Horse Power Days Report

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

Horse Power Days 2007

This year's winners: