In 2005, SouthWestern Illinois College (SWIC) had an equine seminar on different horse breeds. Jim Buzzard and Tom Renner Jr were asked to do some demonstrations. Jim demonstrated how to plow with 6 horses and Tom demonstrated the techniques of harnessing and hitching draft horses.

At the start of this adventure, Jim and Tom were unknown to each other. But their friendship grew over the love of horses and before long there were a larger group of horse enthusiast that were taking turns plowing at each others farms. These events started to draw a crowd and a a kettle of chili and a huge pot of beef and noodles wouldn’t feed everyone. And the crowd kept growning.

It didn’t take long and friends and business associates were approaching Tom and asking if they could invite customers and they would pitch in on the food. So the group of planners grew to 6 and then to 10. In 2018, Merideth Adams (A representative for Dekalb) named the show “The 100 Years of Horsepower). Now the steering committee is comprised of about 20 individuals, the sponsors are 50+, and the hard working volunteers that put on the show exceed 100.

People come from all over to spend 3 days in the fields and barns on this beautiful southern Illinois 7th generation farm. The 2024 show drew people from 41 states and 12 countries.

100 Years of Horsepower is a 501(c)(3) organization. Thank you for your support and hope to see you at the show.