The Citizen, 1994-09-09, Page 22PAGEA-22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEP TEMPER 7. 1994
Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1994
Lif^e it was
Tom and Bill Leiper get the grain for the threshing demonstrations at the
Thresher Reunion the old fashioned way — by cutting and stooking.
(Past revived before (Reunion
Each year, the sights, sounds and smells
of the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion
bring memories of the past to thousands of
visitors.
Part of that re-enactment is the actual
threshing of grain with a huffing steam
engine powering a threshing machine. To
make that moment happen, however, there
are volunteers who, weeks before, live
another aspect of those early farming days
by cutting and stooking the grain.
In early August, on a hot, muggy day
brothers Bill and Tom Leiper of RR1,
Londesboro begin the physically demanding
lengthy job of providing the Reunion with
stooks. First die grain is cut with a binder
then deposited onto a canvas. The elevator
canvass takes the grain up to the packers
where a trip is operated when the packers arc
full. Then a catch is released and arms come
around the grain and lie it with twine. These
arms then kick the newly-lied sheaf onto lhe
ground. The sheaves always come out of the
binder with the heads facing back.
The stooks arc made with five sheaves in
each one, then left to dry in the hot sun
before being collected and transported to lhe
Blyth Fairgrounds, the site of the Reunion.
On the average they lake about three loads
of grain.
The process requires time, stamina and
equipment and the slookers have typically
been older retired farmers who know the old
equipment and have a little more lime to gel
lhe job done.
Before the Leipers took on the task in
1989, Frank Hallahan along with his father
Dan, and Norman Cook got the machinery'
ready to bring back those earlier limes.
Binders, as did many machines of lhe era,
seem to lake on an almost human quality.
Today that mood might best be described as
cantankerous , quite fitting for something
being called back to work after years of rest.
The Leipers were ready for the challenge
as, up until a few years ago, they slooked
their own grain and still have all the
machinery in working order.
Though it may take a lol of work, lhe
Leiper brothers enjoy their brief return to lhe
past each year. For fanners who never really
made the transition to mcxlcm equipment it
holds fond memories. "We get a bit of fur
out of it," the Leipers say.
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Congratulations
to the Huron Pioneer Association
on their 33rd Reunion
Make Cook's your supply and service centre.
Analysis
Seed
Division of
Pamsh & Heimbecker. Limited
Supplies
Crop I
Planning 1
I Elevator
Facilities
Fertilizer |Market
prpgramslIlnformatK
PLANNING IS THE KEY TO REACHING
YOUR FARMING GOALS!
Before you make any decisions for 1994
talk to the folks at Cook's.
Amberley
395-3601
Kirkton
229-8986
Walton
887-9261 527-1540
Hen sail
262-2410
Atwood
356-2292
.Centrailia
228-6661
Parkhill
294-6256
Beechwood
232-4281
iVdcome
To everyone attending the
33rd Pioneer Thresher
Reunion
J & H Campbell
Transport Ltd.
Blyth 523-4204
to the organizers of the
33rd Annual
Threshers Reunion________7
At Hamm’s you’ll
always see a good
selection of fully
reconditioned cars &
trucks priced to sell!
1991 Mercury Topaz, 4 door, air,
AM/FM stereo and cassette.
1991 Ford Taurus, 4 door, air,
cruise and tilt.
1987 Mercury Grand Marquis, 4
door, air, cruise, tilt, power
windows, AM/FM stereo and
cassette.
1987 GMC Half Ton, V8,
automatic.
1987 Dodge 250 Van, 6 cyl.,
automatic.
1987 Cadillac Fleetwood
Brougham
1986 Chev Half Ton, 4 3 V6,
automatic
1986 Plymouth Reliant SE,
Station Wagon.
1986 Cutlass Sierra Brougham
1984 Ford LTD, 4 door, air
HAMM’S
BLYTH
PHONE - 523-4342