Farming

Farmers grow lots of wheat, alfalfa, pears and cherries in North Central Oregon. We are enjoying the landscape and learning something about farm life. During our visit in Hood River we rode the Hood River Railroad which passed through the pear orchards. Three weeks ago we drove around the countryside, delighting at the beauty of the wheat fields.

Our work at the wildlife area has taught us a little about fertilizing and irrigating crops, in addition to cattle grazing. We have enjoyed watching the cows and calves in the field next to our RV space. Then last weekend we attended the 38th Annual Dufur Threshing Bee. Dufur is a town of about 600 people some 25 miles north of the wildlife area. The Threshing Bee includes a parade—20 minutes long—that included neat old cars, horses, ponies and antique tractors.

The centerpiece of the weekend is the exhibition of historic farming methods. We were able to see a steam-driven tractor

which is attached to a McCormick-Deering thresher with long belts that drive the threshing machinery

We watched horse-drawn plows with the farmer walking behind

and riding.

We also watched the grain being mowed with a horse-drawn harvester.

All of this is so new to me. I have driven down a high-speed highway watching modern harvest crews. But I have never seen any of these activities up close. What a treat! And I appreciate how the farmers share their history in Dufur.