock and Lamar Brenneman, Vendor Larry Plank, Teamster Lavern Schrock, Willam Herschberger (parking), John David Gingerich (produce), Kenneth Herschberger (equipment), Jeff Yoder (people hauler), Lamar Brenneman (round pen), Marc Schrock (safety), Mervin Miller (homemaking), Marlin Kauffman (homesteading), Sam Gingerich (grounds), David Chupp (food), and Andy Miller (local advertising). International guest host Levi Herschberger, and barn coordinator Eldon Schrock contributed information for this story.