We hope you enjoy this FREE Information Guide and look forward to seeing you in Shipshewana! J U N E 30 TH & J U LY 1 ST , 2 0 2 3 www.horseprogressdays.com S HI P S HE W A N A , I N D I A N A 29TH ANNUAL EVENT 1994–2023 HORSE PROGRESS DA YS 2023Small F armer ’s J ournal PO B o x 1627 Sist ers , OR 97759 w w w .smallfar mersjour nal .c om 800-876-2893 • 541-549-2064 Small F armer ’s J ournal PO B o x 1627 Sist ers , OR 97759 w w w .smallfar mersjour nal .c om 800-876-2893 • 541-549-2064Table of Contents TM Welcome to Horse Progress Days 2023 ....................3 Michiana Event Center: 2023 Hosts ..........................5 Mission Statement ...................................................13 National Board of Directors ...................................13 Local Planners ......................................................... 15 Map to the Grounds ................................................ 15 Hydration! ............................................................... 18 Golf Carts, Gators & Drones ................................... 19 Admission Fee ......................................................... 19 Daily Schedule ........................................................ 21 Lodging .................................................................... 23 Featured Manufacturer: The Story of Stori Enterprises ........................... 27 The Land, There is Always the Land By Dale K. Stoltzfus ........................................... 33 In the Round Pen .................................................... 41 Food at Horse Progress Days .................................. 45 Seminars ................................................................. 47 Tour Stops ............................................................... 53 Not a Mule By Dale K. Stoltzfus ...........................................63 The Logging Program of Northern Indiana ...........69 Produce Seminars ................................................... 73 Equipment Maintenance ......................................... 81 For the Children ...................................................... 85 Who Would’ve Thought By Dale K. Stoltzfus ...........................................87 Featured Farm: Shipshe Meadows Organic Farm By Dale K. Stoltzfus ...........................................99 Homemaker Seminars .......................................... 107 Homesteading Seminars ....................................... 113 New Trends in Animal Farming By Dale K. Stoltzfus ......................................... 117 The Horse People By Georges Gawinowski .................................. 121 Retiring Board Members....................................... 127 Join Us Next Year in Pennsylvania ....................... 177 Advertiser Index .................................................... 178 RHORSE PROGRESS DAYS 20231HORSE PROGRESS DAYS 20232 LWelcome TO HOR SE PR O GR E SS DAY S 2023 Welcome to Shipshewana Indiana and Northern Indiana’s unique hospitality! We are home to the third largest Amish community in the world, where most of the farming is still done with horsepower and today’s innovative machinery. The purpose of Horse Progress Days is to showcase a complete lineup of the latest equipment and hitching techniques in the draft horse industry. Educational seminars and clinics will guide you on your journey with draft animals whether you are just getting started, or just looking for ways to broaden your knowledge. You will see many different draft horse breeds, plus mules, ponies and oxen, in harness, doing what they do best: demonstrating plowing, tillage, haymaking, produce farming, logging and more. Start your day with the Pony Express, proceeding on to the many field and produce demonstrations, homesteading, and more. Professionals will be sharing valuable information from round pen training to seminars and farm-related topics. The homemaker area will display a wealth of information and seminars on home health care, healthy foods, and more. The children’s area will be exciting with a petting zoo, swing sets, and other activities. The Breed Presentation is the final activity of the day, showing many different breeds of horses and hitch configurations, anything from a single up to a six or eight horse hitch. Bring the whole family; this event is truly “Something for everyone!” Travel safely! Drive slowly take a deep breath, and enjoy the lush rolling knobs of LaGrange County Indiana. You will want to come back and enjoy new friendships. The Local Planners TM HORSE PROGRESS DAYS 2023 3 RHORSE PROGRESS DAYS 20234 LYOUR SOURCE FOR... Horse Barn Equipment Dairy Barn Equipment Milking Parlor Equipment Milking Parlor Supplies Heifer & Calf Barn Equipment Hay & Grain Feeders Waterers Flooring & Rubber Mats Slant Gates for Trailers Farm Equipment Round Gates Fence Gates & Supplies Foliage Equipment PTO Carts And More! Call or fax for a catalog! Manufacturer of Custom Horse & Dairy Barn Equipment Our own PTO Carts Farm Equipment Round Gates Fence Gates & Supplies Foliage Equipment PTO Carts And More! Call or fax for a catalog! Our ownOur own PTO Carts 5013 TR 359 Millersburg, OH 44654 (Ph) 330.893.3086 • (Fax) 330.893.4001 Foliage Equipment Let us help you with your next horse barn! From design, delivery & installation, we do it all!HORSE PROGRESS DAYS 2023 5 RMichiana Event Center: 2023 Hosts (continued on page 7) All along the rolling country roads of Shipshewana, there is a certain sense of tranquility. It’s an extraordinary ambiance of peace that captivates people – the kind of sensible simplicity that has made this rural community a kind of mecca for those looking to escape the chaos of a complicated world. In the middle of this tranquility, you’ll find a wonderful addition to LaGrange County, it’s known as the Michiana Event Center, or more succinctly, the MEC. Through the course of its inception in 2017 to its present state of renown, the initial premise of being built for big events and big crowds has been realized in astounding fashion. The MEC is something of an architectural marvel by way of size, capacity and careful attention to detail, as well as touches of regional heritage. The facility is adequately equipped to serve as a venue for any type of experience, from farming expos to trade shows, from concerts to consignments, and from antiques to auctions. Folks can reserve a customized space for a modest gathering of 100 people, to an extravaganza of thousands. HORSE PROGRESS DAYS 20236 L1 VELCRO TAIL BAND opens when tail lifts 2 QUICK RELEASE adjustable snap buckles for dumping bag 3 LARGE SNAP hooks whole bag to harness 4 VELCRO anti-swing straps BUN-BAG PROVEN MANURE CATCH BAG • Blends with harness • Comfortable for horse • Easy dump and reinstall • Washable, rot-resistant, black vinyl Available in 3-7 gallon capacity 5 sizes to choose from! MINI SERVICE HORSE PRODUCTS! Visa, MasterCard & Paypal Accepted. 208-263-3538 | bunbaglady@gmail.com | WWW.BUNBAG.COM 1206 Honeysuckle Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 Easy Ordering at Ruth Eich Great for City Carriage, Trolley Service, Parades, Saddle Horses, & Therapy PoniesHORSE PROGRESS DAYS 2023 7 ROne of the hallmarks of the MEC is the spacious, steel-framed coliseum. The seating arena has room for a maximum crowd of 5,500, with floor seating for concerts. The coliseum is tempera- ture-controlled, and has locations at various sections for food service, with entrance points granting ease of movement for patrons. Amidst the grounds, which encompass approximately 25 acres, there is a trade-show building and a staging barn, and the latter can be easily sectioned for stall spaces. That was one of the many goals that Chief Executive Officer Dennis Fry envisioned when the MEC was still in its conceptual phase. “It’s amazing all of the things that can happen here,” Fry says. “That’s part of the goal we had, to be able to be there for most of the different types of events.” The vastness of the various venues is made more impressive by the capability to transform into whatever caters to the needs of those organizing and attending events. Tremendous amounts of earth can be moved and stabilized to adapt to agriculturally themed functions. Just as efficiently, the polished floors can be revealed once again for craft shows or banquets. There is office space available to renters, and camping amenities as well. The MEC has become such (continued on page 9) MEC (continued from page 5)Next >