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Families continue to make sweet Old Threshers memories
Old Threshers Reunion traditions offer continued wholesome family fun
MT. PLEASANT — Whether it is their first year, their third year, or their 37th year, families can always count on Midwest Old Threshers Reunion to provide sweet moments of family fun.
From the Saloon girls at the Golden Slipper, Miss Sweet Sixteen contestants, and gunslingers littering the grounds to food booths filled with turkey legs, pie, and corn dogs, to the dance barn filled with swiftly moving dancers, wholesome family fun is not difficult to find at Old Threshers.
Valkyrie Middono, a 5-year-old from Mt. Pleasant, was all smiles as she took a casual ride on one of Windy Acres Stables’ ponies, but she loved the carousel horses just as much as the real ones.
What Middono really looked forward to, however, was catching a robbery on the train. When she learned of the possibility of one taking place soon following her pony ride, she couldn’t contain her excitement.
“I’ll keep my eyes open,” she said and advised other children that attend Old Threshers in the future should also do the same. “They should always look out for the bad guys.”
Larry Bickford and his grandchildren Charlotte and Easton Whittemore don’t keep their eyes peeled for the bad guys when they attend the reunion every year, but they do keep a look out for good food and merchandise.
While Bickford always shows tractors at Old Threshers, his granddaughter says her favorite part is buying stuff and his grandson’s favorite part is the corn dogs.
Bickford is not immune to the draws of delicious food at the reunion, though. He particularly likes the smash burgers found by the antique car barn.
Much like Bickford’s grandchildren who are currently growing up making Old Threshers memories every year, Amanda Walljasper-Tate has attended the event every year since she was 10 years old.
“I’ve been dancing at the barn for 37 years,” she said as she took a drink break after an energetic set of square dancing.
Walljasper-Tate went from being at 10-year-old learning how to dance with friends in the Dance Barn to one of the handful of individuals taking the lead to teach eager new students how to square dance.
“We love the old music and the tradition,” Walljasper-Tate said. “We’re grateful it’s still here and the tradition continues.”
With little toddlers running around avoiding spinning bodies and well seasoned adults whisking one another across the floor, the tradition handed down from one generation to the next continued at this year’s Old Threshers Reunion, and Walljasper-Tate anticipates it will for many years to come.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
