Old time harvest experience at Sukanen threshing bee

Fifty continuous years of threshing bees will be celebrated at the annual Sukanen Ship Museum bee on Sept. 7 and Sept. 8. Half a century ago someone donated a threshing machine to the then small village to preserve the heritage of stand alone threshing.

The museum needed funds to operate and decided on a threshing bee fundraiser. The response to see how pioneers brought in the harvest was so overwhelming the event became annual over two days.

Added attractions still held every year involve reaping, ploughing, hand threshing, stationary baling, quilting, blacksmithing, square dancing, an antique tractor pull and two vehicle parades.

Tractors are paraded in the mornings with cars and trucks just after lunch.

Each morning starts with a hearty pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Threshing has two machines, one powered by a steam-driven tractor, one by a vintage tractor.

Two special dedications are on the plate this year. The grand opening of the replica International Harvester dealership building is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. Accessories for the traditional I-beam style structure came from a northern Alberta dealership that closed. The equipment belongs to members of the IHC chapter 38 Club. The 50th anniversary of the threshing bee will be recognized with remarks at the grandstand at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Representatives from Tourism Saskatchewan will bring greetings. Activities for young folks are Sid the clown, people mover and barrel train rides and the playground with an old car to crawl around on.

An old time dance and jam session entertains Saturday night. On Sunday morning at 11 a.m. a church service will take place in the heritage church.

The museum, located 10 minutes drive south of Moose Jaw on Highway Two, will have all buildings open during the threshing bee.