September 5-6-7, 2014
53rd Annual Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association Reunion
Great fun for all ages See schedule on pages A14 & A15
PAGE A2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A3.
Threshers directors, president welcome you
FAMILIAR FACES IN 2014 — This year’s directors and committee chairs for the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association are, back row, from left: Jim Sloan, Merv Bauer, Deb Hakkers, Keith Moffatt, Edgar Daer, Roy Scotchmer, Mike Hallahan, Doug Cartwright, Joe Hallahan, Marian Hallahan, Marg Moffatt, Ev Dargie, Angie Couto, Don Pattison, Jeff Searson, Bernadette Andrews, Maxine Seers, Bill Seers, Doug Dick and Marilyn Dick. Front row, from left: Harley Searson, Ray Hallahan, Henry Hendriks, Doug McCann,
By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Trina McBride, president of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, says that her first year at the top of the organization’s totem pole has certainly been an eyeopener. “I had no idea the president does so much,” McBride said. McBride says that her job has been made much easier by the executive
that is in place and all of the volunteers that make the annual reunion run smoothly year after year. Only the second female president in the association’s history (Bea Houston was the first in 1988-1989), McBride says it is a great honour to serve the association in the capacity of president. In fact, the whole reason McBride first decided to get more involved with the organization was that she felt it needed more female
Annie Pritchard, Gladys Van Egmond, Jackie Lantinga, Trina McBride, Bill McClure, Bill Roper, Brad McBride, Barry Young, Peter Hendriks and Judy Sloan. Absent were: Bob Sloan, Jayne Ross, Roy Finck, Karen Finck, Janny Fear, George Townsend, Roy Robertson, Donna Bauer, Tom Dickson, John Green, Arlene Green, Alicha Hallahan, Doug Howatt, Gary Courtney, Wilbert Phillippi and Fred Hakkers. (Denny Scott photo)
participation year after year. “I always thought we needed more women involved with the reunion,” McBride said. “The opportunity came up for me to be a director and I took it.” McBride first got involved as a director with the association in 2008. She spent time as a director, then as second vice-president and first vicepresident before taking over as president this year. As for her personal involvement
with the reunion, McBride has been attending since she was a kid. Her father was the proud owner of a 1928 Model A Ford that he began bringing to Blyth in 1973. Soon enough, she began to see Brad, her eventual husband, who had very similar interests. They attended their first show together in 1989 and have made it a mark on their calendars for every year since. After getting married, the pair first attended a reunion together in 1989.
McBride says that it’s a good thing that both she and Brad have an interest in the association and its annual reunion, because similar interests are key to a long, healthy marriage. “If you both don’t have similar interests, then one person’s going to get left behind,” McBride joked. In their younger days, McBride says, there was a time that they were attending antique shows, steam Continued on page A4
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PAGE A4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Reunion a way of life for the McBride family on women attending the reunion and creating programming targeted at them. Ev Dargie is now in charge of the program, McBride says, and she has done a great job this year of lining up interesting speakers that should appeal to women of all ages, which is important to McBride.
“It’s important to have those activities for women, because I feel that in most households, it’s the mothers who decide where the family goes for a day out,” she said. “If you create something interesting for the mothers of the house, you’ll start to see younger families coming out to the reunion.”
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On The Menu At The Branch POWERED BY STEAM — The annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association is an event that’s circled on the McBride calendar every year. Trina, now president of the association, has been attending the event since she was a child. (File photo) Continued from page A3 shows and farm machinery shows every weekend, bringing their two young children with them. In recent years, however, they have been going to fewer and fewer shows, but always making it a point to be in Blyth for the annual reunion. Living in a home that was built in 1872, McBride says that she and Brad clearly have an appreciation for all things antique. McBride’s area of interest has always been antique washing machines, she says. She has always had an appreciation for all things antique, so something like the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer
Thresher and Hobby Association, is a perfect gathering for her. She even has an antique machine in her living room, one of her most prized possessions. One of the biggest challenges McBride has had to face in the weeks leading up to the reunion has been her full-time job. While many of the association’s presidents and many members of its executive in recent years have been retired, McBride holds a full-time job as a computer trainer for learning services with the Avon Maitland District School Board, assisting students with special needs. She has leaned heavily on Brad and
Antique cars return By Emily Manns The Citizen Bill and Maxine Seers are in the midst of preparing for the arrival of this year’s collection of antique cars for the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, which Bill hopes will have an even bigger turnout than last year. The cars will once again be put on display at the baseball diamond in the centre of the campground, surrounded by the various food concessions and some of the other outdoor exhibits. “We don’t really have any idea of what’s going to come yet, but like every year, we’re expecting specialty cars and the real antiques,” said Bill. He talked about some of his own antique cars during an interview with The Citizen, which include a
Thresher Supplement is published by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 Tel.: 519-523-4792 Fax: 519-523-9140 Website: www.northhuron.on.ca Email: info@northhuron.on.ca
1948 Monarch five passenger and a 1961 Thunderbird, both of which he recently showed off in Goderich at its weekly farmers’ market, flea market and car show event. “They must have had well over 200 antique cars out there,” he Continued on page A27
other members of the executive for help in the weeks leading up to the reunion. “There’s no way I can take the first week of school off [the week leading up to the reunion], so Brad has been helping out quite a bit,” McBride says, adding that Peter Hendricks has also been a great help. As far as her time as president is concerned, McBride says she has plenty of ideas for the future that are already beginning to take shape. One of the first things she hopes to establish is a building fund for the association. The organization was given an antique cider press years ago and, similar to the construction of the saw mill and the log cabin, McBride hopes that a building can be erected to house the cider press, creating one more attraction for the reunion. She says the building certainly won’t be up in her time as president (2014/2015), but she hopes to see it up in the coming years. In addition, she says she has been pleased to see the progression of the Lifestyles tent, which carries a focus
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A5.
1951 Studebaker Champion a true Canadian auto had initially thought. “We found that it needed three new fenders, and some other bits and pieces,” Reath said. The vehicle was restored by Terry Kauth from Tavistock, Reath said. “He did it during the summer for three years. We also had to have the chrome done which we did little piece by little piece as we could afford it.” Some of the more memorable parts of getting the vehicle up and running were the road trips according to both Reath and his wife. The two went, at different times, to pick up some fenders from Florida, the wiring harness from Rhode Island and a new interior from Salem, Ohio. “Those were some memorable trips,” Reath said. “We didn’t really
have to hunt for many other parts, but that wiring harness was made specifically for the 1951 model Studebaker.” After the trips, replacing the chrome and getting everything fixed, the vehicle was on the road and, for the last four years, Reath has been showing it. “We go to the Blyth show, and we’ve gone to Ilderton for a show there,” he said. “We also trailered it to Belleville for a ‘Made in Canada’ show two years ago as well as taking it to other, smaller shows not that far away.” To see the unique, made-inCanada automobile, visit the Antique Vehicle Display at the infield of the baseball diamond near the Blyth and District Community Centre during the reunion.
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A CHAMPION OF ANTIQUES — Allan, shown, and Ruth Reath of Stratford have put a lot of tender loving care into this year’s feature antique vehicle, the 1951 Studebaker Champion. (Photo submitted)
By Denny Scott The Citizen There are several reasons that Allan and Ruth Reath restored a 1951 Studebaker Champion that they purchased nearly two decades ago but two of the major reasons are uniqueness and a family connection. The car, which is the featured vehicle at the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association’s annual reunion this year, represents the latest in a long line of
Studebakers that the Reath family has driven, according to Allan. “When I grew up, my parents had a Studebaker in the 1930s, and, as I got older, they picked up a 1949 Studebaker truck,” he said. “That was one of the first vehicles I drove right after I got my licence.” His own history with Studebaker goes back nearly 30 years, he said, when he bought a 1947 Studebaker truck from Fraser Haugh, a retired farmer who had moved into Bluevale.
