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Horses make husking teams goYORK, Neb. (AP)--Draft horses can get in one's blood. So can old-time farming methods--picking corn by hand for instance. If those statements are accurate, it's a cinch Frank Steckly's blood will be filled to the brim Oct. 6 in York. The Stecklys raise Belgians, and Joy is secretary for the state draft horse association. "We've done it for the last couple, three years," said Frank Steckly, speaking about traveling to Columbus to help the hand pickers. He said draft horse owners and handlers learn about the event largely by word of mouth. Either that or they've done it before and seek it out. "It's one of those things that, once you do it, it's fun and you keep at it," he said. Those who take in the contest this fall will see 20 to 25 teams and wagons at the site, crawling slowly along as they work to keep pace with each contestant as he or she slings husked ears against the bangboard and into the wagon bed. "You do a lot of starting and stopping, and that's a little bit of a challenge," said Frank Steckly, "because usually a team, once you get them going, they want to stay going." He said young horse teams frequently take a while to get comfortable "with all that banging" before they realize it's not harmful and settle down to their work. "A lot of the horses and a lot of the teams they're going to see at the corn picking are horses that are used at home," he said, explaining that draft horses are still employed by some to mow and put up hay or haul manure. "Shoot, you got to feed the things so you might as well use them to haul the manure away. We do a little plowing, too" with the Belgians, plus "a little mowing and raking of hay." Frank Steckly said it's important for the younger generation to kindle their own passion for these massive but remarkably graceful animals. "Some of the old guys are passing on," he said. "The younger guys kind of need to learn it." Steckly said he and his fellow draft horse lovers can be counted upon for the big contest. "Draft horse people are pretty good about doing things. They're pretty loyal," he said. "One of the reasons we like draft horses is the camaraderie. We help each other out. We compete against each other and we take it serious, but we're still willing to help" another horseman. He said a woman from Colorado with a six-horse hitch was injured and in trouble at last year's Nebraska State Fair. "Everybody else got their horses ready for them so they could go ahead and show," Frank Steckly said. At the York contest, there will be an interesting variety of animals to watch. "Some guys bring light horses. They can be Morgans, quarter horses, paints--pretty much anything. There will be a couple teams of mules probably, too," he added. "You'll be able to see a variety of things." Date: 6/28/07
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