Agriculture highlighted during Plow Day
Apr. 11—LEWISTOWN VALLEY — The rich history of agriculture in Schuylkill County was celebrated Saturday in the Lewistown Valley.
Plow Day 2021 brought young and old alike to the Felty Farm along Catawissa Road in Walker Township to see how farming was done back in the day through the efforts of the Schuylkill County Agricultural Museum located at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds.
Dutch Brensinger, one of the many people who helped organize the event, said Plow Day is in its eighth year and features antique tractors and mules showing how farmers took care of their fields before the tractors of today that are often computerized and more like luxury vehicles instead of work machines.
One of the highlights of the day was two mules plowing the earth under the direction of Samuel Lapp and Jacob and Reuben Lantz, all of Schaefferstown, Lebanon County.
Lapp said this is his third year traveling to Schuylkill County to take part in Plow Day.
He said it is important for the current generation to understand the hard work that farmers did more than 100 years ago.
"It is important to show people how it was and how it still is today in some places," he said.
Will Wright, of Auburn, took his 1946 LA John Deere tractor to the event, a machine he painstakingly restored to its almost original condition.
After demonstrating some plowing, Wright explained the sentimental value the 75-year-old tractor has to him.
"I am 64 and I have been plowing with this since I was 14," he said. "This is the good old stuff."
Over the years Wright said he used the tractor and mower to cut grass on roads in and around Auburn, in addition to his own property.
"I enjoy playing with the mower," Wright said with a smile on his face.
He said the tractor was purchased by his father and grandfather at a sale more than 50 years ago and has been in the family ever since.
Wright said his tractor and others at Plow Day were cutting-edge technology when they were built and made the hard work easier for farmers who could afford them.
"These were built to replace a team of horses," he said.
Tyler Berger and his father, Kevin, both of Schuylkill Haven, had the oldest operating tractor at the 2021 Plow Day.
Tyler gave demonstrations plowing with a 1933 Farmall F-12 tractor.
Kevin Berger, vice president of the Schuylkill County Agricultural Museum, said he is the second owner of the tractor that was purchased brand new by the original owner for $648 and 24 bushels of wheat at 14 1/2 cents each.
"This machine is very rare and I like people to see it and admire how good it works after all those years," he said.
Nicole Purcell, of New Ringgold, brought her daughter, Madison, to the event in the capacity of 2019 Little Miss of the Schuylkill County Fair.
Purcell's son was also on hand with his mother looking at the tractors, petting the mules and just having a good time.
"We just came to promote agriculture in Schuylkill County," Nicole Purcell said. "This little guy also loves tractors."
Along with Madison Purcell, Madeline Schuettler, of Pottsville, the 2019 Schuylkill County Fair Queen, attended Plow Day mingling with tractor owners and guests stressing the rich history the agriculture industry has in Schuylkill County.
Dutch Brensinger said that along with plowing demonstrations, tractor-pulled hay rides were offered, giving those who chose to go a first-hand look at how large farmers' fields actually are and to get an idea of the amount of work needed to plant, care for and harvest crops.
His father, Darin Brensinger, president of the Schuylkill County Agricultural Museum, said he was glad to see a good turnout despite the overcast and damp weather.
"This is about history and preserving the past," he said. "It's fun too."
