Tours & Attractions

Tours will take place July 1st, 2010
Tours are $75.00 per person and includes noon meal
To reserve your space, contact Loretta Sumpter: Crossroads Tours

PO Box 263

305 E. Main St.

Shipshewana, IN 46565

260-768-7549

fax 260-768-7547

Miller's Feed Service

Miller’s Feed Service, the first stop on today’s tour, was begun in 1940 by current owner Alvin Miller’s grandfather. This was a good time to start a business since World War II was just over and the end of the Great Depression was at hand. Alvin bought the business from his parents on January 1, 1977. The summer of 1995 was spent building a brand new mill across the road from the old one. The new mill started operations in November of 1995. This business is family run. Two of the Miller sons work here. In June of 2009, a new warehouse was built. Miller Feeds manufactures what it sells to both wholesale and retail customers. Some of the farmers in the neighborhood still bring their own grain to the mill to be made into livestock feed, maybe one or two will stop in today. Most of the feeds produced here are for dairy animals and horses, but there is also some deer feed made as well as a few other specialty feeds. Enjoy your time here, and don’t be afraid to ask some questions.

D.A. Hochstetler and Sons

Another stop on our tour today is the D. A. Hochstetler Shop just 3.5 miles north of the village of Topeka, site of this year’s Horse Progress Days. This is probably the oldest on farm equipment manufacturing business in the country. (See article on page 127) Today this company concentrates mainly on machine work and steel fabrication. They manufacture a lot of parts for horse drawn farm equipment, including steel wire spoke wheels. You will be able to see how this is done and you will be able to see other projects in the works. The folks at Hochstetlers are looking forward to your visit. They promise to welcome and accommodate you to the best of their ability, and hope that you stay awhile in the beautiful country of Northern Indiana.

Clearspring Produce Auction

For sure, a community is blessed to have living in its midst, middle- aged men with experience in life and thoughts for its future. It was just such a group who began to ask themselves in the late 1990s “Isn’t there something besides trailer factories for the younger generation to do as an occupation?” At the time approximately 85% of the working men in LaGrange County, Indiana were trailer factory workers. In 1999 this group called a meeting to see how much interest there might be in starting a produce auction. That evening there was a Grower Advisory Board established and given the responsibility of getting it going. Harvey Bontrager, Harley Miller,William Schmucker, Ernest Lehman, and Perry Miller were voted onto the committee. They gleaned a lot of good ideas from the already established Farmer’s Produce Auction in Mount Hope, Ohio. In the year 2000, was born the Clearspring produce Auction, a stop on today’s tour. There were lots of growing pains that first year, including about half of the growers fizzling out! Every year since, though, the volume of produce sold through the auction has increased and now there are about 100 faithful growers supporting it with one or more items. It is the goal of the Grower’s Advisory Board to make sure there is always a full line of quality produce at the auction. The auction in 2009 was open for business on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Due to high volumes, a Monday opening is being considered for 2010. Regular starting times are 10:00 am, Monday starting times will be 12:00. At this auction you can buy one item off of the retail table, or a tractor trailer load of bins, whatever you need. Tractor trailer trucks are greeted with enthusiasm, especially in the melon and pumpkin seasons. The auction is located 3 miles east and 5 miles north of Horse Progress Days 2010 in Topeka. We hope you enjoy your tour.

