Nicole Taylor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The World-Spectator
Rocanville’s annual Threshing Day will take place Sept. 12 at the Rocanville Museum grounds, with demonstrations, a market, meals and other activities scheduled throughout the day.
The event will begin with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. The breakfast will include pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage.
Demonstrations will begin at 10 a.m. and will include the operation of historic engines, tractors and steam equipment. A market will also be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with approximately 20 vendors expected.
Ron Hilgers, who is involved with the event, said Threshing Day provides visitors with an opportunity to see how agricultural work was done in the past.
“It steps back in time to see how the farmers process the fields that they grew with crops,” Hilgers said.
Demonstrations throughout the day will include wood sawing using an old mandrel bus saw, wood splitting with a wheel splitter and flour milling.
The flour milling demonstration will use wheat that was threshed during last year’s event.
“It has to be a year old before you can grind it to have its lifespan, so that it’s still working, rise like bread’s supposed to rise,” Hilgers said.
Lunch will be served at 11 a.m., with Lana catering the meal.
Threshing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The afternoon will include additional demonstrations and activities from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The threshing demonstration will show the process of setting up the steam engine and separator machine, connecting the equipment with belts and feeding bundles into the machine.
Hilgers said most of the equipment being used is more than 100 years old. The steam engine dates to 1913, while another tractor dates to 1910.
Organizers are also working to get another tractor operating this year. Hilgers said the museum has had a part for the tractor for approximately 10 years and has been collecting the remaining parts needed.
“We’re in the process to try to get a tractor going,” Hilgers said. “We’re getting all the parts together.”
The event is largely operated by volunteers. Hilgers said volunteers travel from communities including Carberry, Wroxton and Spy Hill to assist with the machinery and other activities.
The museum is seeking additional volunteers, particularly people with knowledge of older equipment.
“I’m always looking for more because a lot of the people that remember this aren’t around anymore,” Hilgers said. “And we have lost several members in the last couple years, unfortunately. So it’s a struggle to keep it going.”
Hilgers said the event is also intended to provide younger generations with an understanding of earlier agricultural practices.
“It’s preserving the history and teaching our young people what it was like, getting them the opportunity to be involved, and for them to understand what life was like in the past, what they had to do to survive,” he said.
Supervised hayrides around town will also be offered for 50 cents.
A beef barbecue supper will be held at the museum grounds. The meal includes beef, baked potato, beans, coleslaw, a bun, dessert and a beverage. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children ages six to 12, and free for children five and under.
The supper is the museum’s only fundraiser of the year. Funds raised help cover operating expenses, including building maintenance, insurance, utilities and internet costs.
Hilgers said the museum has also been dealing with a mold problem in one of its buildings this year, requiring additional time and resources.
The museum hosts other activities throughout the year, including approximately five to seven school tours, as well as other events.
Threshing Day is also expected to include a 50/50 draw. There is no gate admission, although donations are accepted.
People interested in volunteering can assist with museum activities, special projects, machinery restoration or projects requiring specific skills.
“Everything has a story,” Hilgers said.
