60th Anniversary
Old Threshers Reunion
September 2 - September 6, 2010
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa

THE PEOPLE
Seat: Robert Willits, Ray Ernst, Herman Elgar,
Standing: Joe Ruby, Clark Everts, Ray Vorhies, W.E. Detrick, Milo Mathews
Not Pictured: Frank Johnson

Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Association (MOSTA) was founded in 1950. The original idea to form Midwest Old Threshers Association, a non-profit organization, 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, Illinois. 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, the Association was chartered on August 21, 1950 and the first Reunion was held September 20 - 21, 1950. The records show that 15 Steam Engines and 8 Separators were exhibited with an estimated 10,000 people attending the first Reunion.


First Invite First Program 1951 Flyer
(click to view a full-size image)

MOSTA CREED
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.
Written by Herman E. Elgar, 1951

In its first 50 plus years, the Old Threshers Reunion has grown to be recognized as the largest event of its kind in the country. People visit from every state in the union and numerous foreign countries. Visitor's number around 50,000 each year at the 5 day event always ending on Labor Day. The original show was presented on the fairgrounds but has grown to cover more than 180 acres.



2010 Board of Directors
First Row: Alan Buckert, Clair McBride, Louis Tuller, Bob Gilchrist, Chris Heaton, Dan Wistrom
Second Row: Earl Reynolds, Jerry Moore, Ralph Oliver, Drew Schumacher, Ron Carver, Bob Welander
GATE ADMISSION Drew Schumacher, Ralph Oliver
ANTIQUE CARS & TRUCKSRon Carver, Dan Wistrom
CAMPGROUND Clair McBride, Bob Gilchrist
MIDWEST ELECTRIC RAILWAY Jerry Moore, Earl Reynolds
MOSTA/MCRR LIAISONMatt Crull (MCRR President)
CAROUSELEarl Reynolds
ANTIQUES & CRAFTSOld Threshers Staff
ENTERTAINMENTEarl Reynolds
FOOD OPERATIONSOld Threshers Staff
HORSE OPERATIONS Dan Wistrom
GAS ENGINES Louis Tuller
TRACTOR AREAAlan Buckert, Ralph Oliver
TRACTION STEAMChris Heaton, Bob Gilchrist
STATIONARY STEAMBob Gilchrist, Chris Heaton
LOG VILLAGE Bob Welander
NORTH VILLAGE Earl Reynolds, Dan Wistrom
HERITAGE MUSEUMS Drew Schumacher, Bob Gilchrist



The Old Threshers Staff


Lennis Moore
Chief Executive Officer

Larry Anderson
Maintenance and Restoration
Paul Anderson
Development Officer
Lea Cardoni
Bookkeeper
Fred Carlson
Mechanic
NOT PICTURED Linda Dovenspike
Receptionist & Gift Shop
Kirsten Heerdt
Threshers Chaff
Terry McWilliams
Public Relations & Marketing
Karen Timmerman
Secretary