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“We had the truck first, and that was 30 some odd years ago,” he said. “In 1996 we bought the car and, for a few years it just sat there, then we got it up and running.” Reath also said he appreciates the oddity of owning a Studebaker. “You see so many of the big names, the Fords and the Chevs, but not many Studebakers,” he said. “It’s good that they are still around.” The vehicle is also a piece of Canadian history as it was originally produced in Hamilton and first sold at a car lot in Southampton. While the vehicle had looked good when the couple purchased it at an auction of the late Lloyd Collins’ estate in Ashfield Township in 1996, when they got it home, it required more work than they
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PAGE A6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Working displays continue to dazzle the eye been attending the reunion for 35 years though.” Wallace, who owns and operates Sharp’s Creek Forge outside of Goderich, said that the reunion likely played a part in his career path. “I was amazed as a kid by the machines and the engines,” he said. “It was so quiet, not like diesel engines. I developed a love of machinery and I think that took me to smithing.” Wallace says that the reunion is the best show around and he was more than happy when he was originally invited to demonstrate his work there. While he now has a permanent workshop on the ground featuring an anvil and everything he needs, he
originally just worked with a forge surrounded by a chain to keep the crowds back. Whether it’s in the workshop, which is nearly completely open, or surrounded by chains, Wallace said that he’s always found it a pleasure being at the site. “It’s great to be there and work away,” he said. “We see kids on Friday, and they have lots of questions, which isn’t surprising because they have probably never seen a blacksmith or steam traction engines for that matter.” Wallace limits his creations to small, hand-held items because he feels that helps people connect with what he’s showing them if they can hold it in their hands. Working with Continued on page A7
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By Denny Scott The Citizen Visiting the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association isn’t just about steam engines and machinery, it’s also about taking a look back at the way things used to be and, in some cases, still are, done. Henry Hendriks is in charge of what’s called the working displays for the show, which features artisans and craftspeople giving hands-on demonstrations of different skills. “This year we may have a shepherd’s wagon,” he said. “It was built as a display to show on the ground and is a replica of an old wagon used in England.” Hendriks said that the wagon is like a mobile centre for shepherds to work out of and it will give a good idea of how life might have been at the turn of the century for people raising and birthing lambs. As far as the tried and tested, Hendriks pointed to smiths, a silversmith and blacksmith, who have been appearing at reunions for quite awhile showing people what their trades are all about.
Stan Christie, a silversmith, has been coming to the reunion for the past two years. Brad McBride, a member of the association’s executive and friend of Christie’s, asked him to become involved. “He saw what I was doing and asked if I would come up and demonstrate,” Christie explained. “I’ve been a silversmith for five or six years. I got started by taking a course at the Haliburton School of Art.” Christie said that while silversmiths do make pretty much anything out of silver, he doesn’t do soldering at the site and instead focuses on simpler works like showing how to make a container. “What I like to do is called raising a vessel,” he said. “You take a flat piece of material and turn it into a cup or bowl or similar vessel.” He said the great thing about being at the campground is that people don’t typically get to see how silversmithing is done. “People have never experienced it before,” he said. “Sometimes you get to see a blacksmith, like at the reunion, or on television, but you
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don’t often get to see a silversmith.” He says he enjoys talking to people and answering questions, especially on Friday when students from local public schools are at the reunion. “It’s a little busy, but it’s great to see the kids,” he said. “It’s all part of why I like being there, I get to talk to people, show them what I do and see who is interested.” Christie, a toolmaker by trade, is usually stationed near Jim Wallace who, for the past two decades, has been showing show attendees what being a blacksmith is all about. “I can’t remember when I started, but I think it’s been about 20 years at the blacksmith’s shop at the reunion,” Wallace said in an interview with The Citizen. “I’ve
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A7.
Lantinga has big shoes to fill The Citizen
DISPLAYS THAT WORK — One of the most interesting aspects of the working displays at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association is what Stan Christie does with silver. He has been working on the trade for over five years and plans to show his work off again this year. (File photo)
Silversmith back at reunion again Continued from page A6 small pieces also keeps the demonstrations short. “There is a lot to see and a lot to do so people aren’t waiting two hours to see how a piece of fence or a gate turns out,� he said. “I try to only make items like hooks or flowers and then hand them out.� He likes to show the techniques for handling the metal and, if he hands out a business card or two or inspires some younger individuals to look at smithing as a career, that’s a bonus. Wallace said that he is just ‘one small cog’ in the machine that is the
After 32 years as secretary of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, Marian Hallahan has decided it’s time to pass on the role to someone new. Jackie Lantinga is only the third person ever to take over the secretary position, the other two being Marian and her uncle Simon Hallahan before her. Taking on this new responsibility, Lantinga, who is also in charge of co-ordinating the food for the event, is getting a taste of just how much work the secretary has to do to in order to keep things running smoothly. “I’m just looking at it one day at a time,� said Lantinga.� She admits that it hasn’t been the easiest position to adjust to, but she has managed to keep on top of things up to this point thanks to the support and guidance Hallahan continues to provide. “She will help me with anything I need,� said Lantinga, “I don’t think there’s anyone who knows as much about [the reunion] as she does.� There are very few people, according to Lantinga, who realize that the success of this annual event relies in part on the work done behind the scenes, and how much of it had been overseen by Hallahan over the past three decades. “Her job was really as a major coordinator, co-ordinating the whole big picture,� said Lantinga.
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“It’s been very interesting, and I’m getting more comfortable as time goes by,� said Lantinga. Being the main contact for the association, most of Lantinga’s time is spent answering questions or, if it’s outside of her knowledge area, connecting those asking to the Continued on page A20
reunion and that there are bigger attractions than his booth, such as the singing and step dancing, but he says that he still feels proud that he’s able to entertain people and show them how blacksmithing works. He said that being part of that machine is great, however, as he knows that anything with that many facets will continue to succeed. “The Blyth steam show will go on,� he said. “There might be new personnel and a few less steam engines and a few more tractors, but the show will keep going because there are so many interesting things for people to see and do.�
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PAGE A8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Feature steam engine a Wynen family heirloom as much work as the feature one. “It’s definitely difficult to estimate how long it took to restore the engine as it’s happened twice in its history,” he said. “Each time it probably took about three years and we needed to do a small touch-up last year.” The last major work on it, however, was as big as it gets for steam engines. “It had a new boiler built at Boilersmith in Seaforth,” Matt said. “The boiler was finished in 2002, but then it took about three years after that to get everything perfected and dialed in.” Matt went on to explain that he and his brother have a few different engines right now, including a 1925 MacDonald that was made in Stratford.
Working on the engines isn’t the work of one person or a set of brothers, however, as a group of families near the Wynens have been working together to get all their engines in top shape. “We have a little group we call the Elite Steam Restoration Team,” he said. “There are eight people, three different families working together and we all have steam engines. “We go back and forth and pool our resources together between painting and machining,” he said. “Some are good at foundry connections, others are good at pattern making. It takes a lot to get something when you’re missing pieces for these engines so the more resources and people you have working together, the better.”
