Remembering the Harvest Practices of Yesterday

 When the rain started falling during Historic Farm Days in Penfield, I made my way to the antique implement display, which was located inside a museum.

1950 Haas, owned by Alan Haas of Roanoke, IL.                  1941 McCormick-Deering, owned by Steward Brothers' of 
                                                                                                Springport, Mich.

Inside, I met the Cleaver family, from Paris, Ky. Silas and Judy had brought their grandson, Jacob, to the event. After taking a photo of the family examining an antique wheat thresher, Silas began to walk me down memory lane.

Silas' farm's principal products are beef and tobacco. He also raises some wheat and corn on what used to be his grandfather's farm, which is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Lexington.

 

1937 John Deere, owned by Ron Jungmeyer of Russellville, Mo.    1953 Farmall Super H, owned by Max Armstrong of
                                                                                                         Naperville, IL.

Along with the farm, Silas' grandfather owned two wheat threshers. He would travel from farm to farm, and folks would bring their crop to the thresher. Silas remembers the dinner and party-like atmosphere that resulted after a hard day's work. Like many old-time traditions, communal wheat threshing is now a distant memory.

While the antique tractors are the main draw at Historic Farm Days, the memories and stories give it life beyond the machinery.