HISTORY OF THE OSAGE RIVER ANTIQUE POWER ASSOCIATION

The show was started in 1967 by John DeGraffenreid, Raymond Graham and Keith Graham.  These three had steam engines and held the show on the farm of DeGraffenreid near Brumley, MO.  It was called the Ozark Hills Steam Engine Show.  300-400 people attended the first show.  They sawed lumber, and threshed wheat and oats with the steam engines.  They ground corn and made corn bread from the meal.  An early tractor pull was conducted using a piece of tin for a sled.  They continued to have an annual show through 1977, after which the show disbanded.

In 1989, The Linn Creek-Osage Beach Lions Club started hosting the show again.  The show was held at the Lake Ozark State Park in Kaiser, MO, where it remained until 2000.

In 1996, the Mid-MO Lions Club took over hosting the show.

On November 9, 1999 the club filed articles of incorporation of a general not-for-profit corporation with the Secretary of State of Missouri and took the name of Osage River Antique Power Association.

The 2001 show was moved to the Elwood Hachler farm in Eldon, MO and in 2013 was moved to the Miller County Fairgrounds in Eldon, MO.  With the move to Eldon, the club became Branch 108 of the national Early Days Gas Engine and Tractor Association (EDGE & TA) with 51 members.  We currently have about 70 members.  The show has grown to include over 200 tractors on display along with gasoline and oil engines and other old and unique machinery.  Today demonstrations include a sawmill, wheat threshing, straw baling, sorghum pressing and cooking molasses and blacksmithing.  There is a tractor ride through Eldon on Friday morning.  Other activities for kids include a barrel train, face painting,    The show now has an attendance of 1,500-2,000 spectators.

The show is held the third weekend in September.

ORAPA Officers – 2022

ORAPA Board of Directors – 2022

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