Congratulations Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association
KMM F A R M A HISTORY WITH HISTORY — The Wynen brothers, George, left, and Matt, right, took over the showing of the 1912 20 horsepower Sawyer Massey shown above when their grandfather passed away. The duo has been at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association many times and is very happy to have their grandfather’s engine chosen to be the feature steam engine for this year’s reunion. (Photo submitted)
By Denny Scott The Citizen Five years ago, brothers George and Matt Wynen of Cambridge inherited this year’s feature steam engine, a 1912, 20 horsepower Sawyer Massey that belonged to their grandfather, at the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association reunion. “It was my grandfather’s and we rebuilt it with him,” Matt said. “It wasn’t in working condition when he got it and it needed a new boiler and a full rebuild.” The brothers were happy to take over showing the engine, Matt said, as they’ve been attending the reunion in Blyth as long as he or his brother can remember. The family has also received the honour of being the feature engine once before. “It’s pretty cool being chosen,” he
said. “We’ve had one other engine featured and it’s pretty neat. It’s always a surprise because you pull up in front of the grandstand, it’s quite an honour.” Matt explained that being featured is prestigious in his opinion because the engine is chosen by the people who restore the engines. “This year, we’ll pick next year’s feature engine,” he said. “It’s not just random people. It’s people who restore the steam engines and know what things are going on.” While the experience of showing an engine, running it in the parade and maybe having it used to run a machine or two on the Blyth Campgrounds is a great experience, Matt admitted that it’s a tough experience to break into. “It’s a hard thing to get involved in, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “It’s expensive. I don’t want to
Enjoy the Reunion!
discourage people from purchasing equipment and trying to show it, but there is a lot involved.” Matt explained there is a yearly inspection through the non-profit organization the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) done on the pressure vessel of its engine. At the beginning of the season there is also a start-up, wash and fill-up and, due to the relative age of most of the machines, there is usually something that needs to be adjusted, especially on an engine that has seen
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Steam engines present through perseverance, expense can result in a large cost to get the engine back into displayable shape. “I have an engine myself, but I can’t take it off my property because it didn’t pass its inspection,” he said. “It needs a new boiler and they can cost anywhere from $35,000 to $50,000.” Despite those rising costs, there are still people coming to the show and showing off their steam engines, Searson said, and those individuals need to be thanked. “When you see those engines in the parade, you have to be aware of
what it takes, not just to transport them here, but to keep them safe so they can be put on display here,” he said. The engines are also put to work on the property he said, as they operate attractions like the sawmill. The nine steam engines that are coming this year are joined once again by a steam shovel, Searson explained. The shovel is a 1929 Erie steam shovel and it draws a lot of attention. “It’s a very big attraction,” he said.
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STEAM ENGINES A LABOUR OF LOVE — Steam engines, like the one that powers the Erie steam shovel shown above, are heavily regulated and require a great deal of testing, maintenance and inspections before they can be legally allowed on the grounds at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. The engines also require their own insurance on top of the insurance carried by the association. (File photo)
By Denny Scott The Citizen While transporting a piece of machinery like a full-sized steam engine or a steam shovel might seem like the biggest part of having it on display at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, even being allowed to have it there is quite a challenge. Harley Searson, who is in charge of lining up the steam attractions for the reunion, said that people don’t realize exactly what a steam operator needs to do throughout the months and years leading up to the shows to
keep their machines in working order. “The boilers need to be inspected,” he said. “It’s part of getting the engine licensed and they need insurance and then the association needs its own insurance. “That’s my big job,” he said. “With a show the size of the reunion, there needs to be one dedicated person to keep information for the steam engines insurance and liability and inspecting and collecting the rest of the paperwork.” That paperwork has become harder and harder to deal with over the years, Searson said, as
inspections have become more costly and, in the case of a unit failing an inspection, it can cost a fortune to get it back up and running. “Every 10 years or so, there has to be a big inspection done of the engines,” he said. “The thickness of the boilers are checked and the seams or rivets are checked that hold them together. It costs up to $2,000 for the inspections.” Because of the cost, he isn’t surprised that, in recent years, the number of engines have dropped from 15 or 16 to the nine he expects to see this year. If a boiler is inspected and fails, it
Congratulations Huron Pioneer Thresher & Hobby Assoc. on your 53rd Reunion
Vendors feature bedding, sauce By Denny Scott The Citizen The outdoor vendors for this year’s annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association are a mix of the new, with a lot of the tried, tested and true according to organizer Janny Fear. “We’ve got Jim Dale coming this year and, while he has been here other years with coats and apparel, he’s changed up and is going to sell soup mixes, nuts and more,” she said. “We also have Elizabeth McKellar, who is from Strathroy, making buckwheat pillows and mattresses. It’s a practice that has been around for a number of years, but we haven’t had it here.” Another new entry is the mysterious Saucy Sisters. The duo sells gourmet dips and seasoning and are only known by their doubleentendre moniker. The tried and true returning include the Gay Lea museum featuring antique farmers equipment for milking, Mapleton Organics featuring organic ice cream, Vanastra’s Andrew Phillips with his canoes, Med-E-Ox from Goderich offering scooters for rent, Bruce Roper who makes plaster cow-horns and Ben Driscoll with his reunionfamous apple products. “We have a really good group of people,” Fear said.
Other vendors of interest included Russell Archer who makes wooden board games such as crokinole and Bill Tedesco of Wingham who is making wooden planters for raised
gardens and gardens on railings. “It should be a great event,” Fear said. “Whether it’s a nifty trinket, satin pillow cases, apples or scarves, there is something for everyone with the outdoor vendors.”
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PAGE A10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Townsend tight-lipped on petting zoo additions By Emily Manns The Citizen Papa’s Petting Zoo has a few new surprises in store for visitors this year, but organizer ‘Papa’ George Townsend says you’ll just have to
come out and take a look for yourself to find out what they are. “I still have a bunch of the old stuff. We’ll have the ponies and the donkey and the calves and some chickens and all that, but there are some new things, so they’ll just have
to come and have a look,” he said. Townsend was pleased with last years’ turnout after the petting zoo was moved to a more easily accessible location which, as Townsend described during an interview with The Citizen, was nice and close to all the action. “I’ll bet you we had more people through in the first day than we had all together up on the hill [the former location], and there were even people that I’d
never seen before,” he said. It was his great-nephew Trevor who first convinced him to take over the zoo some years ago, but now that Trevor is all grown up, Townsend’s grandsons have taken to helping him out. “They just love helping out,” he said. Knowing how hard it can be to keep the children entertained and wanting to keep coming back each year, Townsend is always looking to
add something new. Last year, it was a kid-powered water pump and a three little pigs playhouse, which was a big hit. “There were times that you could hardly move around in the tent, there were that many kids and people in there,” said Townsend. The zoo will once again be working alongside the sheep shearing demonstration at the new location, right next to the children’s pedal tractor pull.
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A11.
Reunion’s entertainment features old and new acts www.blythsteamshow.on.ca. The entertainment will wrap up Sunday afternoon on the main stage
with an encore performance by the Country Versitiles, followed by an Continued on page A12
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SUNDAY MORNING CHURCH SERVICE – There’s usually music occurring somewhere at any given time during the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. Whether acts are on the main stage, picking a tune in the Lifestyles tent or even taking to the big stage in Shed 3 during the church service on Sunday, there is usually somewhere people can find to tap their toes and enjoy music. (File photo)
By Emily Manns The Citizen The entertainment line-up for this year’s Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association reunion is sure to have everyone tapping their feet to the musical beat. With a combination of both new and old performances, there’s sure to be something for everyone, according to organizer Gladys Van Egmond, who has been in charge of the reunion’s entertainment for over 30 years. To kick things off, John Heaman’s Band will be returning again this year, performing on the main stage Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Twilight Serenaders are also coming back, and will be playing at the Lifestyles tent from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by a jam session hosted by Jack Hackett in Shed 2.
