RAMA – Farming in this region has changed in many ways since the early 1900s, and visitors to the PALS (Performing Arts and Leisure Society) Draft Horse Field Days in Rama on Aug. 30-31 got to see this first hand.
The event was originally planned for the previous weekend, then steady rains and wet conditions simply made it impossible.
But after a week of mostly hot, dry weather, things were full steam ahead the following weekend.
Nancy Genoway, one of the PALS organizers, said the weekend went well, especially considering temperatures were at or above 30°C on both days.
“The attendance was poor on Saturday, but it was such a hot day,” said Genoway. “Sunday was much better with a bit of a breeze and more people came out. “
“People that I talked to were very interested and happy that they came out for the day. I think it's very important that younger people see how the farmers worked in the past.”
Half-a-dozen teamsters from across the region brought their teams of horses and took part in one or both days of the Draft Horse Field Days.
Cameron Last made the trip from Lintlaw with his team of Clydesdales.
Lloyd Smith of Pelly came to Rama with two teams of Percherons.
With his team of a pair of Percheron/Quarter horse crosses, Ron Turner came down from Archerwill.
Pat Uzelman of Unity brought his team of two Belgian/Haflinger-cross horses to Rama.
Making the trip from Yorkton, Kristina Just came with a team of Clydesdales and a team of Norwegian Fjord horses, while her daughter Jillian brought another team of Norwegian Fjords.
Kristin and Jillian each took advantage of the opportunity to do some discing with their Norwegian Fjord horses.
“It’s fun, we enjoy the social aspect of coming to Rana,” said Kristina, “plus we always learn something.”
In the Just family, they make sure their horses stay active and ready for the field work at Rama.
“We do trail rides and haul manure with them,” said Kristina. “In winter we use them to take grain out to the cattle.”
Pat Uzelman of Unity cut some hay with his team of Belgian/Haflinger- cross horses, and also gave wagon rides around the Rama grounds, which attracted numerous riders during the hot weather over the weekend.
“I enjoy driving horses,” said Uzelman. ”It’s really good to come out here and meet lots of nice horse people.”
Ron Turner of Archerwill, with his team of two Percheron/Quarter horse crosses, hooked up to a vintage dump rake and did some raking, both hay and then leftover straw on the winter wheat field.
Cameron Last had probably the shortest trip among the teamsters, make the trek south from Lintlaw. Last did some discing with his team of Clydesdales, and later combined forces with Kristina Just’s pair of Clydes to create a four-horse team for pulling the vintage John Deere binder in a field of winter wheat. Last appreciated the opportunity to try his hand at operating a binder for the first time, but quickly added, “I wouldn’t want to do 50 acres with it.”
Daren Shewchuk of Rama, PALS president, got the 1940s vintage McCormick Deering threshing machine with a 28-inch cylinder and a 46-inch separator greased up, adjusted the concave and had it ready for the threshing demonstration.
“It’s all about figuring out where the belts go.”
Shewchuk said he enjoys the challenge of looking after the PALS farm equipment.
“It’s a competition,” he said, “I’m competing against myself to see if I can operate these machines and keep them running.”
In future years, Shewchuk is hoping to invest in spare canvases, just in case a replacement is needed.
The threshing machine was powered by a Massey Harris 44 tractor, a model which as manufactured from 1947 to 1953.
The first pair of volunteers to climb on the wagon and start pitching sheaves of winter wheat into the threshing machine were Steven Halifax of Rama and his son Jordan.
Unfortunately, no matter how well everything is prepared, breakdowns seem to regularly happen when operating vintage farm equipment.
“The binder broke down on Sunday, but they got it fixed and finished the field. The threshing machine ran very smoothly which was definitely a blessing,” said Nancy Genoway, adding “Special thanks to all the teamsters who came out with their beautiful draft horses. Thank you to all those who attended and especially thank you to all the volunteers who spent long hours getting things ready and then working all weekend in the heat.”
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