Rama held its fifth annual Draft Horse Field Days on August 20 and 21, and the event brought in participants both young and old to take part in old-fashioned farm activities.
“It was a very good field day with a good turn-out and good weather. Everything was good!” said Walter Hughes, executive member of the Performing Arts and Leisure Society (PALS) Incorporated, who organized the event with the help of the Rama Recreation Board. The festivities included demonstrations of plowing, discing, harrowing, haying, bindering, ropemaking, and threshing, as well as teamster competitions, supper, local entertainment, pancake breakfast, and a Sunday cowboy church service.
Hughes said that people came to take part in the field days from all corners of Saskatchewan, including Porcupine Plain, Pelly, Yorkton, Lestock, Preeceville, and Humbolt. This year also saw an increase in younger participants, which the members of PALS were happy to see.
“Our participants are getting older, so it’s very nice to have young people take part in all the activities and we hope they get involved,” said Judy Johnson.
On August 21, the most exciting event was the threshing demonstration. Audience members could take turns feeding sheaves into the separator, which was provided by Wally Hubert of Canora. It was powered by a Massey Harris 44 tractor provided by Dennis Winkleman.
Local entertainment was provided by jammers from PALS, Hughes said. In the group they organized, Tulzar Ebenezar played accordion, Stoyen Cristo played bass guitar, and Sheldon Lanstand, Nancy Genoway, and Judy Johnson accompanied with guitars. The concession run by PALS sold hot dogs, hamburgers, pie, coffee, and soda, and also provided tickets for the bucket draws and silent auctions.
Johnson said that she, Hughes, and all the other members would like to thank all the teams and volunteers who took part in the event. Without everyone’s help, there would be no show to enjoy, she said.
“We are very fortunate that the event, with all that hard work put into it, went off without a hitch.”
