The Citizen, 1994-09-09, Page 16PAGE A !IHECHE/EN. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 7, /994
Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1994
‘Belt setting one of several special adult events
On top of His game
Competitors line up on Saturday and Sunday afternoon to take part in the adult special events, such as the belt setting
contest.
from the tractor, then the person running the
tractor turns it around and lines up the
pulleys to the separator. The second man
then strings out the drive belt, blocks the
separator, then puts the feeder out and wind
blower. The final step is to put up the grain
elevator. When the feeder starts th,e clock
stops and that's when the machine is ready to
thresh and the time is announced.
The difficulty, according to Ray, who
learned from his father, is to line up the
separator so the belt won't fly off. The
second person has the easy job, he says. “It
just comes down to how fast they can run.”
Belt setting can be a dangerous event if
participants don't know what they're doing
and for that reason though the event is open
to any competitors most novices wouldn't
attempt it after seeing it done by someone
else, says Ray.
Each year there are usually about 20
contestants in the belt setting events, one of
the better attended. The attraction Ray
believes is due partly to nostalgia. “People
are reliving a part of their past,” he explains.
The event takes them back some 60 years.
Ray said his ancestors told him there was a
competitive attitude with the old threshing
gangs who would come in to a farmer's field
to thresh and would see who could get the
machine ready the fastest.
There are two other events that Dwight
will be looking after. The bag tying event, he
says, has six bags of grain which contestants
must tie and kick over. The bag can not
come untied and fastest time wins.
In the log sawing contest there are three
One of the many highlights of the Huron
Pioneer Thresher Reunion is the special
requires the most expertise is the belt setting
contest.
events for adults, which attracts people year
after year looking for the challenge of
competition or just to watch.
It is a skill that is passed down from
generation to generation as in the case of the
Hallahans themselves, who usually try their
Organizing the events this year is Dwight
Hallahan, son of Association Past President
Ray Hallahan. Though all the competitions
provide participants with a degree of
challenge, Ray admits that the one that
hand at belt setting each year at the Reunion.
The event is done on both gas tractor and
steam engine. There are two contestants, one
to operate the tractor or engine and one to
operate the separator (threshing machine).
The first step is to unhook the steam engine
They don't very often saw wood like this anymore — thank goodness. The
log sawing competition separates the power cutters from those used to
more power. Special events chairperson Dwight Hallahan, centre, oversees
this contest.
Committee chairpersons gatherfrom many different areas
categories - men's, mixed and ladies'.
At Manning's
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Welcome to the
celebrations at the
33rd Annual Pioneer
Thresher Reunion
Continued from A15
Lloyd Josling and Stephen Tiffin.
Heading the various committees arc steam
engines Jim Sloan, Chcslcy; gas tractors,
Gordon Gross, Aubum; antique tractor pull,
Henry Hendricks, RR 7, Lucknow; special
events, Dwight Hallahan; threshing, Tom
Lciper; Exhibit transportation, John Ellacott,
London; advertising, Susan Van Egmond,
RR 1, Clinton; antique flea market, Stephen
Tiffin; farm produce, Janny Fear, Wingham;
gas, Arie Van Diepan, Seaforth; property,
Carman Craig; sawmill, logs, Wilbert
Phillippi, Chepstow area; wood, Jim Sloan;
parade, Dave Thomson, Wingham; member
ship, Maureen Thomson; registration, Lorna
Vincent; site supervisor, Jeff Thomson,
Auburn; church service, Dave Chitlick,
Hanover; camping, Joe Hallahan (parking),
Chris Courtney (registration); gates, Harry
Wilkins, RR 1, Chcslcy; crafts, Jean Fox;
gas engines, Jack Henderson; models,
Michael Andrews; antique vehicles, Gary
Squires, London; special children's events,
Jeff Peters; parking, Bill Andrews, Aubum;
entertainment co-ordinator, Gladys Van
Egmond, RR 1, Clinton, Dave Chittick;
working displays, Bruce Thomson, Luck
now; grounds, Lloyd Josling; meal tickets
and safety, Bill Vincent; communications,
Ray Hallahan; school program, Dave Mcdd,
Bayfield; souvenirs, Bea Houston; Friday
and Saturday night dance, Jack Van
Egmond, Clinton.
Gary Bob
MANNING’S BUILDING
SUPPLIES LTD.
Corner of Hwy. #4 and Hamilton Street
Blyth Phone 523-9305