Amber Waves of Grain
Robert McKinney Farm
290 Foster Rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362, USA
Washington
46.041023
-118.22630300000003
Description
While Walla Walla wines get lots of great publicity, wheat is still the backbone of the Blue Mountain Country's agricultural economy. Always has been. Maybe always will be. This event will explore the local history of this enormously important crop.In April, 1919, a farm equipment exposition on Russell Creek Road attracted over 15,000 people from across the nation, most traveling by train, to the three-day event. At a time when agriculture was transitioning from horse-drawn to combustion-engine farm machinery, thousands of farmers and their families from throughout the Northwest were anxious to the latest innovations in modern farming. Advertisements for the event encouraged men to bring their wives and children to see the many modern conveniences being showcased both for the farm and the home. Local residents were asked to open their homes for guests, as the numbers exceeded hotel capacities, and to shuttle attendees to the site several miles from town in their personal cars. Come learn about this little known event on July 23, from your hosts Robert McKinney and his son, Bret, at McKinney Farms. Robert will then present a history of the self-propelled combine, as it transitioned from horse-drawn to self-propelled, and discuss the major milestones of its advancement to the computerized harvester of today. Learn interesting facts, such as how the War Production Board in the 1940's diverted rubber and steel from the war effort to Massey Harris Manufacturing to produce an additional 500 self-propelled combines so that millions of gallons of fuel could be saved and much labor and hundreds of tractors could be released for other important uses.Using a schematic drawing of a combine, Robert will explain just how the machines separate the kernels of wheat from the chaff. Then, participants will enjoy seeing five vintage combines that Robert and Bret have restored. Climb onto the operator's platform of a John Deere or a Minneapolis Moline, if you like.And there's more! Head back down Russell Creek Road to the site of the 1919 exposition for a live demonstration of a stationary threshing machine. Witness the long-gone technology where the stalks of grain had to be cut and bundled by a horse or tractor-drawn binder, and hauled by wagon to the thresher. There, the grain was separated from the chaff, and directed into gunny sacks, to be sewn closed by hand. Then, in the cool shade along Russell Creek, enjoy a sack lunch while listening to stories of old-time harvests told by local farm folks and their descendants. This farm day event is not to be missed!
This listing has no upcoming events
Start:
2016-07-23T09:00:00-07:00
End:
2016-07-23T13:00:00-07:00
Category
Other
Tickets
Child - under 18
0.0
USD
Adult
10.0
USD