Thresher Reunion returns after three-year hiatus

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

This year, the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association is back, hosting its first full reunion in three years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the organization to cancel reunions in both 2020 and 2021.

While the association remained active over the past three years, hosting tractor parades, stationary drive-through reunions and other one-off events, this year will mark the return to the reunion that thousands of patrons know and love. Not only that, but this year the organization will be marking its 60th anniversary reunion, which had originally been scheduled for last year.

Volunteers will be busy on Monday, Sept. 5, Labour Day, setting up the site, a tradition that has been in place for decades.
Entertainment begins on Tuesday, Sept. 6 with a session emceed by Albert Walter in Shed 1. On Sept. 7, Walter will back in Shed 1 for another session, while in Shed 2, Pritchard will be emceeing a session that includes old-tyme dancing. In Shed 3, Marjorie Love will be on emcee duty for another session.

On Thursday, Richard Marier will be emceeing a session in the tent, while Pritchard will be back in Shed 2 and Tom Melady will be in Shed 3 emceeing. There will also be a free fiddle workshop in the auditorium that night, led by Doug McNaughton.
Also on Thursday, the annual breakfast tractor parade will leave the Blyth Campground at 7:30 a.m. Later that day, Plough Day will also move ahead at 1 p.m. A site for the rather new tradition has yet to be set.

On Friday, Sept. 9, the reunion proper begins at 8 a.m. when the gates open. Displays, indoor and outdoor vendors, working displays and the Lifestyles program all get underway at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the same on Saturday and Sunday as well.
The student activities begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, followed by the fun tractor pull and horse demonstration, both of which start at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day.

Threshing demonstrations will go ahead every day at 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
The Blyth United Church will be hosting lunch in the Blyth and District Community Centre from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.

The Irish Cowboys will take to the main stage at 11 a.m. on Friday, performing until 4 p.m.
The opening ceremonies will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, followed by the start of the special events at 1 p.m. and the first-ever cider press demonstration at 2 p.m.

At 4 p.m. will be the daily parade on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the daily 50/50 draw.
On Friday, the licensed fish fry will begin at 4 p.m. at Blyth Lions Park, as well as a hot meal being served in the arena from 4-6 p.m.

At 6 p.m., the Twilight Serenaders will perform on the tent stage, the Stone Boat Pullers will begin their tractor pull show at 7 p.m. and Travis and Kim Teed will perform in the arena auditorium from 8 p.m. to midnight.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Blyth Firefighters’ Association will host its annual pancake breakfast at the former home of the Emergency Services Training Centre on Blyth Road just east of Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company, beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day.
On Saturday, the gates again open at 8 a.m. and the consignment auction sale will begin at 10 a.m. at the southern ball diamond on the grounds.

Pierce’s Country Music will take to the main stage at noon, performing until 4 p.m. and the Blyth Lions Club’s beer garden will also open at the park at noon, closing at midnight.

At 12:30 p.m., the fiddle competition will begin in Shed 3 and the Brussels Legion Pipe Band will perform at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. that day.

At 1 p.m. on Saturday, the tractor pull will resume, with the garden tractor pull to follow. At that same time will be the children’s garden and lawn tractor rodeo and the children’s pedal tractor pull.

A half-hour later, the special events like bag tying and belt setting will go ahead, followed by another cider press demonstration at 2 p.m.

There will be another hot meal served in the arena auditorium from 4-6 p.m. and the Twilight Serenaders will perform again in the tent at 6 p.m.

The Irish Cowboys will begin their performance on the arena auditorium stage from 8 p.m. to midnight, while Joe Gahan - Spice of Life will take to the Blyth Festival’s Harvest Stage from 9-11 p.m.
On Sunday, the church service will begin in Shed 3 at 9:30 a.m. The Lions Club will open its beer garden at Blyth Lions Park again at noon.

Shed 3 will again play host to the step dancing competition, beginning at 12:30 p.m., ahead of another cider press demonstration at 2 p.m. and the final parade of the reunion will begin at 4 p.m.