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Tremendous horses......
Wonderful friends......
Gorgeous weather......
What more could anyone ask for?
As usual, I had a wonderful time hosting our annual Horse Power
Days. 2007 was our seventh annual event with plowing on Saturday and
the Log Skid and Obstacles Course on Sunday . The weather was blue
skies and gorgeous Saturday and gray with a short rain shower on
Sunday.
Our judge this year was Dan Kintz of Mount Angel, OR. Our photographer
Wendi Ross got some wonderful pictures, as usual, so you will be seeing them in
magazine articles. In addition, The Chronicle
and The Lewis County News both covered the event, and gave us nice write-ups.
Competition went so well Saturday our judge had trouble with final placings. Spectators were once
again treated to being able to watch some great teamsters and their
horses and mules at work.
Sunday we started with the Log Skid and then moved to the
Obstacles Course. Our Log Skid pattern this year was an "L" shape
and teamsters handled it well. The obstacle course was done with a sled again this year
with a theme of products to be picked up at the "warehouse" and
delivered to various drop points, along with clearing the various numbered "gates". It proved to be tough competition as well as entertaining--lots of laughs, which is always a good thing.
We want to thank our sponsors and award donors: Country Tractor and Garden of
Chehalis; The Tack Room of Centralia; Peg Jaskar of Tacoma, WA;
Small Farmer's Journal of Sisters, OR; and Uhlmann Motors and RV of
Chehalis, WA.
This year's winners:
Best Looking Male Plowman: Dave McLaughlin of ID
Best Looking Female Plowman: Suzanne Burkhartt of OR
Youngest Plow Animal: 5 year old Percheron, Jill, owned
by Duane McLaughlin of OR, driven by his dad Dave McLaughlin
Oldest Plow Animal: 23 year old Percheron, Byrd, owned
by Clarence Stancil of WA
Longest Hauled Animals: Mules: Oscar, Pretty, Bart &
Bonnie owned by Neal McCool of OR
Best Draft Horse Hitch: Percheron Byrd and Belgian Burt
owned by Clarence Stancil of Tenino, WA
Best Mule Hitch: Mules, Breezie and Kerela, owned by
Wayne Beckwith of OR
Best Walking Plow: Duane Van Dyke and his Shire mares Gracie & Ellie of OR
Best Sulky/Gang Plow: Clarence Stancil
Best Crown: John Erskine and Shire mares Sydney & Briar of WA
Best Finish: Duane Van Dyke
Best In and Out: Earl Gelvin with his mules Lyn, Stormy & Jody of WA
Best Lady Plowman: Suzanne Burkhartt of OR driving mules Oscar & Pretty owned by Neal McCool of OR
Best Open Plowman: Duane Van Dyke
Best Senior Plowman: Clarence Stancil
Supreme Plowman: Clarence Stancil
Log Skid Adult Champion: Wayne Beckwith
Obstacles Adult Champion: Neal McCool driving mules Bart
& Bonnie
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