The public is invited to a free demonstration of early farm life at the Big Spring Farm Days sponsored by the Swiss Pioneer Preservation Association. The event will be held Aug. 5 and 6 at 735 Spruce Road, in New Holland. Friday from 1 to 8 p.m. is the Hay Day. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the Threshing, Sawmilling, Tractor Parade and lots of other crafts and early rural life displays.
The hay making demo starts at 1 p.m. Friday with sharpening the scythe with Dengleschtock, cutting, gathering, loading and new this year, unloading hay in the barn with a hay hook pulled by a horse. Also new this year will be baling with the Ed Nolt “Automaton” Baler made 1939-1940 by Art Young of Kinzer. This is the first time this baler will be demonstrated since Rough and Tumble restored it to operating condition. Following next is NH model 73 baler (first model made at New Holland). Also new is demonstration of the NH model 166 self-propelled baler SPPA restored this year.
Come for supper Friday evening and watch the horse training demonstration in a round pen from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a new activity for SPPA done by Melvin King – Horsemanship.
Saturday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. see wheat threshing by hand with flail. New for this year will be a demonstration on how the McCormick Deering binder works, followed by setting the wheat sheaves into standing shocks. Small and large threshing machines will be running, powered by horse tread mill, horse-powered sweep and big steam engines.
Other activities will include German singing, an antique tractor and equipment parade at 1 p.m. and other early American activities like chair-caning and lace making.
Lots of good country food including bread baked in the beehive oven and soft ice cream made with the Hit & Miss engine will be available both days.
For more information call Dan Hostetter at 717-587-6895 or Raymond Zimmerman at 717-354-7139.
