Threshing Bee slated for Sunday

COLFAX - Palouse Empire Threshing Association members are returning for their annual Threshing Bee on Sunday, Sept. 3, using vintage machinery to harvest this year's spring wheat.

Threshing Association Vice President Mike Schwartz said they will start hitching horses around 9 a.m. and begin threshing at approximately 10 a.m.

Schwartz said there'd be a break at noon with a no-host barbecue lunch featuring Pulled Pork sandwiches, coleslaw, and watermelon, "you're standard lunch," he said.

Everyone is welcome to purchase lunch.

After lunch, Schwartz said they would start up again, adding that they would run until they finished or the horses tired.

Since it's been dry, Schwartz said they hope for an average harvest this year.

Schwarz explained that they use a case steam engine to power the threshing machine.

"There will be teams of horses and mules," he said, adding that they will be using a push header to load the wagons, which brings the crop to the derrick table from which it's fed by pitchfork into the threshing machine.

"The threshing machine separates the grain," Schwarz said, adding that they'll have an antique truck they'll load the wheat into. "The straw gets blown into a pile," he said.

Schwarz said those in attendance will be able to see a representation of how harvesting was done approximately 100 or more years ago, "We're hoping for good weather and a good turnout," he said.

Schwarz added that those who attend are welcome to bring antique tractors or trucks to display as well.

The Threshing Bee will take place at it's usual location at the intersection of SR 26 and Fairgrounds Road.