Rural Heritage October/November 2025

Horse Progress Days 2025

A View From Holmes County

tent was, all you had to do was follow the sound of the John Deere Hit and Miss Engine that churned this frozen treat. For folks who wanted to get a head start on HPD, the Thursday Bus Tour was ideal. Some 53 people filled the bus, with a van carrying six more people following. If you wanted to see a successful organic dairy farm, look no farther than the Paul Miller Farm, the first stop on the HPD tour. This family farm is 100 acres plus 100 rented acres. It uses horses and has a herd of 52 cows, mostly Holsteins. Last year, Paul’s son David started the process of taking over the dairy, ensuring that their sustainable practices will continue for yet another generation. The Miller family also has a greenhouse business. Started in 2014, it has grown from one small greenhouse into three huge ones. They offer a wide selection of popular shrubs and colorful flowers. This stop is a testament to what a dedicated family

by Mary Ann Sherman T he 2025 Horse Progress Days (HPD) took place at Alvin and Rosa Yoder’s Farm in Clare, Mich. This was their third time hosting the event, having done so in 2012 and 2018. There were 6,700 paid admissions. But with the number of children under the age of 12 who got in for free, plus the people working at HPD, the final number was probably double that. Just inside the gate, each person picked up a refillable plastic water bottle that they could refill at any of the three tanks of ice cold water that were located throughout the grounds. These tanks did a land-office business. This may have diminished drink sales at the food tents, but they, too, were busy throughout the day. Especially popular on these hot, muggy July days was the stand that served homemade soft serve ice cream — with or without Hershey’s syrup. And if you wondered where this

A barrel train pulled by miniature horses gave rides to kids at HPD 2025.

Rural Heritage

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