Threshing Day

Threshing day was always a big event because it took eight or nine men to operate. There were usually two or three men in the mow where the sheaves were stored to throw them down to the man who was feeding the threshing machine. He would cut the string and push them into it. Another man would tend the chute where the grain came out, attaching empty bags and taking away the full ones. The finished straw fell into the baler which compressed it into bales of about one hundred pounds each. A man or boy was required on each side of the baler to feed the baling wire into the machine. Finally the bales were dragged away and stacked for later use as bedding for the animals or for sale. It was hard work, hot and dusty and at lunch time there was always a dinner ready that had to be prepared by others working in the house.
All this took a lot of planning. Usually all this help was supplied by neighbors and their workers, and to repay, we had to work in their barns at the same job. One of our neighbors was a German family with two big strong daughters and they were the equal of any man. I know that I could not keep up with them.
Today's combines and field balers are a big improvement and save a lot of that work and, of course, money. But even with this equipment there is still a risk of losing the crop because of bad weather or bad timing. I suppose any business must have that kind of risk but it can be very discouraging.