Holiday Traditions: Reynolds Farm Equipment and Conner Prairie
For more than 30 years, Reynolds Farm Equipment has been a key supporter of Conner Prairie, helping us capture the hearts of our guests by preserving community traditions and inspiring families to create new ones. From A Merry Prairie Holiday light display to the 1859 Balloon Voyage and more, Reynolds has come along side Conner Prairie in family traditions and memory-making.
Founded by A.W. “Mac” and Arline Reynolds in 1955, love for community has been at the heart of Reynolds Farm Equipment, family-owned and operated since the beginning. Longtime local residents will remember the iconic Reynolds Christmas light display in Fishers, which Mac and Arline began as a way to thank the community they called home.
Though the community has changed over the decades, Reynolds Farm Equipment’s focus on giving back has not—it’s a tradition that is carried on by Gary Reynolds, the company’s second-generation owner since the 1980s, and his children and grandchildren. And it’s a tradition for which Conner Prairie is a grateful beneficiary.
Since the 1980s, the Reynolds family has supported Conner Prairie, naturally finding a connection in their love for community and passion for agriculture. From donated equipment rental to festival sponsorships to in-kind donations—at every turn Reynolds has found a way to help families build traditions and cherished memories at Conner Prairie.
Soaring to new heights. A familiar sight to residents throughout our community is that green and white helium balloon floating in the sky: the 1859 Balloon Voyage experience, presented by Reynolds Farm Equipment. The company supported a new exhibit and balloon envelope in 2015 and renewed sponsorship of the experience in 2021. Since 2015, more than 150,000 guests have enjoyed the views from soaring 370 feet in the sky.
Headless Horseman Favorite. The family traditions continue in the fall, when hundreds of families bundle up for a spooky Headless Horseman hayride, powered by Reynolds very own John Deere tractors for many years.
Bringing the holiday spirit. And the beloved Reynolds Christmas lights? They found a new home, right here at Conner Prairie, when Reynolds Farm Equipment generously gifted them to the museum in 2019. As of 2023, all lights have been updated and thousands of bulbs have been replaced with LED lights, ensuring they’ll remain a cherished holiday tradition for years to come.
“It truly is a joyous experience to walk among the lighted figures at Conner Prairie and experience the sheer joy of the moment,” shared Michael Lawson, grandson of Mac Reynolds, “That is a true example of Christmas: it’s a gift.”
But of all the support the company and family have provided over the years, Michael shares that the company’s most proud accomplishment is supporting the research, preservation, and education about early agriculture. “We appreciate that Conner Prairie is an active museum that embraces agriculture in its earliest concepts, bringing it into today’s time period,” Michael shared.
Each season, Conner Prairie remains immensely grateful for the Reynolds family and Reynolds Farm Equipment for all they’ve done for our community and our institution. Reynolds has helped create the Conner Prairie we know and love today, where family memories and traditions are created every day.
Learn more about how you can support Conner Prairie’s mission through our Mission Impact Fund, which makes possible the many activities, exhibits, and educational experiences that take place at Conner Prairie.