Combine demolition derby celebrates 25th year at the Madison County Fair

Years ago, it was common to travel down a country road and see an old, worn down combine rusting away in the weeds.

Not anymore.

Just as Victor Frankenstein gave his giant monster new life, these old steel beasts — often dating back to the 1940s and ’50s — are being resurrected for a new purpose. They’re being rebuilt for destruction.

The Combine Demolition Derby returns to the Madison County Fair this Thursday night, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. The derby, which is a major fundraiser for the St. Rose Fire Department, has been packing the grandstand at the Madison County Fairgrounds in Highland for 25 years.

St. Rose Assistant Fire Chief Justin Detmer said the event was started by the St. Rose Development Club and later turned over to the fire department. Since its start, the derby has raised more than $180,000.

“The St. Rose Fire Department would like to thank everyone, including the Madison County Fair Board, for their continued support of this event,” Detmer said. “It’s a fun tradition, and it’s the one night at Madison County that’s guaranteed to be a sell out. People will be lined up outside the arena at 5:30 p.m. to get a seat.”

Generally, there are anywhere from 15 to 20 combines entered in the battle to the death competition with the last combine running receiving the $1,000 first prize. Cash awards are also presented for second-fourth place, and a trophy and $250 goes to the winner of the “Show and Shine” — a combine-beauty pageant, of sorts. The combine garnering the biggest crowd applause wins the prize.

That’s where the creativity kicks in with nearly every combine promoting a theme. There’s been a large yellow combine resembling a character from the “Minions,” a huge green frog, a bright pink combine called “Saving Second Base” to promote breast cancer awareness, Bat Man, Tonka Toy, Plum Crazy and more.

In between heats, the audience can root for their favorite fire department in the “Barrel Blow” competition with volunteer firemen from 10-12 different departments using the force from their water hoses to push a dangling barrel across a cable strung in the air in a sort of tug-of-war game.

For combine demo derby participants, this week is crunch time, and you’ll find groups of friends welding, fixing gears and checking tires. But people aren’t getting their machines ready to cut wheat or corn, they’re getting them ready to crash.

“It’s crazy,” Detmer said. “This Thursday and Friday are like a national holiday in St. Rose.”

Tickets are $12 for anyone over 12. Children ages 12 and under are free. Box seats are available for $15 and pit passes are $20.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Combine demolition derby celebrates 25th year at the Madison County Fair."