Noon Meal At Yoder's Home Style Banquets

Those participating in the Horse Progress Days tour 2010 are in for a real treat (literally and figuratively) as they partake of their noon meal. Henry and Carolyn Yoder, parents of Kristine (m. Daryl Bontrager), Loraine (m. Al Lehman), Myron (m. Doreen Schlabach), and Carl, not yet married, and grandparents to 6 lively grandchildren will be host and hostess. This pair has been feeding guests on their farm since becoming licensed to do so in 1999. They serve 2 - 3 busloads per week with 40-50 people per load. The farm consists of about 60 acres of farmland. Henry also builds pony wagons for a wagon shop in Shipshewana. They’ve been on this farm, raising Percheron horses for 20 years. Henry is a part of the 7 boys and five girls, distinctly Yoder, Bill Yoder line. He stands apart from the rest of his family a bit in two ways; first, his wife Carolyn says “he is the best looking one of the bunch”, and while the rest of the clan who are raising Draft Horses are raising Belgians, he raises Percherons. He keeps 2-3 brood mares and likes to raise and train young stock. Percheron breeders know the name of the Percheron stallion Lakeshore Lorenzo. Henry stood this stallion for a time on his farm after buying him out of the discard pen at the Topeka Sale. He currently has 5 two year olds by the horse. Lorenzo lived to be 22 years old. This spring the world champion Percheron mare, Kerwin’s Emma, had a filly by the old horse. The Yoder farm has been the nest and resting place and place of labor for wife Carolyn all of her life, except for three years. This is the home place of her parents Orley S. and Mary Miller and her 6 brothers and 4 sisters. One gets the sense when talking to Henry that the vast variety of guests to sit at the Yoder table over the years has brought a great sense of satisfaction. Some of the guests who show up need interpreters with them to communicate. Others, like the Ortman Clinic from Canistoga South Dakota morph into a gathering of 650 people served at the local Antique Building in Shipshewana. This chiropractic clinic, made up of about 25 doctors has many clients in the northern Indiana area, and chose a Yoder meal to convey their gratitude to them. The most rewarding and enlightening group to eat at the farm, Henry says, came from New York City some time ago. A group of African American children from the heart of the city enrolled in a program in which they could earn points for a trip outside the city by doing community work, like painting mailboxes, raking leaves, and handing out food to homeless people. This group came to Kendallville, Indiana to do additional community service and somehow ended up on the Yoder farm for a meal. Henry says he was a bit skeptical about hosting this group of inner city children aged 8-18, but remembers the group as “probably the most rewarding and interesting group ever hosted”. Please enjoy your time with the Yoders and be sure to thank them for their hard work!

Crystal Valley Harness

The folks at Crystal Valley Harness Shop greet you with “Good Day” and hope you enjoy your visit with them. This shop, located between the towns of Shipshewana and Middlebury, was established in 1997 in a 200 square foot building and has now grown into a 2,400 square foot building. Making harness, they say, is their number one concern; customer satisfaction is their number one goal. They make and stock a full line of Bio-thane harness and parts, as well as nylon and leather halters. Single and team harness for mini horses, driving horses, and draft horses is made here. You can buy it plain, or fancy with spots and 3 strap breeching. You will see back pads in fur and vinyl, blankets, ropes, horse care products, WBZ Feed Additives, and much more. The folks at Crystal Valley Harness hope you will enjoy your experience at Horse Progress Days 2010. They are located at 1415 N 1150 W, Middlebury, IN 46540 and can be reached at 574-642-1274

Miller Carriage

John and Dorothy Miller, their family of 5 boys aged from 7-15 years of age, and their employees at Miller Carriage Company welcome you to their shop today. This shop employs 6-7 people throughout the year. Manufacturing buggy and carriage parts and selling them on the wholesale market is their specialty. Also, they want you to know that they can repair any style of buggy, carriage, or cart you would like them to. The shop was owned by Dorothy’s parents, Melvin and Lydia Miller from 1971 on. Father and Grandfather Melvin passed away in 1995 and John and Dorothy bought the business in 1999. This carriage company ships parts all over the US and Canada, and has even sent orders as far away as Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Australia. Be sure to pick up a 2009 catalog before you leave.

Melvin Yoder & Sons Belgian Farm

The Yoder farming compound 10 miles northeast of Topeka is another stop on the tour today. The farm is located on 200 North between Rd. 5 and Rd. 9. Melvin and Polly Ann Yoder live here as well as three of their married sons and those sons’ families. Son Larry, his wife Susan, and their family, milk 60 registered and highgrade Holsteins here. They raise all of their replacement stock on this 75 acre farm, and they rent another 100 acres from adjoining farms. All of the farming is done with registered Belgians. 6 and 8 horse teams are used with the rope and pulley system to plow and work the ground. 20 brood mares, two stallions and lots of young stock are always on hand, 12 to 14 foals are born on the farm every spring. This farm has been raising and selling quality breeding stock and well broke teams for 40 years. In 2008 son Ernie bought a registered Morgan stallion. There are now 10 Morgan brood mares and some young stock on the farm. The family likes these “black beauties” for buggy horses. They will be glad to show you around.

Historic Prophetstown
Der Dutchman

Carlisle Inn