Our community hosts the Old Thresher Reunion every year at this time.  It is amazing the number of people that come from all over the USA to see old tractors and threshing machines.  Most actually do care about that stuff, others come to see the friends they have made over the years. 

The laughter, the complaining and the "I would do this differently" continues through the whole 5 days.  The volunteers that work this event are dedicated, hard working and super people.  The number of hours they dedicate aren't just during the celebration but for weeks and months before it begins. 

The Midwest Railroad crews work to make sure the engines are in the best possible condition, that the cars are clean and in good repair to haul people around the grounds.  The shuttle drivers haul people from downtown to the grounds over and over from 7 am to after 11 pm, that's a lot of people and a lot of trips.

The grounds are maintained, the trash picked up numerous times a day by the trash collectors.  It is amazing the quantity of garbage that a celebration like this creates.

The gates are manned by volunteers for the local food bank.  The food bank receives pay from the Old Threshers for taking care of this so it benefits a huge amount of people.  The head of the Fellowship Cup (food bank) puts in around 55 hours in those 5 days, running change, water, listening to complaints, lining up workers, answering the phone and still taking care of the emergency needs that come up at the office.  Amazing.

The Rotary club act as ushers for the country western shows that are held 4 nights of the celebration.  They receive $400 for doing this, it goes into our activity fund to be used for things like helping to fund our share of the Boy Scouts program or the exchange program.  It's wonderful to have the opportunity to see to many people and still raise funds for Rotary programs.