In the auditorium from 9 p.m. until midnight, the crowd is invited to an evening of dancing to the music of the Country Versitiles. This was a new band they brought in last year, and their great performance has them coming back for an encore. Registration for the fiddle competition will open Saturday morning at 11 a.m., with the competition kicking off at 12:30 p.m. at Shed 3. Pierce’s Orchestra will be hitting the main stage Saturday afternoon, at which time the Clinton Pipe Band will also be performing elsewhere on the campgrounds from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday evening, Randy Satchell’s Band will be playing back at the Lifestyles tent from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m., while the Blyth and District Community Centre Auditorium will be open for dancing from 9 p.m. until midnight to the music stylings of Tri-Country. The annual church service will be held Sunday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Shed 3, with a special musical performance by the seven-man gospel group Audibly Awesome. The step dancing competition, which, according to Van Egmond, is always a real crowd pleaser, starts at 12:30 p.m., and requires competitors to pre-register for it at
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PAGE A12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Dickson looks back on his term as president
RETIRED — Tom Dickson, the outgoing president of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, says being president is a ‘whole new ball game’ from other experiences. (File photo)
By Emily Manns The Citizen As the new Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association president Trina McBride rises to the challenge of overseeing this year’s reunion, past-president Tom Dickson, in an interview with The Citizen, took a moment to look back on his own time spent in that position, and what he hoped to see in the future of this event. Dickson was the president of the
association for two years, and during that time, he felt he learned a great deal about how challenging, but at the same time rewarding, working with so many people can be. “It was a great bunch of people to work with,” he said. “There’s, I don’t know how many different committees, but a lot of the members have been there for a few years at least. Then, if somebody new comes on the committee, they’re there to give them advice.”
Before becoming the president, Dickson was on the board of directors for three years. He then moved up to second vice-president and eventually first-vice president, which he says could not be compared to his time spent as president. “The presidency is a whole new ball game,” he said. “You can be as active as the committee chair wants you to be, and people are always looking for advice. I was never involved in anything quite that demanding before.” Despite the challenges, Dickson says he was happy with some of the changes the group was able to make to the event during his term. He feels they have improved the quality of the reunion immensely. One of his proudest accomplishments was organizing people movers for those with accessibility issues, which are capable of holding 10 wheelchairs and scooters. They were especially useful on their seniors’ day. “That’s really what helped the seniors to see the show better, and those are the people who remember the era, so I was really happy to see that done,” said Dickson. He has enjoyed watching the reunion grow and expand every year, and even though he is no longer the president of the association, he continues to volunteer his time
helping with the camping during the event. “I was chair of the camping for three years, and that’s a big job as we have about 750 RVs come in. I still help out with the camping and tractors and stuff,” he said. Dickson got the chance to work quite a bit with incoming president McBride, who was both the second and first vice-president under him during his presidency. “I was quite willing to help train her, as she’s got a little more difficult time than I had, because I’m retired,
and she’s got a day job, and that makes it tougher. But she’s done a good job,” he said. For the reunion to continue being as successful as it has been for years to come, Dickson says that they need to cater to what it is the people want, and continue to offer something new and exciting alongside the classics. “I know there are people who have been coming to the show every year, and we need to make sure we have something new every year, so it’s not the same old show.”
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TOE-TAPPIN’ TUNES — Pierce’s Orchestra is one of many fan favourites that has been taking the stage at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association for several years. (File photo)
Jam sessions open to public Continued from page A11 evening jam session with Jim Scott. With so many different acts to organize, Van Egmond has been thankful for the help that Annie Pritchard, or ‘Granny Annie’ as many have come to know her by, and her daughter have provided in putting everything together. “Annie has been a really great help, and my daughter has been looking after the money end of things,” she said. Also returning from last year is the jam sessions series that will be taking place every evening prior to the main reunion events, starting on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. with emcees Glen Hodgins in Shed 1 and John Jewitt in Shed 2. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, jam sessions will be held in all three sheds, with Jewitt in Shed 1, Annie Pritchard taking over Shed 2, and Marjorie Love hosting the old tyme dancing in Shed 3. All three sheds will be occupied yet again Thursday evening, with sessions running until midnight, featuring Hodgins in Shed 1, Jack Hackett in Shed 2 and Tom Melady in Shed 3. Melady will also be hosting another jam session Friday night in Shed 3, alongside Richard Lobb who will be taking over Shed 2.
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A13.
Daers put years into restoring 1951 Cockshutt lot of experience.� Edgar said he stripped the tractor down to the bare bones and started anew, going through a mental checklist of which parts still worked and which ones needed to be replaced.
First and foremost, Edgar found that the Cockshutt needed a new engine. He enlisted the help of Londesborough’s Ontario Used Tractor Parts to help him find what he needed, and then his friend Henry Continued on page A16
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SHOWING OFF — Renske Ribbink-Daer and her husband Edgar Daer will be showing off their prized 1951 Cockshutt 30 tractor, above, this year, as it is the feature tractor for this year’s reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. Edgar has been “tinkering� with tractors for years and is hoping to show a 1952 Cockshutt tractor for the first time at this year’s reunion and hopes to have a 1932 Farmall ready for 2015, though the latter may prove to be a weighty task. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen This year’s reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association will mark the fourth year that Edgar Daer and Renske Ribbink-Daer will be showing off their 1951 Cockshutt 30, but it has been a long road to get to this point. The tractor, this year’s featured tractor, was originally purchased by Renske and her first husband John in the early 1960s. The tractor, for which they paid $1,250 at the time, was used when it first made its way into the Ribbink family. It was originally purchased from Earl McConnell, a Cockshutt dealer near Tiverton. While the machine served the family well for about 20 years, in the
earlys 1980s, it began to slow down. “It just quit. It was tired,� says Renske. Despite the fact that it “was tired� the tractor still had many suitors. Renske says that at one point, a cousin in Holland wished to buy the tractor, but with the strong family ties to the machine, the Ribbinks decided to keep the Cockshutt, despite the fact that it was on blocks in the garage, with the motor removed. It would remain in that state for nearly 30 years, until in 2009, Renske’s new husband Edgar, who describes himself as a “tinkerer�, decided to try and restore the machine to its former glory. “I looked at it and I didn’t even know where to start,� Edgar said of the 1951 Cockshutt 30. “It had a
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A15.
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Gates Open Displays, crafts Student activities Working displays (ongoing) Lifestyles Tent (ongoing) 10:00 am Fun Tractor Pull Horse Demonstration 10:30 am John Heaman’s Band (Main Stage) Threshing Demonstrations 11:00 am Guide Dogs 12:00 noon Beans are ready 12:30 pm Opening Ceremony 1:00 pm Special Events Fun Tractor Pull 1:15 pm Threshing Demonstration 2:00 pm Guide Dogs 4:00 pm Parade Shriners’ Fish Fry (Lions Park) 6:00 pm Twilight Serenaders (Tent) 8:00 pm - 12:00 am Jam Session (Tent) 9:00 pm - 12:00 am Country Versatiles (Auditorium)
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PAGE A16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Daers walk long road of restoration with tractor Continued from page A13 Hendricks of Lucknow to help him rebuild the motor. “Henry came to my rescue,” Edgar said. He said that in addition to the
physical work that went into the rebuilding of the tractor, there was also a certain “treasure hunt” aspect to the process that he found very exciting. “I needed a lot of stuff,” Edgar
said. “So if I needed something that was tough to find, when I eventually found it, it felt pretty good.” Edgar said that when the restoration was complete, he was Continued on page A17
Best Wishes Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association on your 53rd Reunion MS 170 Gas Chain Saw THE LONG ROAD OF RESTORATION — It took several years and a lot of hard work, but the Daer family has restored a 1951 Cockshutt 30. It was a “tired” machine, above, but after a lot of work and a new paint job by Bill Burkholder, below, the tractor started to look, and run, a lot better. (Photos submitted)
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A17.
