Steam, tractors, engines and a bit of everything else brought out the fans to help fulfill the Mission of the Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Assoc. (MOSTA), which is to preserve and celebrate agricultural heritage through education and entertainment.

Although rain did prevail for part of this historic steam show, there were moments of sunshine, and the cooler weather was a draw for folks to come out and enjoy old iron over the Labor Day weekend.
MOSTA has been around since 1950. According to their history information, the original idea to form the nonprofit came from a discussion between Clark Everts, W.E. (Ted) Detrick, Ray H. Ernst and Herman E. Elgar in September 1949. The four were returning from the Zehr Threshing Reunion in Pontiac, Ill.

Considering the many steam engines and separators in Henry County, Iowa, the men decided there was a great potential to host a threshing reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. After several winter meetings, the election of a board of directors and lengthy discussions about a Mt. Pleasant event, MOSTA was chartered on Aug. 21, 1950 and the first reunion was held Sept. 20-21.

The records show that 15 steam engines and 8 separators were exhibited, with an estimated 10,000 people attending the first reunion.
This event is a family-centered one, and that is shown by the MOSTA creed, which reads: “Knowing from experience that each generation enjoys a clean, wholesome gathering of an educational and historic nature such as ours, the Association hopes to always keep the gatherings like this, where we can meet and harvest the golden memories of yesteryear and pause in our daily tasks each year to visit and relax, always with a thought in doing so to improve the future harvest of good fellowship and citizenship.”

According to MOSTA, this is the largest known event in the country. It claims that people visit from every state in the union and numerous foreign countries. Visitors now number around 50,000 each year at the five-day event, always ending on Labor Day. The original show was presented on the fairgrounds but has grown to cover more than 180 acres.

For more information about next year’s event, log onto www.oldthreshers.com

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.