MALLAIG – Haying in the 30’s continues to be a success year after year, as dedicated volunteers and generous participants remain the life blood of this major fundraiser. From Aug. 3 - 4 people attended the event by donation, and revisited life in the 30’s, complete with historical reenactments, demonstrations, music, teams of horses, vintage machinery, a petting zoo, and so much more.
While an official tally has not been released as donations are still coming in, Lorne Buryn, president of Haying in the 30’s, reports “It was $342,000 on Sunday night, but what’s happened is that the money is still rolling in. We haven't gotten an official tally yet, but we will be well over $350,000."
Every year proceeds go towards supporting people and their families who are undergoing cancer treatment.
“We had record crowds gauging from past experience and the parking lots and RV lots. On Saturday the lots were filled all the way back to the dumpsters in Mallaig which is crazy.”
During the Saturday evening dinner, Buryn reports that they “fed 2,200 people in under an hour.”
“I don’t know how we keep breaking records, but we keep breaking them,” said Buryn.
The historical village was bustling with demonstrations of blacksmithing, butter churning, cowboy cooking, cart rides from an array of different horse teams, and many farm animals to interact with.
Emcee Konnor Brown entertained the crowds throughout the day saying that “being an emcee here is easy – everyone is friendly and having a good time. I get to see a lot of familiar faces and family.”
Brown interviewed Vern Theroux from Pat Bay Leather Ltd. Who was offering visitors a chance to stamp their own leather coaster with a Haying in the 30’s design that his daughter created.
“Vern has been coming for years and years. I stopped to talk to him at about 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon, and he said that they were up over 800 coasters already stamped and given out,” said Buryn.
The Klatt Family supplies the petting zoo with their gentle animals that visitors are able to interact with.
“I love animals, and I like sharing that with people. It’s stress relieving for them, and our animals are quiet and calm,” Darryl Klatt said.
For some visitors, Haying in the 30’s can offer a first-time experience up close and personal with farm animals. Tammy Klatt recalls one awestruck little boy saying, “I just can’t believe I’m petting a horse!”
Near the end of the petting zoo area, a pen of highland cows lounged, and a young girl exclaimed “Oh my God, I’ve always wanted to see a fluffy highland cow!”
Across the grounds, a cowboy by the name of Josh Michaud was hoisting kids onto his horses to sit on bareback for photos, while he chatted with people about the vaquero style of riding.
Michaud’s horses Wrangler and Sweet offered visitors a memorable moment with some relaxed and contented horses.
The pony rides offered by BX farm featured ponies that had been rescued, rehabilitated, and trained by the BX farm kids Trevor, Tyson, and Casey Bunney. The pony rides not only delighted children who got to go for a ride but were a testament to the hard work these kids put into both their ponies and their community.
The cowboy cooks offered fresh coffee to visitors out of a covered wagon and ground the coffee beans on site with Laurier Dechaine’s 1929 farm mill.
Buryn said they really have to “tip their hats” to the volunteers who make this event possible, and told a story that illustrated just how special and impressive the Haying in the 30’s sustained volunteer efforts are:
“Around eight years ago when I was the president the first time, I had a guy called me from Spokane, WA and asked me how we run our event and how to go about it, because he wants to do something in Washington. My response was, “You know what? Find 300 volunteers that are willing to be there all weekend long and work their tails off, and when you have that, call me back. I never got a call back.”
With another roaring success under their belts, volunteers rest assured that their efforts made a positive impact on their community.
