Before the threshing crews arrived, the grain was cut and stacked in stooks to dry in the field. At the same time, preparations would begin to feed the crews. On threshing days, the size of the farm family would swell by as many as two dozen, and the task of cooking and providing for the crews occupied farm women and girls. Days were long. Often the kitchen of the main house was not used, and cooking took place in a wheeled cook car. Many women were hired to help the farm owner's wife with the cooking, or actually take over all the cooking for the crew. Three full meals had to be prepared, and a substantial lunch was taken to the field in mid-afternoon. The crew slept in wheeled bunkhouses. Sometimes, after the day's work was done, the crew gathered around the bunkhouses to chat, play a guitar, accordion or violin and then all went to bed early.
Source of photo: Lorraine Downing fonds
Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton Archives,
Box 400, 37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722 [email protected]
