If not for these events, I believe these outdated farming tools would have fallen into obscurity and I would not have had a personal connection or interest in writing this book. But many stories and facts have been discovered as I have tried to find the layered history of this simple limestone farming tool. As an agricultural artifact, the threshing stone has a place in the long history of grain production, visible throughout the world. The threshing stone represents a unique blend of attributes; this story is about a stone, a tool, a symbol, and a heritage.

                -I am intrigued with it just as a “Stone” that was carved from native bedrock and shaped into a piece of functional artistry by the hands of skilled stone cutters, creating the tool that is today only a visual reminder of our past heritage.

                -I am intrigued with it as a “Tool” that has its place in agricultural history that started with manual labor using only hooves and flails for threshing, then to the use of the threshing stone to reduce labor and then becoming obsolete with the invention of the mechanical threshing machine.

                -I am intrigued with it as it traces the history of a

“Heritage,” in particular the story of the Mennonite farmers as they migrated with their families and farming skills from country to country for religious freedom, ultimately bringing the hard red winter wheat to the plains of Kansas.

                -I am also intrigued with the threshing stone as a “Symbol,” adopted by Bethel College, where it became the symbol of strength and endurance, rooted in the hard working farm families of the plains.

                I found this story worthy of in-depth research that has culminated in this book, but why did I do it? I have many reasons for taking on this project, learning as much as possible about the history and use of the threshing stone. I have as many reasons as there are facets on a stone.

                1. I’m a Kansas farm kid

I grew up on a wheat farm in western Harvey County on Dutch Avenue, so named for all the “Dutch” ancestry Mennonites that settled along this road when they migrated to Kansas. My roots are in farming; our wheat farm was the center of my universe for much of my life. Everything was somewhere from there. The farm is etched deep in my psyche, and even though I have not farmed for decades, in my heart I am still a farmer.

                2. I’m an industrial designer

I have designed products for the mass market my entire career. As Director of Design for Vornado Air LLC I have been involved in all of Vornado’s products for over 2 decades. Because of my career in product development, my interest was piqued by the design of the threshing stone, how it worked, how it was made, and asking, “Why did this product exist?”

                3. I’m a patron of history

I am not a professional historian but I have been involved in historical ventures my whole life. I am currently President of the Board of Directors of Kauffman Museum, I am a past board member of the museum of the Antique Fan Collectors Association, and I get a lot of satisfaction from the antiques that my wife and I have inherited and collected over the years.

                4. I’m a Mennonite

My ancestors immigrated to Kansas from the Ukraine in 1874. They came to Kansas at the invitation of the State of Kansas and the Santa Fe Railroad, in order to escape their loss of religious freedoms and to develop the prairie into a rich and productive agricultural economy that could support their family. These groups of families brought with them the Turkey Red winter wheat, along with their farming skills, hard work ethic, and traditions.

                5. I’m a Bethel College graduate

I had a wonderful time as a student at Bethel where the threshing stone is the symbol of the college. I suspect that virtually every student that has attended Bethel is aware of the threshing stone.

                6. We own a threshing stone

My wife inherited the stone from her paternal grandmother’s family from the Goessel community. This stone got me asking questions and started my interest in this project.

                7. No one had done it yet

I was surprised that no one had done any in-depth research on threshing stones, so why shouldn’t I? I live in the middle of the Kansas prairie, I have deep connections to the people of this area, I have numerous friends that are writers and historians, and I live just blocks away from the Bethel campus, the Mennonite Library and Archives, and Kauffman Museum.            

                When we got our threshing stone, I was very proud to be an owner of one of these historic relics, but I didn’t know much about them. I asked individuals who are historians and antique collectors as to what they knew, who made the stones, and how they actually were used. But few had any answers. I had always assumed there must be thousands spread out across North America.

Several individuals had speculated that there may only be 100 stones. I was amazed that the number could be so low and was doubtful if that could be true. But the more I learned, the more certain I thought that they might be right.     

                Even though the majority of people in the world have no idea what a threshing stone is, it is still an important symbol and artifact, and known by many Mennonites and others around the world.   

                For all these reasons I decided to take on the task of learning more. The first person I called was Brian Stucky, an art teacher from Goessel, Kansas, a historian, an author, a college classmate, and a friend. He and I had talked about threshing stones over the years and he had even started to compile a list of stones that he knew of years earlier. I asked him if he was going to pursue additional research on threshing stones, and told him that I had started to compile a bunch of information and that I would be glad to assist him in his research, or if not, I would like to take it on as a project and I would appreciate his help. He said he was currently involved in other projects and encouraged me to go for it. So I did.

                My questions were simple at first; how many existed, how wide spread was their use, where were they made, and how did they actually work. Little did I know how complex the answers would become.

                Very quickly I also realized I had to try to see how many I could find. Again, little did I know how complex or fun this would be. I decided first to just see how many I could find.

                 I hope you enjoy the stories about my quest to find the stones and the stories that I was told about those I found. To say the least, this project has been incredibly fun. I never knew I could have so many hours of enjoyment in archives, libraries, used book stores, and museums. Finding the stones was like a big treasure hunt. I didn’t know how to start, where to look, or what I might find, but figuring that out was part of the fun.

                Most of all, I appreciated the many wonderful conversations I’ve had with those individuals who still have threshing stones in their families and hearing the stories that go with them.

                My goal in compiling this book is first to present the complete history of the threshing stone that will stand up to academic scrutiny, and also tell the story in an interesting and enjoyable narrative. The format I have chosen is somewhat like a magazine - pick up and read any article. It is not necessary to read it in sequence, but this creates some redundancy. I have gone to great depths to cover each facet of the story in detail (possibly way too much detail at times) to assure that the information is historically correct and complete as I know it today.

                History is written with the bias of the author. I expected  the threshing stone story to be spread broadly across North America and over many ethnic groups, but I found that this story is primarily about central Kansas Mennonites. If I have overlooked any significant resources or seem overly focused on my home turf, it is because the research has led me back to my roots.

                I expect my quest will not be over at the publishing of this book but additional information and stone finds will continue, see updates at www.threshingstone.com. I hope that you find this book not only informative, but also fun to read and to share with others.