Wheat threshing to be held Saturday
Matthew Weaver/Columbia Basin HeraldKevin Moore and Brad Grant show off the equipment they use to harvest wheat for their annual threshing event, taking place Saturday morning.
Longtime event returns along Road L
COLUMBIA BASIN - This weekend Columbia Basin residents have the chance to relive an old-time method of farming.
For about the 15th year, the Moore family offers wheat threshing on Saturday, starting about 10 a.m.
The location is on Road L north of Wheeler Road in the field across the street from Cascade Diesel.
"It's just a historical event showing how farmers used to do it," Kevin Moore explained. "All the work involved, how all the families and people gathered together to help each other out."
Moore said with a laugh it began because his family likes old antique equipment.
"Monte Holm helped us get our first steam engine, and ever since then, we've been doing it," Moore said.
The event typically draws more than 100 people.
"One of the biggest, most comments we get is, as the steam engine is sitting there running, 'Well, it's so quiet,'" Moore said. "Like they expected some big, noisy thing. But it's just steam."
The old-time methods are a lot of work compared to contemporary capabilities.
"A lot of it's hand-done, you're pitching the bundles in," Moore described. "When we bind it, you've got to go along and shock it, put it in shocks, and after that, you come along with a bundle wagon, pitch it into the bundle wagon, bring it up to the threshing machine, pitch it into the threshing machine, then sew the sacks as it comes out. Then you've got to stack the sacks."
The Moores are taking wheat for the threshing from a strip of land grown by the Hara family. Moore estimated the size, about 1.5 acres, is enough for the demonstration.
"Big thanks to the Hara family for leaving us some wheat to put this on," he said. "They've done that two years in a row now."
The event changes locations each year, Moore explained, because "You can't plant wheat in the same spot. You've got crop rotation."
Moore enjoys seeing people, watching the equipment and watching the looks on people's faces as they enjoy it.
He advises people to bring water and a hat or some kind of cover if the sun is shining.
"Really, don't need nothing but your camera," he said with a laugh.
The event lasts as long as it takes to get done, Moore noted, with a probable break for lunch.
Longtime Moore employee Brad Grant has been present for every threshing event.
"I think it's kind of neat to see how things were done in almost the agricultural-industrial revolution, going from hand-reaping to the first efficient machinery," he said. "It's kind of the historical marker for the advent we have now with our combines and the different equipment now. This was like the big step between hand-reaping and driving a combine."
The event is weather dependent; Moore said it won't take place if it's "pouring rain."
"Don't want to make bread dough in the threshing machine," Grant agreed.
For more information, call Kevin Moore at 509-750-7682.
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