A century-old wooden Champion threshing machine has made its way to Mallaig in Northern Alberta for the town’s Haying in the 30s pioneer program after a generous donation by Lyle and Diana Rowe of Michichi.
The machine was loaded on Sunday, October 18 and will make its way to the town, some 32 kilometres north of St. Paul.
“The program up there is very similar to the Pioneer Acres’ initiative, except their key theme is fundraising for cancer research and development,” Lyle and Diana told the Mail. “We will make the trek up to the St. Paul and Mallaig district whence the weather makes a positive improvement.”
Local volunteer Gerry Nielsen, from Drumheller, helped Lyle and Diana make the connection with Haying in the 30s.
The two-day event, which started in 1999, is normally held over the August long weekend, though it had to be cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is 100 per cent by donation to provide financial support to those undergoing cancer treatments. To date it has helped provide assistance to “more than 5,000 individuals diagnosed with cancer” in the Lakeland Region of Northern Alberta and beyond.
The event showcases what it was like to make hay in the 1930s and boasts a large viewing zoo, a pony merry-go-round, pig roast, and various other entertainments including a hoe-down on the Saturday evening.

Kneehill County has been placed back on watch status as the number of active cases of COVID-19 has climbed to 12.
The county, along with the surrounding counties of Starland and Wheatland, were placed on watch status earlier this summer, though the statuses were short-lived and did not prompt any additional health measures.
Chief Administrative Officer for Kneehill County, Mike Haugen, told the Mail, “We are following Alberta Health Services’ lead and following precautions.”
The county issued a release Tuesday evening stating services and operations were not affected by the watch status and encouraging residents of the county to continue social distance protocols, use masks where physical distancing is not possible, continue proper hand-washing, and follow gathering restrictions.
Trochu Valley School, part of the Golden Hills School Division and within the boundaries of Kneehill County, currently has an outbreak within the school with two confirmed cases. The school remains open at this time according to the Government of Alberta website.
During her Tuesday, November 3 provincial COVID update, Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced there had been an average of 567 cases per day between October 30 and November 2.
There is now one active case in Starland County, two in Drumheller, and seven within Wheatland County.