Sloan, Daer aim to keep kids busy at reunion again looking forward to hosting the children’s pedal tractor pull, which has been moved from its original location at the ball diamonds to a grassy area next to the petting zoo and sheep shearing demonstration. “Hopefully we’re in a more kid friendly area now,� he said. Last year, around 40 children participated in the pedal pull, and with the change in location, Sloan is hoping to see just as many kids this Continued on page A21
By Denny Scott The Citizen There will be plenty of opportunities for kids to test out their farming skills this year as the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association strives to immerse today’s youth in the history of Canadian agriculture at its annual reunion. Bob Sloan said in an interview with The Citizen that he is once
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AM I DOING THIS RIGHT? — There is no wrong technique when it comes to children’s tractor pulls, as organizers Edgar Daer and Bob Sloan will tell you. If you’re having fun, you’re doing it right. (File photo)
Farmall Daer’s next project Continued from page A16 extremely proud of the work he had put into it and how great the finished product looked. “It was a great feeling,� Renske said. “We [Renske and her first husband John] bought it second hand, so I had never seen it look that good.� The first chance the Daers had to show off the “new� tractor was at the 2010 Mitchell Antique Steam Show, but Edgar recalls that the experience was less than ideal and not exactly the showcase he was hoping it would be. “It poured rain during the entire parade,� Edgar said. “There was rain pouring out of everything.� He said that while that first experience was “underwhelming� he was still excited to have it out of the garage for the first time. The following week was the 2010 reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association in Blyth, which served as the tractor’s real introduction to the outside world. “People thought it looked really nice, I heard a lot of good comments,� Edgar said. In addition to all of the great comments he received, congratulating him on his hard work, he also received a little ribbing from friends who knew him better than most. Daer has been collecting Massey tractors since the 1980s, so the friends who knew this about him teased that the Cockshutt looked nice, but that it was the wrong shade of red. He has since expanded his collection beyond Massey tractors, including a restored Allis Chalmers tractor as well as a few Farmalls, which were made by International years ago. It is a 1932 Farmall, in fact, that is Edgar’s next project. It will be a project too, he says, as it looks like a big “piece of rust� sitting in his garage. However, he’s hoping to have the tractor restored and running in time for the 2015 reunion, when International will once again be the featured tractor. The tractor, Edgar says, is the first Farmall ever produced. In fact, it
was so early in the brand’s life that the 1932 tractor wasn’t even given a model name. It was simply a Farmall. As later models were built, he said, the 1932 Farmall was retroactively named the Farmall Regular. Edgar says that his work on the Farmall has been restricted to buying it and rolling it into his garage. He has no idea if it runs, or the parts it will need in order to be restored. It will certainly be a challenge, he says. For this year’s reunion, Edgar is in the final stages of restoring a 1952 Cockshutt that he purchased just outside of Matheson, Ontario. It, like the 1951 Cockshutt, was painted by Bill Burkholder, the Daers’ neighbour. The Daers bought the tractor last fall and hoped to have it restored for this year’s reunion. Edgar says he is confident he will be able to meet that deadline. Because of his love of antique
tractors, Edgar has been attending the reunion since its early years. In the early 1980s he first got involved with the organization. He soon became a director with the association and then its president in 2002-2003. He looks back on his presidency and says that it was a great time for him, but when he took over the position, he realized how much he still had to learn. “I certainly knew a lot more the second year I was president,� he said. Renske says that in the early years of her life, she didn’t even know that events like steam shows existed. When she married Edgar in 2006, she felt she should be involved because of how involved her husband was. She says she enjoys attending the reunion year after year and looks forward to seeing the same people, as well as some new ones, every year.
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PAGE A18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Chainsaw artist Steve Scott returns for third year skills to use in a creative way and he has been practising on a regular basis ever since. Scott took an interesting path to chainsaw artistry, saying he always liked to draw when he was a child. He was always artistic, so when he and his co-workers began seeing what they could do with a chainsaw and a log several years ago, Scott felt it was a natural fit. His biggest project to date is a log cabin that he made for his mother. Hundreds of hours of work have gone into the two-floor structure. The cabin is destined for the back of his parents’ lot, where it will serve as a sugar shack in the back bush that houses several maple trees. His prototype for the cabin was a much, much smaller version he produced two years ago, which he has
since displayed at the annual reunion. In his years as a chainsaw artist, Scott has created sculptures of bears, a snake, an angel and two bears fighting over a fish. In past years, Scott has auctioned off some of his creations to help raise money for Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, having success at the annual Threshers Reunion.
Get breaking farm news on the Rural Voice section of our website at northhuron.on.ca
Best Wishes to the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association on another successful Reunion
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By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Now in his third straight year at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, chainsaw artist Steve Scott will return after being a big draw in his first two years. Scott, of Ashfield-ColborneWawanosh, said in an interview with The Citizen that it’s his interactions with the students at the reunion that keeps him wanting to come back. While being a chainsaw artist is something that would naturally attract Huron County children to
your display, it was when Scott started interacting with the students that their relationship really took off. Scott got “bored” making traditional sculptures at the reunion his first year, so he began asking local students what their last name was. He would then carve the first initial of their family name into spare pieces of wood, giving students a souvenir to take home with them from the reunion. “At first I didn’t know what to expect, so I started making stuff for the kids. I think they liked it,” Scott said after his first reunion. A mechanic by day, Scott first
started experimenting with wood carving when he worked for a log builder. After working professionally with a chainsaw, Scott knew his way around the machine, but it was only six years ago when he first put those
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A19.
Churches, service clubs step up to provide food have traditionally been church groups and community service clubs and thanks to these dedicated volunteers, we’ve managed to keep it that way,” said Lantinga during and interview with The Citizen. According to Lantinga, people can expect much the same food selection as in previous years, but there are a couple of new additions to the menu
By Emily Manns The Citizen As always, Food Co-ordinator Jackie Lantinga has made sure there will be no shortage of delicious food for the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association Reunion, along with volunteers to serve it. “Food vendors on the grounds
she thinks people will really enjoy. The Blyth United Church will once again be overseeing the lunch and supper meals for its third year in a row, featuring both hot and cold dishes, and even some homemade pies. New this year, the church will be providing a take-out option where Continued on page A22
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PAGE A20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Student attendance at a high according to organizer Studebaker Champion, owned by Allan and Ruth Reath of Stratford. This year’s reunion will also feature a special presentation on guide dogs. The demonstration will feature all of the skills that the specially-trained dogs have, assisting people with special needs in their day-to-day activities. The presentations will take place on Friday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. While Hallahan says he doesn’t receive a lot of direct feedback from area teachers, he hears a lot of positive comments from those
working in both the log cabin and the blacksmith shop, saying that the students are often very inquisitive and interested in the pioneer way of life when coming through those stations. Hallahan has been involved with the reunion for a number of years. For the last two years he served as the association’s past-president while Tom Dickson served as president. Trina McBride is now in her first year as president, shifting Dickson to past-president for 20142015.
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519-523-4356 Best Wishes to the Huron Pioneer Thresher & Hobby Association GETTING HANDS ON — Students at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association can get up close, personal and hands-on with everything from animals to steam engines. (File photo)
By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Between increased participation with local schools and the newlydeveloped scavenger hunt, student attendance at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association is as high as it has been in years. Mike Hallahan, a former teacher who has been in charge of the school programs for a number of years, says that while expectations were low several years ago after several local schools closed, attendance has actually increased in the wake of the closures. The reunion had, for years, been a staple in the annual curriculum of Blyth Public School students, so when that school closed several years ago, those involved with the association wondered what that would mean for the future of the reunion and its relationship with the community’s young people. After the closure of Blyth, East Wawanosh and Wingham Public Schools, Hallahan began a dialogue with those involved with both Hullett Central Public School in Londesborough and Maitland River Elementary School in Wingham. Hullett Central students now attend Friday of the reunion
New secretary gets a little help from friends Continued from page A7 people who can help. She says it can be overwhelming at times, and even though there were moments where she thought there wasn’t enough time to finish certain tasks, thanks to Hallahan, as well as the executives and directors of the association, everything has moved along without a hitch. “I’m just looking forward to winding things up successfully,” said Lantinga.
regularly, along with a large group of students from Maitland River Elementary School. The students attending the reunion have typically been in Grade 3, the year when a unit on the pioneer way of life has historically been taught. “The schools have been very cooperative,” said Hallahan in an interview with The Citizen. With the creation of the reunion’s scavenger hunt, Hallahan says he feels students are getting more out of the event than ever, as they’re seeing more of it than they ever have before. Hallahan crafted the scavenger hunt to include 20 different items. The idea was that students would have to have their lists checked by seeing a number of different displays and exhibits from one end of the
grounds to the other. The scavenger hunt points also attempt to cover the complete range of activities offered at the reunion, from antique farm machinery to food to some of the landmarks of the pioneer lifestyle. In recent years, Hallahan has made the 19-page teaching guide available for downloading on the association’s website. The guide works as a companion for teachers who bring their classes to the reunion, as well as lessons that can be taught that fully encompass the reunion and all it has to offer. “Hopefully it gives the teachers some good ideas,” he said. The guide features a “tour” of the log cabin, as well as information on this year’s featured tractor, the Cockshutt and the featured antique car, which this year is the 1951
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A21.
