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September 2, 2015 STETTLER, ALBERTA
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The 1887 hand-fed threshing machine called the ‘Little Giant’ is in action as visitors watch it at work at the second annual fundraiser of the Stettler P&H Elevator Preservation Society on Saturday, Aug. 29.
Stettler P&H Elevator Preservation Society hosts its second annual fundraiser Moush Sara John INDEPENDENT REPORTER On a pleasant, windy Saturday afternoon, Aug. 29, the community of Stettler and surrounding neighbourhoods came together to raise funds for the Stettler P&H Elevator Preservation Society. Having preserved such a huge part of Alberta’s tradition is no small feat. The society is a non-profit organization that restores and preserves agricultural heritage, buildings and equipment, thereby giving present and future generations an insight
into the past prairie agriculture. There are two annual fundraisers to make money for the society – the pancake breakfast, which is usually held in May and the roast supper, which will be held in August every year. “We are very pleased with the turnout,” said Stan Eichhorn, president of Stettler P&H Elevator Preservation Society. “There were just under 300 people this year, a lot more than last year, when the headcount was a little over 200.” Located at the old Canadian Northern Vegreville-to-Calgary
branch of the regional railway line, the site is across from the Alberta Prairie Railway Station, one of the major attractions of the town. The grounds adjacent to it milled with visitors as they saw rope-making, wheat threshing and flour milling, using traditional methods. “With the weather being so wonderful, we have been having such a great time,” said Marian Stuffco, who had come all the way from Edmonton with her husband and two of her grandsons to participate in the fundraiser. “It is impor-
tant to show and experience these little ones this part of our culture.” The 1887 hand-fed threshing machine, called the ‘Little Giant’, one of the three of its kind in North America, was fired up as wheat bundles were fed into it. After which, the grist mill was used to turn the wheat into flour. Later in the evening, a roast pork supper was catered by Sarah, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. as people donated whatever they could for the society. A total of $3,000 was raised before expenses at the event.
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