The Howell Living History Farm, operated by Mercer County, hosted its 42nd annual plowing contest Saturday, the traditional start of a 10-month growing season for fall grains.
Plowing is the first step in working the soil for planting—loosening compacted layers to let in water and air while burying weeds and organic matter as fertilizer. After the contest, farm staff will join the separate “lands” opened by competitors, pack the field with a horse-drawn roller, break remaining clods with a harrow and drag a plank to level the seedbed before planting with a grain drill later in September.
The morning program featured warm-ups and fine plowing in the west crop fields, evaluated by judge Button Myers Jr. of Landisburg, Pa., with field judges Elvin Lapp of Kinzers, Pa., and Barbara Corson, VMD, of Dauphin, Pa. Visitors also saw exhibition hitches and had chances to participate: a novice plowing session led by judge Pam Flory and a plowing hour for experienced hands using a pair of veteran draft horses, coordinated by judge Rob Flory of Howell Living Farm.
The fieldwork kicks off preparation for wheat, rye, barley and the old-fashioned bearded wheat also known as spelt. The crops are slated for harvest next July with a horse-drawn reaper-binder, then threshed with help from a steam engine and finally ground into flour.
All photos by MIke Chipowsky
