GREENVILLE — A flag-raising and opening ceremony for the 17th annual Greenville Farm Power of the Past was conducted Thursday morning at the Darke County Fairgrounds at the mike tent.
Sound man/announcer Rick Brewer opened the program with the flag-raising while the National Anthem played in the background. Once again, Claire and Connor Rogers, children of Justin and Tammy Rogers, and grandchildren of Dewaine and Peg Minnich. The Rogers children took over when brother Grant and cousin Allison Rogers stopped doing it.
“It’s a family tradition,” said Tammy Rogers. “My dad, Dewaine Minnich, is in charge of camping this weekend.”
The ceremony was followed by several who welcomed people to the event. They included Farm Power of the Past President Von Oswalt, Chaplain Terry Haworth, Greenville Mayor Mike Bowers, Darke County Commissioner Diane Delaplane and Darke County Fair Manager Daryl Riffle.
“I have been doing this for four years, and each day will give you three statements,” said Haworth in his presentation.
“Fortunately in Darke County, agriculture is still king,” remarked Mayor Bowers.
Oswalt told the crowd, “If you’re here, you’re part of the show and that’s what makes it work.”
Featured at this year’s show is the John Deere Co. with tractors, equipment, lawn and garden tractors and gas engines. Farm Power of the Past will also be hosting the Midwest Regional Hot Air Engine Summer show with exhibitors coming from far and wide and will be located in and around the Ohio Center.
On tap continuous daily at the four-day event are tractor displays, gas engines in operation, sawmill operations, oilfield engines in operation, Pumpkin Vine Railroad, threshing, chainsaw carving, Baker fan, horse displays, corn shredding, antique auto, truck and motorcycle displays, flea markets and food vendors.
Today’s events include: quilting from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building and the Darke County Tractor Pullers Association’s truck and tractor pull in front of the Grandstand at 7 p.m.
Activities for Saturday include an antique tractor pull in front of the Grandstand at 1 a.m.; quilting from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building; Kiddie Tractor Pull in the top level of the Coliseum at 2 p.m.; kiddie coin scramble in the straw in the threshing area at 4 p.m.; pony pull at horse arena at 4 p.m.; draft horse pull at the horse arena at 6 p.m.; and the garden tractor pull in front of the grandstand at 6 p.m.
Sunday’s show will include the car show and cruise-in at the Ohio Arts Building area from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a church service at 9:15 a.m. in the Fine Arts Building.
Directors this year are Tim Copeland, Duane Edwards, Larry Fox, Roger Fox, Art Gaier, Ed Gigandet, Janice Howell, Teresa Kauffman, Lester and Nancy Linebaugh, Don Marchal, Mike Monnier, Justin Rogers, Doug Uhrig, Barbara Young and Bill Young. Senior advisers are Buzz Nealeigh, George Edger, Bud Glidewell, Don Livingston, Ernie Poeppelman and Richard Polei.
Committee members are Rick Brewer, Addison Bashore, Richard Bashore, Doug Clemens, Darrell Fox, Derek Fox, Don Fox, Esther Gaier, Terry Haworth, Brody Hyre, Jim Kauffman, Dewaine Minnich, David Oda, Kelly Zell, Dan Clemens and Daniel Soward.
Inside the booklet this year is a special tribute page for those members who are “gone, but not forgotten:” Ruby Edger, Noel “Bud” Carpenter, Marvin Oakes, Dean Steinke, Don Smith, Doug Thornhill and Andy Makley.
