Matthew Farfan & Townshippers' Association

A good hay crop was vital for the survival of any farm. It was hay that fed the animals over the long winter, when the fields were covered in a deep layer of snow.

Haying was backbreaking and time-consuming toil. In the Townships, haying began around the middle of June and ended at the end of August. Often the entire family would be called upon to work in the fields, including the children.

Transporting hay during the winter. ( Photo: Farfan Collection)

Once all the hay had been cut, it was gathered into bundles. Bundles were easier to load onto wagons and take to the barns. In the barns, the hay would be stored in nice dry haylofts where it would not rot.

It was not until the 1950s that most Townships farms became truly mechanized. Today, haying is still a annual event on farms throughout the region.