Walk into the Winamac Town Park at the Pulaski County Fairgrounds during the third week of July, and the first thing that hits you isn’t the summer heat—it’s the unmistakable bouquet of vintage agriculture: the sweet aroma of woodsmoke, the pungent tang of diesel, and the steady, rhythmic chug of an antique engine.
From July 16–19, the Northern Indiana Power from the Past organization will host its 49th Annual Antique Power Show. For nearly half a century, this volunteer-led, non-profit group has dedicated itself to a singular, functional purpose: preserving, rejuvenating, and displaying the antique farm machinery that built the backbone of American society.
This year, the show’s vibrant, “all-color” display area will shine a special spotlight on a line of machinery with deep Hoosier roots—Oliver and Hart-Parr. It’s a fitting tribute. Long before the mergers that formed the Oliver Farm Equipment Company in 1929, James Oliver was revolutionized Midwestern agriculture right down the road in South Bend with his world-famous chilled plow.
For event organizer Chuck Narr, this year’s feature has already brought some rare iron out of hiding.
“Well, we’ve had a gentleman already going to bring an Oliver threshing machine, so we haven’t had one of them displayed for several years now,” Narr says. “So, that’ll be a unique item for everyone.”
Iron That Crosses Generations
While the pristine sheet metal of fully-restored Farmall, Case, John Deere, Minneapolis-Moline and Allis-Chalmers tractors will undoubtedly draw crowds, the true soul of the Winamac show lies in its dynamic, living history. This isn’t a static museum where machinery sits behind velvet ropes. Here, the steam whistles blow at noon, belts are laced, and antique machines are put to the exact tasks they were built to perform decades ago.
It is a living classroom designed to bridge the gap between the farmers of tomorrow and the pioneers of yesterday.
“When a child comes, you know, a 10, 12-year-old that Grandpa’s told him about things, why, they can see it live,” Narr explains. “And see the demonstrations like the thresh machines, the corn shelling, the sawmill—all goes on all day long at our show.”
That connection to family history is a powerful draw for the thousands who descend on the Pulaski County 4-H Fairgrounds each year. Farm country has always been divided by paint color—a friendly, generational rivalry as deeply entrenched as any Friday night football game.
“That rivalry between the red and the green—you know, that goes back generations,” Narr chuckles, acknowledging how farm logic dictates that you usually bleed the color your grandfather drove. “My in-laws, they farm with red, you know. That’s what Grandpa used, and that’s what Dad used, and they know how to work on them and, you know, it’s just in their blood now.”
Keeping History Affordable
In an era where taking a family to a event can easily clear a hundred dollars before passing the ticket gate, The Northern Indiana Power from the Past team remains fiercely committed to keeping rural heritage accessible. Adult admission is held tightly at just $5.00, and children under 12 enter completely free.
According to Narr, the low price tag is a deliberate choice tied directly to the organization’s core philosophy.
“We try to keep the price as reasonable as possible,” Narr says. “As long as we can pay our bills—we’re a not-for-profit organization—so as long as we can pay our bills and keep a little nest egg, why, we’re happy.”
That budget-friendly gate fee grants full access to an absolute feast of rural Americana. Beyond the tractor lines and active thrashing rings, the four-day event features a massive flea market boasting over 150 dealers, a dedicated quilt show, daily children’s games, live evening entertainment, a classic car cruise-in, and a competitive horse pull on Saturday night.
Looking Toward the Golden Anniversary
As the steam engines fire up this July, the organization is also keeping a sharp eye on the horizon. This year’s 49th gate is the final runway before a massive milestone: the club’s 50th Golden Anniversary show in the summer of 2027.
The momentum is already building behind the scenes, fueled by decades of steady growth that started with a simple, localized idea.
“It was very small [the first year],” Narr recalls. “It was just 19 people that put a little money in a pot to pay for advertising and stuff. Everybody had their own tractor, and we had a little sawmill… It was just a group of guys, guys and women, that got together and said, ‘Let’s do something. We go to other shows around the state or other states, and why not here in Winamac? We can do this.’ So, a group of guys, like I said, got together and pulled their resources, and it’s just grown from there.”
For any farmer or history enthusiast looking to remember where we came from—and watch the iron that paved the way do the heavy lifting one more time—Winamac is the place to be this July.
Make Plans to Go:
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What: 49th Annual Antique Power Show
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When: July 16–19, 2026
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Where: Winamac Town Park (Pulaski County Fairgrounds), 262 E. Old St. Rd. 14, Winamac, IN 46996
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Admission: $5.00 for adults; Kids under 12 are FREE.
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More Info: Visit WinamacPowerShow.com for a full daily schedule of demonstrations and entertainment.
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