The idea of the Dufur Threshing Bee started in 1969 when Mr. and Mrs. Everett Metzentine of Wamic decided to harvest part of their wheat crop using old farm machinery instead of modern methods and invited their family to see how it was done. The next year, they expanded to friends and neighbors.

Shortly after, Bob DePreist (of DePriest Farm Equipment, in Dufur) and Mr. Metzentine discussed going public. They felt that Dufur was an ideal spot to hold a wheat harvest using old-time machinery and draft horses. They took the idea to the Dufur Chamber of Commerce, and the first official Dufur Threshing Bee was held in 1971. The Dufur Chamber of Commerce continued to sponsor the next few Threshing Bees.

In 1974 The Dufur Historical Society was formed and took over sponsoring the event, and in 1977 started forming a special Threshing Bee Committee to conduct each year's event.