The Citizen, 1994-09-09, Page 8PAGE A-8. IIIE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1994.
Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1994
33 years at ‘Thresher ‘Reunion and ‘fear’s (toney stitt sweet
By Shane Taylor
For as long as the Blyth Thresher Reunion
has been around, 33 years this fall, the Fears
have been bringing honey from their own
beehives to the annual event.
J.R. Fear Apiaries, just west of Wingham,
is operated by Murray and Carolyn Fear and
Murray's dad Russell. Russell has had bees
on the farm for about 42 years. He made his
first two beehives from two packages of bees
he had ordered in the mail from the United
States when he was just 15.
Today there are about 1,400 beehives,
between Murray and his dad, spread out in
71 different locations over a 30-mile radius.
They have a mix of the three main
honeybee breeds and Russell says these
hybrid bees make the best honey.
They also raise their own queen bees,
make all their own bee boxes and frames and
package all the honey that they produce on
their own farm.
Between the last week of July and
Thanksgiving Day, the worker bees will
travel about 55,000 miles to gather enough
nectar to produce one pound of honey. The
Fears will be busy, working about 10 to 12
hours a day, extracting the honey from the
hives.
Although he gets stung an average of 15
times a day when extracting the honey from
the hives, Murray says that the bees are
fairly gentle unless provoked. "They don't
sting unless they get trapped," Murray
explains.
Several schools have brought students on
field trips to the Fears' honey operation in
order to show the kids how honey is made.
Murray understands the questions the
students have, especially since his three
children have reached school age. He has
easy-lo-rcad colouring books which he gives
the youngsters to help explain the honey
making process. Murray says children are
not afraid of the bees and they sometimes
help out with the packaging of the honey.
According to a pamphlet produced by the
Ontario Beekeeper's Association, honey can
be used in a variety of ways and on various
foods. It can be used for peanut butter and
honey pies, honey mustard mayonnaise,
honey berry sauce for ice cream, honey
lemon whipped cream and virtually any
recipe that calls for sugar.
It's not surprising that you don't have to
force honey down Russell's throat; he has
liked the taste of honey ever since he was a
little boy and says he doesn't let a day go by
without eating something with honey in it.
Murray says he enjoys going to the Blyth
Reunion and although he's too young to have
run some of the old machinery, he's heard a
lot about them from his parents and
grandparents. "Dad has a major interest in
antique tractors and I've started to take an
interest in it too."
Russell has seen and talked to plenty of
exhibitors since the first Reunion and says
that the Thresher Reunion has grown in both
displays and attendance over the past 33
years. "And as long as they have one, we'll
be there."
‘E?(tractmg
Murray Fear, who resides just outside Wingham extracts honey from the
part of the beehive where the honey is stored. This portion is called
"supers". Fears honey can be purchased at the Thresher Reunion
Toys to tractor parts
Visitors to fhe antique flea market at the Thresher Reunion will find
everything from replica farm toys to tractor parts and household goods.
jZZea Tdarhet displays 100% authentic
By Janice Becker
"One man's rags is another man's riches."
That may be the perfect way to describe
the collection of vendors at the antique flea
market to be held at the 33rd Annual
Thresher Reunion and Hobby Association.
Stephen Tiffin, organizer of the display
says, "The flea market items must be 100 per
cent authentic. To qualify as an antique, the
item must be 50 years old or more and a
heritage item must have reached its 30th
birthday."
Mr. Tiffin, who has been involved with
the flea market for four years, says there is
something for everyone. "The collection
ranges from antique tractor parts to steam
and tractor magazines, replica toys, dishes,
household items and small farm equipment
such as hand plows, hoes and racks."
"There is one vendor who brings a semi
tractor trailer in each year which is filled
with tractor parts, " says Mr. Tiffin.
"With 12 to 15 vendors, the displays
attract a good crowd. Fifty per cent of the
vendors arc dichards who return every' year
and the rest are newcomers or ones who
have attended the event in the past," he says.
"Most of the vendors camp al the
community centre and there is a friendship
which has developed amongst them. They
travel from areas such as London, Port
Elgin, Burgcssville, St. Thomas, Seaforth,
Wingham, Teeswater, Listowel and
Wiarton."
Mr. Tiffin says, "The displays are great
and everyone should enjoy the show."
The antique flea market will be located on
Radford's Ball Diamond.
A mighty tag
The Thresher Reunion has tractor
pulls for the old and the young. This
little driver takes his turn at the
Optimist tractor pull at the 1992
event.
Mark Your Calendar
VAN EGMOND FOUNDATION CRAFT SHOW
on
Saturday, November 19
& Sunday. November 20/94
Seaforth Community Centre
Congratulations and best wishes to
the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion
on their 33rd Anniversary
PLETCH ELECTRIC LTD.
(519) 357-1583
Electrical Contractor
-Motor Sales & Service
- Hydro Poles priced in our yard
or installed in yours
- Trenching
PLETCH ELECTRIC 446 Josephine St. Wingham
Welcome to the 33rd Annual
Threshers Reunion
Willed TJim Se/ww
Car, Truck & Tractor Tires
'Specializing In On The Farm Service'
Ross St. LUCKNOW
Bruce Willits - Pres.
(519) 528-2103