source: Farm and Food Report
Celebrating Saskatchewan’s Centennial required a treatment of distinction at Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site.
The former home of Saskatchewan’s first Minister of Agriculture in Saskatchewan’s first government, W.R. Motherwell, is dear to the heart of many in and around Abernethy.
The staff and Friends of Motherwell Homestead are literally putting their shoulders to the wheel for the occasion and recreating a special symbolic journey called “Delivering a Dream” on June 24, according to Site Manager Flo Miller:
“We had a look around and saw all kinds of celebrations around the province, but we noticed nobody was hauling grain. This will be a celebration of over 100 years of community and agriculture in the Prairies. We are inviting Saskatchewan people to come out and see one of the last loads of grain in Saskatchewan to be hauled to market in Indian Head by team and wagon. We're inviting travel writers and VIPs to go along for part of the ride. This has already generated a lot of excitement in the area.”
Hauling grain to Indian Head by horse and wagon was the way things were before the coming of railway spur lines. This was done during winter — only two loads of grain a week could be hauled.
The bags would be loaded the day before departure. In the morning, the team would pull out for the 10 to 12-hour journey. The crew would stay overnight in Indian Head and drive home the next day. Of course, weather conditions were always a factor.
According to Miller, this could be a gruelling journey, but access to markets was even more of an issue at the turn of the 20th Century.
“Just prior to 1901, there had been a bumper crop. Farmers were elated with the quality and the prices. They brought their grain to the elevator, only to find there were not enough cars available to ship it. They had to hold on to their grain and sell later. Unfortunately by then, the prices had dropped. This prompted the producers of the day to band together and form the territorial Grain Growers Association. W.R. Motherwell was one of the co-founders of this group.
“They wanted the farmers to have more say in the grain handling system of the time, and eventually, they won their case,” says Miller. “This is our way to commemorate the farmers’ historic struggle.”
The organizers will kick-off the day with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Friends of Motherwell. They will finish loading the wagon and head for Indian Head after a gentleman whose father homesteaded in the area ceremonially loads the last bag of wheat. The grain bags themselves are reproductions sewn right at Motherwell Homestead.
“We are using a traditional grain wagon which holds 60 bushels. At 60 pounds to the bushel, the wagon will haul out 3,600 pounds or a ton and a half of grain.”
This is quite the load for a team that may not be used to this kind of adventure, says Miller.
“The horses will need to be rested. We have identified a location in the Qu'Appelle Valley en route. We will be inviting folks to picnic with us there, all the while celebrating the people who have delivered the dream for the last 100 years.
“Culmination of the dusty day will be delivering the wheat to the Patterson terminal in Indian Head with a small ceremony, involving dumping the grain into the pit.” adds Miller.
There is also a short side trip planned at the Indian Head Experimental farm; and this journey coincides with the beginning of Indian Head's homecoming and Saskatchewan Centennial Celebration from June 24 to 26.
Motherwell Homestead’s “Delivering a Dream” event is sure to reach deeply into memories from a time when human determination to reach for dreams and community spirit were the fuel of hope for a better life.
Flo Miller
Site Manager
Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site
Sask South Field Unit
Parks Canada
(306) 333-2116
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/sk/motherwell/index_e.asp
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