As this year’s Old Settlers Days President, I would like to thank everyone for coming to the festival and enjoying time with family and friends.
The past few years coming up through the positions of Old Settlers has definitely been an education. Coming into this organization I was curious as to how it was funded, and how it could be sustainable. Little did I know that not only does the festival fund itself, but every year we give back to the community in the form of grants to area organizations.
So many things have changed over the past decade or so in the way that people communicate, so over the past few years we have been trying to figure out new ways to get the word out about Old Settlers and to make it a place everyone can go and make some great memories. I would like to thank Robin Wright (2021 President) for getting the process started bringing special events back to the fair and Jeff Walker (2022 President) for getting the ball rolling on re-branding Old Settlers, so to speak. During Jeff’s year as president we brought in Blue River Digital to help us with marketing, communications and reorganizing our processes. We also added several new events under Jeff’s leadership.
The jobs of the vice-presidents and the president are the type of jobs that are as difficult and time consuming as you want to make them, and I am proud to have been a part of several teams that chose to spend the extra time and go the extra mile to help make Old Settlers Days better today and stronger for years to come. That being said, there is no way I could have done my job as president without a lot of help from my First Vice-President Linda Hyndman, who kept us going in the right direction and spent a lot of time getting things done and making the rest of us look better. Kim Wheeler was my Second Vice-President and he brought with him a lot of experience that helped us keep moving forward with improving our fair. He also set up the hot air balloon event on Friday night that was such a big hit. Jim Argerbright was this years incoming Vice President. Most incoming VP’s don’t do much other than observe the first year and enjoy the fair, but Jim got right in there with the rest of us and went to work getting things ready. Also, a big thanks to several past presidents who continue to serve and manage the fair.
Blue River Digital has been instrumental in straightening out and updating our Facebook page and website for the fair, as well as making our new logo, reorganizing and updating our forms and form storage, and with advertising and signage. They have been great to work with the past couple of years.
I would also like to thank our event coordinators and corporate sponsors that are too numerous to get started on here. You can find the information about them on our website or Facebook page, and hopefully that will remind you to support their businesses.
There are so many people who helped me through this process, and I am sorry I don’t have room to recognize everyone. I do want to recognize the person who helped me through this more than anyone, and that is my wife April Whetstone. Without her in my corner I could have never done it.
I’m looking forward to Old Settlers Days 2024, President Linda Hyndman, Kim, Jim and whoever is chosen to join them in the spring.
Sincerely,
Chad Whetstone, 2023 Old Setters Days President
“First and foremost I want to thank Robert Bishir from Next Generation RC & Hobby and his wife, Terrie, for their continued support in our hobby and what we all enjoy and love. Also want to thank Taylor Baney from Boca bearings and Shawn Bucher from Buchers Braces. They gave products that were given away to winning racers of all 4 classes plus the best painted body contest. We all commend you and appreciate everything you all have done for this race and races in the past. Also want thank the Old Settler Days committee, Shane Christlieb and the people that helped me as I couldn’t put a race on like that without outside support. Also, thank you to all the racers who were able to make this race. We had a good turnout of spectators who enjoyed watching us, seeing what we do and most of all they enjoyed the speed of the cars. There were questions and many of the racers were willing to share information with others which was awesome considering it was information coming from different racers in different classes. This event was not like any other considering it was on a road that no one had tested on, which made the racing really close but also very fun for all. Again I thank everyone mentioned plus all the racers that came to this year’s race. Be ready because the planning has already begun for the 2024 Old Settler Days race and we hope to see you all again next year.”
Phil Williams
Here are the photos of winning racers in their class and video is coming from Mr Aaron Hall which I personally thank for taking time out of his day to record it.
Shown Above: Winners of box stock.
1st place London Nprc
2nd Ethan Crutchfield
Shown Above: 2nd pic is winners of vxl class.
1st place Londonnprc
2nd place barstool Mike (Jenny Gross)
Shown Above: 3rd pic is outlaw dry tire
1st place was tim.b
2nd place was Phil Williams
Shown Above: 4th pic was outlaw prep
1st place phil Williams
2nd place Shane Baker (his son bradon)
Also the winning body went to
Shane Baker and his son.
Again thank you to everyone involved or attended and can’t wait until next year!
