PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
GREEN VS. RED … John Deere tractors, shown at top, and International tractors, shown at bottom, were lined up as part of this year’s John Deere versus International feature, a friendly competition to see which brand would bring in the most tractors.
RUSSELL … A 12-horsepower Russell from Risingsun, Ohio, was among the steam engines on display during this year’s National Threshers Association Reunion.
RUMELY … A 20-horsepower Advance Rumely from Mansfield, Ohio, powers equipment by belt during the 81st National Threshers Association Reunion at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The National Threshers Association welcomed visitors back to the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon for its 81st annual reunion, held June 25 through June 28.
The four-day event continued a long-running tradition of bringing steam engines, tractors, gas engines, demonstrations, parades, vendors, food and camping together for an event centered on agricultural history and early machinery.
Dennis Rupert, president of the National Threshers Association, said this year’s reunion followed the familiar format that visitors have come to expect, while also adding a few featured displays.
“This year’s event is pretty much like it always has been,” Rupert said. “This year though, we’re featuring Michigan built steam engines.”
The 2026 reunion also included a different kind of tractor feature, with John Deere and International tractors placed in a friendly head-to-head display.
“It’s John Deere versus International, and it’s just a fun little contest, if you will. A contest to see who’s bringing the most in,” Rupert said.
Rupert also explained that the matchup had been well received by participants, adding that the owners were enjoying the friendly rivalry.
When asked who was ahead, Rupert said John Deere had been leading by a few tractors at the time.
Another featured group this year was the David Bradley Garden Tractor Club. Rupert explained that David Bradley machines were walk-behind garden tractors, commonly from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
Throughout the reunion, visitors were able to see a wide variety of machinery in operation, including steam activities, prony brake horsepower testing, fans, power eater demonstrations, threshing, sawmill and corn shredding demonstrations, steam engine games and daily parades at the grandstand.
The event also included plowing in the west field on Friday and Saturday, weather permitting, along with evening entertainment, lantern walks, spark shows and activities hosted by the National Thresher Women.
Rupert said the reunion continues to draw campers and vendors, with numbers looking strong during the event.
“It’s been great weather,” Rupert said. “We’re up in the number of campers today and things have been going well.”
The reunion’s flea market also remained a major part of the event, offering tractor and steam engine parts, manuals, tools, collectibles, signs, decals and other items. Food vendors were also available on the midway.
To that end, Rupert said the event remains intended for all ages and offers a way for families to spend time together while learning about farming history.
“We got a pretty wide flea market. It’s a family friendly event,” Rupert said.
“It’s a fairly inexpensive way to spend a day with your family out here, have some fair food, and learn about some of the history of our farming heritage in the United States.”
While the feature displays may change from year to year, the heart of the reunion remains centered on preserving and sharing agricultural history.
For many visitors, the event offers more than a chance to look at old equipment. It provides an opportunity to see that machinery in motion, hear the sounds, watch the demonstrations and better understand the work that helped shape earlier generations of farm life.
That living-history aspect has helped keep the National Threshers Association Reunion going for more than eight decades.
With exhibitors, campers, vendors and families once again filling the Fulton County Fairgrounds, the 81st reunion continued a tradition that connects machinery enthusiasts with the broader community while keeping the sights, sounds and skills of America’s farming heritage alive for future generations.