HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Thresher Reunion, 2006-09-07, Page 41Jim Sloan stands with one of his antique tools. The shovel
would be attached to a horse, then it would be used to clear
the sidewalks of snow. (Heather Dietz photo)
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PAGE A16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2006.
THRESHER REUNION
Fellowship important part of Reunion
used for softwoods while the 75 hp
engine is used for beech logs.
According to Sloan the mill was
donated to the the Threshers over 30
years ago. It is made up of a steel
and get in at Blyth.
Although a variety of dogs are
used in the demonstration the border
collies are the ideal breed as they
have the attention and the drive for
performance sports.
Some of the breeds Cooper has
used in her demonstrations are dogs
great Dane, boxer cross, pointer,
German shepherd, shelties, Jack
Russell terrier and Australian
Continued from A14
The engines range in horsepower
from 10 to 75 and have great lugging
power with each engine useful in
specific wood. The 10 hp engine is
Dreamweavers Dog Training was
a new attraction last year at the
annual Thresher Reunion. This year
the show is back for an encore
performance.
The demonstration is a
combination of speed, agility and
obedience as dog owners take their
unleashed dog through a pre-
arranged course.
The owners are allowed to go
through the course prior to the
competition, but the dog is not.
Grace Cooper of D'rei.mweavers
Dog Training of RR 3, Ailsa Craig
has been involved for the past 13
years, and has been teaching since
1997.
She considers the area she lives in
to be a perfect place for training.
"There has to be lots of space,"
she said.
She conducts a lot of puppy
classes and feels they are important
because they allow the puppies to
socialize, not only with other
puppies, but also with people.
Many problems with dogs are
because they haven't been properly
socialized.
Although socializing is an
important part of her puppy classes,
they still must learn how to come
when called.
"It is one thing to call a puppy
when they are inside the house or
alone; it is something else to get a
puppy to come when called when
they are playing with other puppies,"
said Cooper.
It was two years ago when Cooper
first thought about the Blyth show
She was at the Bayfield Fair and one
of her students recommended she try
track, a 54-inch blade and an edge
for edging the logs.
At his first reunion the portable
sawmill was powered by six of seven
different steam engines. He says,
"The show has really grown over the
years."
The Civic Holiday in 2004
brought Sloan to town to help load
the 32-ton log cabin from the
McCain gravel pit to the Threshers
fairgrounds.
The log cabin still has its stone
chimneys intact. "It looks more
original. It was something to see that
coming down the road," he said with
a smile.
In the early 1990s Sloan helped to
re-side Shed I with steel, then again
a few years later they lined Shed 2.
One of Sloan's most memorable
Reunions was in 1991 when the
CKNX Travelling Barn Dance came
to town. "That was a good one",
replied Sloan.
According to Sloan, "The
fellowship of the Reunion is my
favourite part of the Reunion. You do
not see everyone 51 weeks of the
year and that weekend you get to see
everyone again."
He says, "Blyth has to be my
favourite show. The show has done
well. I admire it and all the hard
workers."
In keeping with his love of
machinery of the past Sloan has
many antique tractors and a combine
which he still uses to take the crops
off.
His combine is a 1960 45
Combine with a 10 foot cut.
He has a '41 Model D John Deere,
a '46 Model AR John Deere in his
shepherd.
Cooper and her husband had
always had a 'rough' collie, but after
the loss of one in 1981 they replaced
it with a border collie, assuming it
would be similar.
"It was not at all the same type of
dog," said Cooper. "Rough collies
have no drive, while the border
collie is the consummate working
Continued on A17
collection of antique tractors, which
he will pass down to his sons.
When asked why he has been
involved for so many years he says,"
I've always farmed with old
machinery and I enjoy it, I've
become accustomed to the old
machinery, and being involved with
the Threshers lets me be around the
antique tractors and machines."
"I have had the chance to meet a
lot of people and make many
memories; Sloan says.
"We may be moving forward at a
fast pace on the technology road but
reunions like the Thresher Reunion
in Blyth give us a taste of the past
and enjoy simpler times and
keep our history engrained in the
future."
Dreamweavers return
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