Inman Farm Heritage Days, the annual celebration of the south Fayette community’s agricultural history, will reach a significant milestone with this year’s show on Sept. 16-18.
It’s the Silver Anniversary of the event that has been held at Minter’s Farm every year but once since the inaugural show in 1997. (The 2020 event was a victim of the pandemic.)
What started out as a show of mostly antique tractors and engines has evolved over the years, with the addition of a sawmill, gristmill, syrup mill and furnace, cotton gin, moonshine still, pea sheller, blacksmith shop, print shop, broom shop and other permanent fixtures.
In recent years, an antique clock shop, antique gun shop, wood planer and machine shop were added.
New for the 25th show is an 800-foot nature trail that carries visitor down through the woods, to the creek and to the opposite side of the field. Signs identify trees found in the woods, and the flora and fauna native to the area.
The Betsill Family Moonshine Exhibit has been expanded, and two giant, single-cylinder oil field engines have been set up.
The shed that once house the combine has been converted into an old-time gas station which honors the memory of Jerry Mask, the owner of Fayetteville’s last full-service gas station and a long-time exhibitor at Inman Farm Heritage Days.
Rick Minter, who co-founded the show with his wife Joanne and their family, said that while many of the original participants have passed on over the years, others are still going strong. And new volunteers continue to step up and help put on the show, which still offers free admission although visitors are encouraged to support the event by purchasing souvenir programs and t-shirts.
“It’s become much like a family reunion,” Minter said. “We’ve spent the third weekend in September with our show friends for a quarter of a century.
“And we have a lot of second- and third-generation exhibitors and visitors.”
Minter, who has turned over much of the management of the show to his daughter Stephanie Adamek, said the annual event continues to enjoy support from the local community as well as from others throughout the Southeast.
“When the show needs help, people don’t hesitate to come forward,” he said. “That gives me hope that it will still be going strong for another 25 years – or longer.”
For more information on the show, visit Inman Farm Heritage Days on Facebook, mintersfarm.com or call 770-461-2840.