Local man has memorabilia from reunions, Champion
FULL STEAM AHEAD — Bill Andrews, shown above piloting a steam engine in last year’s parade at the annual reunion of Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association, has an impressive collection of memorabilia that has been appreciated by members of the association over the years. (File photo)
By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association has always had both feet firmly planted in history. So when it comes to off-site
activities during its annual reunion, it’s no surprise that a stroll down memory lane is often the activity of choice. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, those attending the event were welcomed to the Champion Antique Grader
QUITE A COLLECTION — Whether it’s steam engine memorabilia, Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association reunion souvenirs or items from the former Champion factory, there’s a lot of history on display at Bill Andrews’ museum outside of Auburn. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Club’s shop, which is on Blyth Road just west of Auburn. Visitors were welcomed 1-4 p.m. that day to take a look at a number of antique Champion graders produced just a few kilometres away at the former Champion plant in Goderich. The plant would eventually be bought by Volvo and then later closed in 2009. More information on the club can be found online on its website at championantiquegraderclub.ca Another local trove of history and information lies in Auburn, in the shed of a former long-time Champion employee, Bill Andrews, who, years ago, took it upon himself to compile the closest thing the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association has to a museum. Andrews has been involved with the association’s annual reunion since the mid-1970s. He, alongside Jim Schneider, also of Auburn, have made great contributions to the Blyth Campground over the years, namely with the grounds sheds on the grounds, as well as the log cabin. He has been a great supporter of the reunion and the items in his shed tell the story of his involvement over those decades. His museum was the destination for the off-site historical visit several years ago, when the association
Sloan hopes locale boosts youth pedal tractor pull attendance Continued from A17 year, if not more. “I believe we had a really good turnout last year, so we’re looking forward to lots of kids again, because that’s kind of what makes it for us,” he said. Another change this year is that the tractors will be pulling on plywood this year, which Sloan feels will make it a little more fair for the kids, rather than pulling on dirt and gravel. Then, just a little farther up the campground from where the pedal pull is, Edgar Daer will be putting on the children’s stock antique garden tractor pull. Daer first brought the kid’s tractor pull to the reunion in 1998 and has chaired it ever since. He says it’s not something they put on every year, but when they do hold it, they try to make it as fun for the kids as possible. “We have to keep these children interested in it, because they’re the future,” he said. One of the bigger changes they’ve made this year is having four trophies to give out instead of the usual two. “Before, we would give the trophy
for first and second, and then a tshirt and a hat, but your dad can buy you a hat and a t-shirt,” said Daer. “He can’t buy you a trophy that says ‘I participated’, So when you get to be 50 years old, you can say “I got that when I was eight years old.”
Both the pedal pull and the tractor pull will be held on the Saturday and Sunday, with the pedal pull open to kids who weigh between 40 and 100 pounds, and the tractor pull for any child between the ages of eight and 15.
marked its 50th anniversary reunion. Organizers thought Andrews’ collection was the perfect place to spend an afternoon. Andrews’ compilation doesn’t begin and end with reunion artifacts, however. It contains everything from Champion merchandise, including his plant identification badges until he retired in 2001, when he was 58, to various mechanical pieces of steam engines he’s collected over the years. The assemblage also includes a vast number of reunion artifacts, collected year after year as a reminder of his involvement with keeping the tradition of the pioneer lifestyle alive. His inclination to collect, Andrews says, began with his father, Warner. Andrews said his father left behind some antique steam engine parts in the shop, which were the beginnings of his now-extensive shed full of antiques. The first items were discarded from Warner’s 1911 Case steam engine, which is the crowning jewel of Andrews’ collection. He also proudly displays two historical tractors: a 1942 Oliver 80 Standard and a 1945 John Deere D. Andrews says it has been “foolish” of him to continue collecting and adding to his museum. As much as Andrews jokes, he does, however, take a lot of pride in his collection. “I’ve made the mistake of hanging these up and I have been adding ever since,” he says of his collection. “The building just keeps getting smaller.” Andrews has been involved with the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association since the mid1970s. He proudly keeps a display case stocked with association member ribbons in his shed, dating
back to 1975 and as current as last year. He has been displaying his steam engine at the reunion since 1974. The engine was first purchased by Warner in 1968. Then he and his son spent years restoring the machine before it was ready for public viewing. Andrews will be bringing his steam engine and both tractors to the show this year to display.
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PAGE A22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
New exhibits include yard models, tractors for sale “To have both that and the things we’ve had before like new tires from a tire business, farm-related industries and other odds and ends will make sure there is lots for people to do at the market,” he said. The second new attraction will be the antique lawn and garden tractor display and competition, run by Angie Cuoto. “It’s basically the same as the antique tractor displays and competition, but it’s lawnmowers,” she said. “The kids will still have the lawn tractor pulls, but the machines will be on display as well and competing for a ‘best in show’ award. Next year we will look at more awards.” Cuoto explained that her father, Dan Dickison, restored one lawn tractor for each of his five grandkids. He unfortunately passed away in a truck accident, she explained, so the children have been taking them to the show. She had approached the executive of the association and said the restoration that people have done on
FOR SALE OR DEBATE — Bill Roper hopes that having some antique tractors, like those shown above, with price tags on them at the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association’s annual reunion’s flea market will encourage more discussion, if not a couple of sales. (File photo)
By Denny Scott The Citizen While the annual Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association’s reunion usually features new vendors or exhibits, this year two major changes have been implemented. The first change is that the flea market will now be dealing in some bigger ticket items under organizer Bill Roper. “During last year’s show I kept one of two 1960 Massey-Ferguson 35s that I had repaired beside my space in the market with a price tag on it,” he said. “Under the guise of selling the tractor, I had a lot of people come up to me and talk to me.” This year Roper plans on having other people put up their tractors for
sale alongside his. He hopes this will lead to discussion regarding the machines. “I’m not necessarily looking to sell, but if they do, they do. The big thing is that people can talk about the machines,” he said. Roper is hoping to have 10 different tractors up there by encouraging owners to try and sell their machines. He said he is looking at getting 15 tractors the next year. “Having the tractors at the display area is good and all, because people get to see them, but there aren’t many people that can ask questions about them,” he said. “This way, people can ask questions and share knowledge.” Roper said that, especially with his two tractors, there is a lot of leg work involved in figuring out where to get parts and sharing that story
might help other people figure out where to get the parts they need. “I had to replace pretty much everything from the tires up,” he said. “I got many parts from overseas because I couldn’t find them here.” Roper hopes that, by sharing those stories, people who can’t find what they need at the flea market vendors will be able to find someone who can lead them to the parts they need. Beyond that, Roper said the flea market will stay mostly the same. He said the site will have a mixture of brick-and-mortar businesses who will offer new and used items as well as individuals looking to sell more typical flea market fare. He hopes to incorporate more ‘cottage industry’ vendors, or vendors who make home-made products, both for this year and in the future.
