This past weekend horse lovers, and even non-horse lovers, ventured out to the Murray County fairgrounds to take in the tenth annual Murray County Classic Draft Horse Show.
Saturday morning eight farm teams showed off their stuff. Demonstrations were done including horses as they circled around a shaft that powered not just the elevator’s motions, but a wagon hoist as well to empty the load. Teams included Gilmore Percherons, JD Sybesma, Roger Ranschau, Alsen Olsen, Greg Lammers, Point Paradise Stables, Dallus Vaughn. Jerry and Gwen Fleece, Round Lake, were also on hand as they showed how the hay tedder worked along with the dump rake by picking up the cut grass and dragging it next to the century-old stationary baler restored and owned by the Crowley clan. Travis Spartz gave the crowd a glimpse of what it was like to bale hay back in the day. That was the oldest implement demonstrated. The baler came out of the grove of Crowley’s landlord approximately 9 to 10 years ago. Bales made from the baler are actually hand-tied with wire. Spartz is one of the individuals who coordinates the farming demonstration during the Murray County Classic. Typically it features an array of implements from plows, disks and planters to seeding equipment, grain carts, sod busters, manure spreaders and mowers. Later that afternoon the farm teams competed in the farm team competition.
Near perfect temperatures helped to fill the bleachers and the tented areas with spectators excited to see the array of draft horses prance their stuff. They had the opportunity to walk through the fairgrounds and watch each of the hitch crews prepare their horses for the afternoon show.
The draft horse show has always been held over two days but this year they spread it over three days beginning with Friday night.
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