Old Time Threshing Bee

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After missing it for the past few years, I was finally able to attend the Threshing Bee at Sheppard Family Park in High River on August 28th. The park volunteers added to the experience by bringing in a petting zoo, miniature pony rides, games, musicians, displays and fantastic food! It felt like an old time community picnic!
At 11:00 am the old thresher roared into action, with the Case tractor (belonging to the Chalmer's family of Millarville) powering the belt drive, and the threshing began! As we all gathered in the stubble field we experienced the sounds, sights and smells of long ago when the big threshers were in use right here in the foothills. The hay wagons were full of cut stalks of grain and they were forked into the hungry machine by the bundle. One end emptied grain into an antique International grain truck (Mr Cameron's from Turner Valley) and the other spit out the chaff on the ground. There were some farmers in the audience inspecting the grain that was emptying into the truck box while some of the younger generation got an education on how the grain goes from the field to their cereal box.
We toured the park's displays of old tractors, some brand new (from the local Farmway dealer), trucks, implements and the flourishing community garden. We enjoyed a lunch of buffalo burgers and corn on the cob prepared by the hardworking volunteers, outside the schoolhouse.
We listened to the live music as we strolled by the miniature ponies, some giving rides to children and one hitched up to a two-seater. Then onto the petting zoo set up near the Maccoy House. Ruth Maccoy's house was surrounded by gardens of beautiful flowers. It was a perfect day with the sun shining and everyone enjoying themselves.