NEWS

Jefferson County Draft Horse Assoc. wraps up season

Jackie Schuster
JCDHA
Ron Luebke brings his team of percherons pulling logs on a stone boat up to the steam powered engine driving the sawmill at Old World Wisconsin.

Eagle — Two by two, teams of draft horses pulled stone boats carrying logs up to the clattering steam engine powering the sawmill during the Autumn on the Farms weekend at Old World Wisconsin.

Driving the teams of Belgians, Percherons and Clydesdales were members of the Jefferson County Draft Horse Association. Throughout the years, volunteers share their time and horses to help bring to life days of old for those visiting the popular historical site near Eagle, WI. During Autumn on the Farms weekend, members hauled logs to the steam engine, carted loads of scrap wood to different parts of the villages for next year's use and pulled the Omnibus.

Some of the visitors got a ride on the log being pulled to the sawmill or a ride on the stone boat coming back from the sawmill. Dick Berner was there with his team of Belgian crosses along with Ron and Jean Luebke and their team of Percherons. They were also helped by Lee Beyer and Allan Roost as well as Nancy and Wayne Osterhaus who pulled the Omnibus around the grounds using their team of Clydesdales. The couple also put their team of Percherons to work pulling the Old World Wisconsin wagon on Sunday.

The Jefferson County Draft Horse Association will be back at Old World Wisconsin next year for Rituals of Spring in May, Laura Ingalls-Wilder Day in July and Autumn on the Farm for plowing in September and logging in October. Our appearances at Old World Wisconsin are made possible by a grant from the Wisconsin State Horse Counsil which helps to offset the cost of the transporting the horses.

Members of the Jefferson County Draft Horse Association take a leisurely ride on a rural road as part of their Oct. 15 club social.

We followed up with our annual club social on Oct. 15 at Ron and Jean Luebke’s which includes a long wagon ride followed by a potluck dinner and time to socialize. Our wagons were pulled by four teams and a four-horse hitch. Members Dave Kemna, Brittnay Buhs, Amanda Doman, Ron Luebke and Steve Hasse brought out their teams of Norwegian Fjords, Percherons, Belgians and Clydesdales respectively.

Be sure to stop in and see us on Nov. 12 for our driving clinic at Old World Wisconsin. To register or find more information visit OldWorldWisconsin.Wisconisinhistory.org or call 262-594-6301.