In the digital age where communication happens at the click of a button, it’s easy to forget the charm and nostalgia associated with physical postcards. Whitley County, a great community with a rich history, has held onto this tradition of sending postcards to invite loved ones back to celebrate the settlement of their county. Today, we invite you to pick up your commemorative postcards at various locations in town and join the effort to preserve these cherished artifacts.
Preserving History at the Whitley County Historical Museum: The Whitley County Historical Museum has played a vital role in safeguarding the annual caricature postcards that have been part of the county’s tradition for over a century. These unique postcards capture the essence of the community and offer a glimpse into the past. However, the museum is missing a few postcards, and they need your help to locate them.
The Missing Postcards: The following dates have been identified as gaps in the collection and are of particular interest to the Whitley County Historical Museum: 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1917, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1942*, 1943*, 1944*, and 2012.
*Note: Due to World War II, no postcards were produced in 1942, 1943, and 1944.
Picking Up Your Commemorative Postcards: To participate in this fantastic initiative, you can visit any of the following locations in Whitley County to pick up your commemorative postcards:
By visiting these establishments, not only will you have the opportunity to own a piece of Whitley County’s history, but you’ll also be supporting local businesses and community organizations.
Preserving the Legacy Together: Your involvement in locating the missing postcards will contribute to the preservation of Whitley County’s legacy for generations to come. As the community bands together to unearth these valuable artifacts, we can gain a deeper understanding of our past and the people who shaped our county.
Imagine holding a postcard that your ancestors might have received over a century ago, capturing the spirit of the community at that time. By filling the gaps in the collection, we can paint a more comprehensive picture of the historical evolution of Whitley County and its residents.
Conclusion: Whitley County’s annual tradition of sending invitation postcards holds a special place in the hearts of its residents. By picking up your commemorative postcards today and joining the search for the missing ones, you become part of an important effort to preserve history and celebrate the settlement of this great county. Take a step back in time, connect with the community’s past, and be a guardian of Whitley County’s heritage.
As the much-anticipated 119th Annual Old Settlers Days Festival approaches, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation to the incredible sponsors who have come forward to support this beloved community event. Their unwavering commitment and generous contributions have paved the way for an unforgettable celebration that will bring our community together in joyous unity. In this blog, we extend our deepest gratitude to all the sponsors who have joined hands with us to make this festival a resounding success.
Sponsorship plays a vital role in the success of events like the Old Settlers Days Festival. It allows us to create a vibrant and inclusive experience for all attendees, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of our town and fostering a sense of community pride. We are incredibly grateful for the sponsors who have recognized the importance of this event and have chosen to support us wholeheartedly.
To our esteemed sponsors, we want to express our sincerest gratitude for your unwavering belief in our vision and your commitment to our community. Your contributions, whether financial, in-kind, or through services, are invaluable in making the Old Settlers Days Festival a remarkable experience for all!
Your support enables us to curate a diverse range of activities, attractions, and entertainment that will captivate the hearts and minds of festival-goers. From the vibrant cultural displays to the thrilling performances, from the mouthwatering culinary delights to the engaging community activities, each aspect of the festival will be elevated thanks to your generosity.
We anticipate the positive impact your sponsorship will have, not only on the event itself but also on the lives of those who attend. Your support enables us to create cherished memories for families, provide opportunities for local businesses, and strengthen the bonds within our community.
119th annual Old Settlers’ Days Festival
Columbia City, Indiana
June 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th
It’s a long-standing tradition, the 119th annual Old Settlers’ Days Festival, hosted in downtown Columbia City, June 20th through the 24th. A time enjoyable for the whole family with nightly downtown carnival midway entertainment with rides, concessions and games; live local bands on the courthouse lawn, No-prep RC Drag Racing by Next Generation RC & Hobby, a two day pickle-ball tournament, a corn hole tournament, antique tractor drive by the Shrine Antique Power Club, a peddle tractor pull by More Farm Stores, and of course wrapping up with the American Legion Parade on Saturday the 24th at 6pm!
Also, new this year, we are excited to see Balloon Glow on the Courthouse Lawn! A spectacular display of lit hot air balloons on display for all to see!
Please join us June 20th through 24th for the 119th annual Old Settlers’ Days Festival. For complete listings of all the entertainment planned please visit the schedule of events and follow us on facebook at Old Settlers Days – Whitley County! We’ll see ya there!!