5th Plow Day a Big Success

Plow Day just keeps getting bigger and better. The fifth installment of the annual event, organized by Sammy and Ron Thompson, was held Saturday and Sunday on Ridgeville Road in Riga Township.

This year’s event featured more music, more food, and more horses, antique tractors, plows and farm equipment than ever before.

“It couldn’t have been better. Everyone I talked to said they had a great time. The weather was nice. We had more things to do than ever and we had our best turn out,” said Sammy Thompson.

The great turn out forced Thompson to call in the plows a little early Saturday, so Sunday’s guests would have some dirt to turn.

Thompson said there was great response to many of the new additions to the annual event. Food vendors reported good sales, he said. The Lenawee 4-H chicken dinner on Saturday was a big hit. And Sunday’s sold-out pancake and sausage breakfast kept Riga Fire Department volunteers cooking over the hot griddle for hours.

The entertainment schedule was also bolstered, with an accordion band, the Macon County Line band, and a Saturday evening performance by Bob Wurst.

Thompson said that Sunday morning’s church service drew about 100 people.

“It was a beautiful service and couldn’t have been any better,” Thompson said.

The main attractions were the toys. And perhaps no toy drew more attention than the 1917, 75-horsepower steam tractor owned by Broadbeck Farms.

More than 150 people gathered Saturday afternoon to watch the Broadbeck family start the engine and take to the field.

“It’s just like a steam train, but they put it on wheels and run it on ground versus the rail,” said Rolland Broadbeck, whose family owns five steam tractors. The Broadbecks bring their steam tractors to events all over the region.

Glen Berry plowed land Saturday afternoon with his three beautiful white horses, including one who recently one grand champion in the halter show ring at the Monroe County Fair.

“They’d much rather being doing this than going in the show ring,” said Berry.

Berry said that he and his family enjoy Plow Day.

“Sammy is doing a heck of a job and we sure give him a lot of credit. We know that his dad just passed so we’re all thinking about his dad,” Berry said.

Berry said the summer celebration of agricultural heritage continues to get bigger and better every year.

“They’re doing a good job getting the community out here and going back to our roots, with the horses and the steam engine that Broadbeck has out here, going back to the way things used to be,” he said. “It’s a good thing for people to be able to see how things were back in the old days. Things weren’t always computerized.”

Berry said he appreciates the effort that is put into organizing Plow Day.

“We’re sure coming back every year, if we can,” he said.

On Monday morning, the Thompsons were busy cleaning up. Sammy Thompson confirmed there will be a sixth annual Plow Day, Aug. 13. He said the he liked the two-day format but might change the lineup for day two. Among the possible changes include a sweet-corn dinner.