Rural Heritage October/November 2025

47 crowd control/parking lot attendants who had camped in the woods the night(s) before. Both groups elicited thunderous applause. Then came the horses: Belgians, Percherons, Haflingers, Norwegian Fjords, Clydesdales and more. There were no ribbons in the manes or tails twisted into buns. These horses had worked in the fields all day or shuttled passengers to and from the parking lots. The announcer told the audience a little about each breed as the horses circled the arena, all to much applause. Finally, the Barnyard Horse Pull on Friday night. The tension built as they started out with a few thousand pounds and built up to 6,900 pounds. The winner was Joe Stutzman. Then the announcer asked for volunteers to get on one end of the rope with the winning Belgians on the other end. Some 25 men moved the sled 14 feet. A new group of 25 men did the same and then Horse Progress Days 2025 was over. Preparations are already underway for Horse Progress Days, July 3 and 4, 2026, in Arcola, Ill. Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we’ll see you there.

Rural Heritage

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