Service groups help with food
FAMOUS DOGS — Service groups, like the Blyth Lions Club, shown above, definitely benefit from serving food as a fundraiser, but they also help organizers with meals. (File photo) Continued from page A19 people can customize their meals based on the food that’s available on the church’s menu. The Dungannon Lions Club also has a tasty new treat in store. Along with its usual hamburgers, hotdogs and fries, the club will also be serving up poutine. The Scotchmer family and the Friends of Huron County Museum will once again be cooking their specialty baked beans, and some hot buttered popcorn until the afternoon every day. The Blyth Lions Club will have its famous Lions Burger and sausage on
a bun. The club will also be barbecuing some smoked pork chops, beans, and baked potatoes Sunday night. Tickets for the evening barbecue can be bought from John and Mary Lou Stewart at 519-523-4528. For a nice cool treat in the hot afternoon, you can visit Grandpa’s Homemade Ice Cream, which offers 100 per cent natural ice cream. Lastly, the Trinity Anglican Church will be offering its famous back bacon on a bun with a side of fresh cut fries, and much more. “Everyone should support these groups who help support their community,” said Lantinga. “They are organized, dedicated volunteers who make my job as food coordinator so much easier.”
s ishe t W ers s e B esh Thr 3 yrs. on 5
the smaller vehicles deserves the same recognition as the larger one. The idea caught on and soon she found herself at the head of the event. “I was asked if I would chair the lawn and garden division,” she said. “I agreed to do it.” The displays will feature anything that is 35 years or older and entries must be registered for the display if they’re to be involved with the pull. “We don’t want people to come in and just do the pull, we want them to show off their engines,” she said. “Just like the bigger event, people with multiple engines will receive a discount, so it’s worthwhile to register.” She said this year will be more of a pilot program, as next year there will be more of an emphasis put on the show and more categories implemented. To see the smaller engines in action, visit the full-size antique tractor pull on Sunday which is followed up by the lawn and garden tractor pull.
John
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A23.
Exhibit delivery a time-sensitive job says Hallahan because people wouldn’t want to leave their equipment around, as I’m sure it’s very special to them.” He says that they will only be hauling in the steam engines, a number of which are coming in from the Steam Era show in Milton. The only exceptions will be if they can make a full load by adding one or more of the other exhibits, or if it is a special piece of equipment that the group wants. Having been part of the Threshers for so long, Hallahan says he has come to know pretty much everyone and everything that comes into the show, which given the number of people involved, is no easy task. “There are close to 37 different committees, and the volunteerism we’ve had has been unbelievable, and that’s really what has held the show together,” he said. In fact, Hallahan said that it was thanks to the help of long-time volunteer John Sutherland of Allenford that his job was made a lot easier, especially when dealing with the aftermath of the event. “He comes to the camp the week
NOT JUST A STEAM ENGINE — The machine above isn’t just a steam engine, it’s a representation of all the hard work and money that goes into preparing the boiler, inspecting and licensing the unit and, eventually, delivering it to the Blyth Campground. (File photo)
By Emily Manns The Citizen Even after attending the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Associations’ annual reunion for over 50 years, Ray Hallahan says there has always been something new and interesting to keep him coming back every time.
The Hallahans have been heavily involved with the reunion since it first began, and as a result their name has become one which most associate with the annual arrival of the reunion. Hallahan himself has occupied a number of different positions within the association, including president. He is currently overseeing the
exhibit transportation, which he has done for a number of years, and as Hallahan explained during an interview with The Citizen, it is a very time sensitive job. “It’s a matter of having everything organized a week before the show,” said Hallahan. “All of the exhibits have to be in by Thursday night, and they can’t be brought in too early
before the show, and he doesn’t leave until the last piece of equipment has left the show,” he said. “He’s like security after the show too, keeping an eye on the equipment.” Looking back on the reunion as a whole, he says the biggest challenge has been, and continues to be, finding something new to add every year, for the children in particular, as they will be the ones taking over the reunion in the future. “We’re always working on trying to promote something for the younger generations,” he said. “My son has worked as a committee chairperson, and hopefully my grandsons will get interested in it someday.” Exhibits can be registered prior to the event or upon arrival, and aside from the two exceptions mentioned earlier, exhibitors will be responsible for transporting their exhibits both to and from the show. “We’re trying to get the next generation interested in our heritage, because our heritage is what the show is all about,” he said.
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LEARNING BY DOING — While 4-H clubs live by the motto of “Learn by Doing”, there is plenty to learn by doing at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. The event features everything from corn shelling, shown above, to rope making to butter churning for young visitors. (File photo)
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PAGE A24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Threshing exhibit continues to draw crowds: Robertson he thinks that it might be time to find someone a bit more local to take over at least some of the responsibilities. “I’m not dropping the volunteer end of it, but I would sooner see somebody closer to go to the meetings and whatnot,” said Robertson. “It might also be soon time for somebody younger to take over the job.” In the meantime, Robertson is more than willing to continue making the drive out every year to take up his pitch fork and give people a close look at the threshing process from beginning to end. The threshing demonstration, as Robertson explained during an interview with The Citizen, remains pretty well the same from one year to the next, with the exception of a different steam engine being brought in each time to power the thresher machine. “We thresh morning and afternoon each day, and each time a different steam engine comes, they have to get
that belt lined up so it doesn’t jump off a pulley,” said Robertson. “It’s great training for the younger people, as well as the old.” He says that he enjoys seeing younger people operating the steam engines every now and again, showing that the art of threshing has not been lost on the youth. “It’s great to see, as they have to learn, just as their grandfather did, to get that threshing belt lined up straight and true,” said Robertson. The threshing demonstrations will take place Friday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:15 p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
See photos from the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association on our website at www.northhuron.on.ca
Congratulations to the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association on their 53rd Reunion MAKING HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES — Threshing is one of the cornerstones of the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association and it’s still a well-attended exhibit according to organizer Roy Robertson, centre. (File photo)
By Emily Manns The Citizen The threshing demonstration continues to captivate the curiosity
of many at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association thanks to Roy Robertson, who says he may soon be looking to pass on the job to
someone new. This will be his fourth year heading the threshing portion of the event, and although he enjoys making the trip to Blyth every year,
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GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT — The Lifestyles tent is the place to be according to organizer Ev Dargie. There are special presentations, musical guests, tasty treats and fun and games to be had in the tent which got its start as part of the special events scheduled for the 50th anniversary of the reunion. (File photo)
By Emily Manns The Citizen There is always something new and exciting going on in the Lifestyles tent at the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Threshers and Hobby Association, and thanks to the new organizer for the tent Ev Dargie, this year is no exception. Taking over for Ann Bosman, the previous organizer for the Lifestyles tent, Dargie has made sure there will be little to no repeats from previous years. “I hung around the tent a lot last year to see how things were done, and I’ve tried to bring in new topics,” said Dargie. There will still be some familiar faces, Dargie explained during an interview with The Citizen, but for the most part, it’s going to be a whole new program, with a few bigger names that she feels will appeal to everyone.
