Threshers Association moving ahead with one-day event

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

The Huron Pioneer Threshers and Hobby Association is moving ahead with a one-day, drive-through event on Saturday, Sept. 11 in place of its traditional annual reunion, held around the same time.

The event will run from 1-5 p.m. at the Blyth Campground and feature a number of stationary displays, demonstrations and performances for those to see as they travel through a specified route in their cars. Association President Judy Sloan, in an interview with The Citizen, said people will not be permitted to get out of their cars and walk around, but they will be able to take in the sights and sounds of a reunion from the comfort and safety of their vehicles.

Sloan said that she and the rest of the association’s membership wanted to host some sort of event this September, keeping momentum for the return of the reunion, hopefully in 2022, but it wasn’t until recently that members decided what form the event would take.

After some discussions and consultations with Huron Perth Public Health, the drive-through, one-day event was born. The route will be extensive, with people entering from Blyth Road - at the traditional camping entrance for the event - and snaking around the grounds, ending by a stage where a band will be performing.

That layout was by design, Sloan said, with people welcome to park at the end of the route and listen to the music for a while before they leave for the day.

While the event will be one day, camping will be available at the Blyth Campground for those wishing to stay over or who have transported large equipment to be displayed.

Sloan said she hopes there will be a small threshing demonstration, the potato picker will be out in the field, and a number of other staples, like the sawmill, will be in operation that day as well. This is in addition to the aforementioned musical performance and a number of working displays that will be set up and operational along the route.

Sloan says she is already working with Huron Perth Public Health to ensure the Threshers’ event is a safe one. The association will have to submit a safety plan and a site plan to Huron Perth Public Health for approval, similar to the process undertaken by the Huron County Plowmen’s Association to host this year’s Huron County Plowing Match last week.

Sloan says it feels “wonderful” to be able to hopefully host an event for the association after having to cancel the reunion two years in a row.

“We’re really excited to do something, so people can experience a bit of the stuff that normally happens at the reunion,” Sloan said. 

It’s unfortunate, however, that much of what makes the reunion great, socializing and seeing friends, won’t be part of the event, but that’s just life during a pandemic, she said.

The event is slated for Saturday, Sept. 11 from 1-5 p.m.