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Communities at Work: 2 horsepower July 11, 2009
It's an activity that harkens back to an earlier time. Hooking a John Deere sickle to a team of horses and spending the day mowing hay. For Duane Rodewald, 71, of Craig, it's important to remember the way things were done almost 100 years ago. And it's something he feels is important to teach to his son, Tim, 18, as well. "I like my boys to learn how to handle horses," Rodewald said. So, he set his son up with a team of horses Tuesday and spent the day mowing hay at his home in Craig. "We've gained so much with all this technology, but we've lost something, too," Rodewald said. That something that was lost, he said, was a work ethic and ability to work with animals at the core of farming in years past.
Tim Rodewald makes his way through a field of hay Tuesday towed by Duke, left, and Daisy. Flint Haskins owns the horses.
Tim Rodewald directs the team of horses through the hay Tuesday. Part of the challenge is directing the horses and making sure the mower is working properly, as well, he said.
Duane Rodewald sharpens the blades of the mower Tuesday in the garage of his home. He said the blades must be sharpened almost daily because of their age, but newer blades usually must be sharpened weekly.
Duane Rodewald attaches the blade to a sharpening table Tuesday with the help of his son, Tim, in the garage of his home.
Duke, left, and Daisy are a team of Belgian horses weighing in at 1,800 pounds each, Duane Rodewald said. "These horses are so powerful and could run off at any time, but they don't," he said.
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Question of the week
Should the Craig Chamber of Commerce revise its State of the County attendance policy to allow people to hear speakers without paying for a ticket?
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