When Doc Graham, the baseball player-turned-doctor in the movie “Field of Dreams,” crosses the first baseline to help a choking girl, he returns to his days as a doctor in rural Minnesota. When you step into Pioneer Village at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the transformation may not be quite so dramatic. But if you use your imagination, you can believe you’ve stepped back in time somewhere in rural Indiana, at least for a little while.

“Dozens of volunteers come from all over the country and beyond to make this happen each year,” says Gary Emsweller, who manages activities at Pioneer Village. Most volunteers dress up in garb that farmers and farm wives might have worn in the early to mid-20th century on Indiana farms.

COVID-19 shut down the fair and Pioneer Village in 2020, but both are back this year, with some modifications. The fair runs from July 30 through Aug. 22, but will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

“One major change we had to make was forgoing the toy tractor show, which is usually held through the first several days of the fair in the Ole Opry House,” Emsweller says. “Instead, musical groups who normally performed in the rear of the main museum building will perform there. That gives them more room.”

He notes that they plan to bring the toy show back for 2022. Another change involves the antique tractor display on the back lot of Pioneer Village. There will still be tractors there, but which ones you see will depend upon which day you attend the fair, Emsweller says.

People who exhibit tractors are members of the Pioneer Village Tractor Club. With Monday and Tuesday closings, the fair is broken up into four sections. Tractor exhibitors can choose which sections they want to participate in. Tractors will be part of the state fair parade, held each day. The parade will start at 6 p.m. each day, except Thursday and Saturday, when the parade times will be earlier.

Other Pioneer Village activities

You will still be able to see grain threshing using a steam engine and the Red River threshing machine restored before the 2019 fair. Stationary baling, lumber cutting and silage making will also be included in demonstrations.

Two new additions to the antique tool collection will be on display, but not operating. “We now have a very rare wooden elevator and a corn shredder for display,” Emsweller says.

Artisans who make various objects during the fair will be at work each day, along with those who demonstrate milling and other old-time activities. Some of the objects the craftsmen make will be sold in the Old-Time Farm Auction on Aug. 21, beginning at 10 a.m. EDT.

“We’re asking people to donate small items that might have shown up in a farm sale, like small hog feeders and the like, for the auction this year,” Emsweller says. “We depend on proceeds from the auction to help us fund restoration of items on the grounds. Restoring an old-fashioned barber chair to proper working condition is on our agenda, but we need funds to do it.”

Ben Carter, Salem, Ind., is chairman of the auction committee. If you have something you would like to donate for the auction, call Carter at 812-620-4731 or email [email protected].