Sport Of "Scything" Attacts A Crowd

Sport Of "Scything" Attacts A Crowd AG WORLD 29-3-22 The sport of scything debuted last year at the First Annual Maritime Hand Mowers Scything Championship in Canning, Nova Scotia. Both men and women stepped up to compete as a crowd of people watched them mow down a wheat field. Judging was based on quality factors such as stubble height and evenness, tidiness of the swath, and overall style and speed. Contestants were required to cut a 25-ft. long swath using a traditional hand scythe. The event was part of a local show called "Agrifest" and 14 people competed in the open competition. The oldest competitor of the day was 83-year-old Vance Jackson from Bridgetown, N.S. The top two scythe-wielders in the open class were Doug Brown of Granville Ferry, N.S and Hank Bosveld from Lakeville, N.S. "It was a fun event. Everyone had a good time, from beginners to experienced people," says competitor Paul Rump of Woodville, N.S. Event organizers drew from the experience of Addison County, Vermont, where a similar annual contest has been held for 56 years. Three judges, a color commentator, a timer and a swath measurer helped run the Canning event. Plans for next year's event include a stooking contest, and even perhaps teams of mowers and stookers competing against each other in a harvest competition. The 2005 scything championship will take place August 27 at the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition in Truro, N.S. Rural Delivery Magazine organizes and sponsors the event. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Maritime Hand Mowing Championship, c/o Rural Delivery, Box 1509, Liverpool, NS B0T 1K0 (ph 902 354-5411; email: dvl@auracom .com; website: www.countrymagazines .com).

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