One of the highlights this year is a visit from Dr. Linda Bolton of the Mullen Small Animal Clinic in Walkerton, who will be giving a presentation entitled “We Shoot Dogs In Canada”, discussing how Native tribes in Northern Ontario have had to resort to shooting dogs in order to keep the population under control. “Many of the dogs are running wild, are starving, and they’re constantly reproducing,” Dargie explained. “So Linda goes up there every year to spay the females.” Bolton has been making the trip for seven years with her team of veterinarians and healthcare personnel, travelling to several different First Nations communities to not only spay and neuter the dogs, but also to educate people on methods of humane population control. “It’s a topic I wasn’t very much
aware of before, but she’ll make us all a little more aware of it,” said Dargie. Another highlight this year, which Dargie is especially looking forward to, is local historian Jodi Jerome speaking on the Nobel Prizewinning author Alice Munro, who is originally from the Wingham area, but now lives in Central Huron. “This is my pride and joy of the whole weekend,” said Dargie. Other sessions will include local health practitioners Adam Perrie and Perry May, image transfer art demonstrations given by Judy Robinson, tasty treats from Marlene O’Brian of Bayfield Berry Farm, and much more. The tent, which will be located behind the arena, will be open all weekend, with program schedules to be posted in the arena, at the event gates, and even on the people movers, to make sure no one misses a thing.
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A25.
McBride loves to educate at annual reunion By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen The gas engines portion of the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association is always one of the more misunderstood aspects of the event, according to co-ordinator Brad McBride. McBride says that gas engines are his passion, and something he has been working with since the mid1980s, but he still finds he spends a lot of his time at the reunion every year playing the explaining game; something he really enjoys. He understands where the confusion comes from, he says, when someone walks past a gas engine, simply sitting there and running and they ask him what the engine does. It can sometimes be hard to envision, McBride says, but he tells people what kind of mechanisms the engines would run whether it be pumping water or shelling corn, the engines serve a great purpose.
McBride first became interested in engines and mechanics in 1985 when he began restoring tractors alongside his father. He soon began working with gas engines in his spare time and found that he was “hooked” soon thereafter. He has been going to the reunion for decades and loves answering questions while he’s there. Questions come from kids as young as two, he says, and from people as old as 72. It’s all about educating people, he says, and that has nothing to do with age or years of experience. If someone didn’t grow up on a farm, he says, they’re going to be in the dark about farm machinery and tractors; but educating people, no matter how old, is something he loves to do. “I love preserving our heritage,” McBride said. “I love being able to show young people, the next generation, how our grandfathers did things.” His favourite aspect of the reunion, not surprisingly, has always been the working displays. “You get people who are in their
80s or their 90s asking a lot of questions,” McBride said. For McBride, the reunion is just that in the truest sense of the word, because when asked what keeps him coming back year after year, he says it’s the people. The reunion is McBride’s only opportunity to see many of the volunteers and people who are involved with the association, so the fellowship provided by the reunion is something he truly appreciates. “For me, it’s really a social event,” McBride said. As for his personal collection, McBride says he has always strived to bring something new to the reunion every year. Lately, he says, he has been working on a lot of Canadian-made machinery, so he will likely show some of that at this year’s reunion. And when taking a look at McBride’s collection, don’t expect to see any paint where it doesn’t belong. He says that often when people restore engines or machinery, they can assume that repainting everything immediately is the way to go. If something is in good shape, he
says, it doesn’t need paint; and often painting can reduce the value of what you’re restoring. McBride says that when he’s restoring a project, it’s the satisfaction of a job well done that keeps him going. He says there is great excitement in completing a project, especially when there is some hunting to it. If he is working on a more obscure project, the thrill of the chase for parts is something he also finds
exciting. McBride has been heading the gas engine portion of the reunion since 1997, when he took over for Jack Henderson, who continued to help McBride along for the next 10 years. “He pointed me in the right direction,” McBride said. McBride has been a director with the association for nearly 10 years, just coming to the end of his third three-year term this year.
Congratulations Huron Pioneer Thresher & Hobby Association
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PULL! — The antique stock tractor pull is one of the most enduring attractions at an agricultural gathering like the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. The tractor pull will take place on the grounds all three days; at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and then after the church service on Sunday. (File photo)
See histories and historic photographs on the Huron History section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca
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PAGE A26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
Tractor parade, Plough Day return By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Now an annual tradition, Plough Day has become a staple of the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. As Edgar Daer, one of the organizers, puts it, it’s a chance for those at the reunion to play with all of the toys they’ve brought with them. Set for the Thursday of the reunion, this year Sept. 4, Daer says the event grew out of a lack of events that day. He says that while there are some things happening on the grounds the Thursday before the show, there isn’t much and people soon found themselves looking for something to do. “It’s just a fun day out in the field,” Daer says. This year, provided that the grain has been harvested in time, the event will take place on the property of the Hubbard family on Blyth Road just east of Blyth. Daer says that the inspiration for the event came when it was recognized that there were plenty of people at the reunion early with tractors, ploughs and steam engines, but with nothing to do with them. Since its inception, he says, the
demonstration has gone over very well, with participation climbing steadily every year. At last year’s event, he said, a steam engine even made the trip to the site to plough, which was a first for the event. “It’s just an excuse to play with these machines,” Daer said. “They don’t plough like they used to, but it’s good to have that demonstration.” That day will also include another annual event that started four years ago: the group’s tractor tour. Daer says that over the last three years, the day begins bright and early, with participants preparing their tractors for travel and then the convoy heading for one of the local villages where they’ll eat breakfast before heading back to the Blyth area for Plough Day in the afternoon. The plan is for those participating to leave Blyth at 7:30 a.m. as a member of the tractor convoy. Destination sites for the tractor tour have been Walton, Auburn and Clinton and this year, while not yet finalized, the destination will likely be Wingham. Both events have proven to be popular, Daer says, and are likely to continue for years to come, or as long as interest dictates.
PLOUGH DAY — Edgar Daer, one of the forces behind the annual Plough Day, is seen here riding a Massey Harris tractor, his first love, as he is a Massey Harris collector. The day is a chance, as Daer says, for people to play with all of the toys they bring to the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. (File photo)
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TIME TO PLAY — Plough Day, which is now in its fourth year, has proven to be a popular attraction among those attending the reunion and showing up early for the festivities. Tractors, ploughs and steam engines are all welcome to the location which, this year, will be just east of Blyth on Blyth Road. (File photo)
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014. PAGE A27.
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WHO’S HUNGRY? — Blyth firefighters from the Fire Department of North Huron have historically cooked breakfast for the thousands of people who attend the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association every year and this year will be no exception. Local firefighters, like Jeff Josling, left, will be serving up a pancake breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 7:30 a.m. both days at the Emergency Services Training Centre, which is just east of Blyth on Blyth Road. (File photo)
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Antique cars to be featured this year Continued from page A4 recalled in an interview with The Citizen. Goderich also happens to be the town where Allan Reath purchased the 1951 Studebaker that was chosen as this year’s feature car. “There’s a feature car every year, chosen based on how original they are as far as being an antique vehicle,” Bill explained. Reath purchased the Studebaker in 1996, and spent a great deal of time and money restoring it to the condition where it could be put back on the road, which is not something that’s easy to do with the older models. “They’re not like a modern car,” said Bill. “The old vehicles, if you do much driving with them, they take quite a little bit of TLC to keep going.” What they’re really trying to push this year, and every year according to Bill, is the heritage of the car, which in many cases is unique as the car itself.
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PAGE A28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014.
The Executive and Directors of the
HURON PIONEER THRESHER & HOBBY ASSOCIATION INC. are pleased to welcome you to the rd
53 Reunion
Enjoy 3 days of music, steam engines, antiques, competitions and memories of days gone by.
September 5, 6 & 7, 2014
Friday is Elementary School Day and Senior Citizens Day ($6/Day)
• Crafts in the arena • Steam Engines and Threshing • Antique Tractor: Cockshutt • Antique Car: Studebaker • Papa’s Petting Zoo • Children’s Activities • Antique Tractor Pull • Kids’ Tractor Pull • Antique Gas Engines and Working Displays
Camping available as of Tues., Sept. 2 • Thurs., Sept. 4 Plough Day
Threshers Campgrounds Gates open 8:00 a.m. daily Adult Admission $8.00 Info 226-523-9100 (leave message) www.blythsteamshow.on.ca