1999

Fire Company News

The Short Tract Fire Company is glad to have our chief, Mike Sherlock, back from restrictive duty.

We had a record number of calls last year, 37 fire calls and 18 first responder calls. We have purchased a newer pumper/tanker from the Pike Fire Department. This truck is a 1980 Chevy with 1500 gallons of water and 1000 gallon per minute pump. This truck will be more versatile than just a tanker would be. We now have two pumper/tankers and a mini pumper.

At this time we would like to publicly thank these fire departments for donating items to our fire department: Millgrove, West Sparta and Honeoye Falls.

With spring approaching we need to remind everyone to be careful with you outdoor fires. We are fortunate that we do not have the fires like the ones we see on television from California to Florida. Just the same, the grass and forest fires we have still cause damage to our area. Also, everyone may not be aware that if a fire leaves your land and causes damage to some one else’s property, you can be held responsible legally as well as financially. I hope everyone practices safe fire control this spring.

Please note the following dates for this year’s fund raisers: April – donation letter, May 9 – Mother’s Day Chicken BBQ dinner, June 26 – Annual short Tract Community Yard Sales (we sell chicken only at this event), September 11 – Annual Chicken BBQ, and November 12 – Annual Gun Raffle.

Perseverance Pays Off

Who would have thought that our neighbors Jim and Linda Brown would gain the recognition they have with their Belgian horses through entering the various plowing competitions they have engaged in throughout the country this past year. But they have, not only on a local level, but nationally and internationally as well. The last competition, the Great Lakes International Draft Horse Show and Pull was at Michigan State University in E. Lansing, Michigan. This gained Jim first place in walking plow, first in sulky plow, third two bottom sulky plow and in addition, he was given the Grand Champion Over All Plowman of the Year award. We might also mention that there were 950 draft horses taking part in this particular show. To add another interesting note, Linda entered and took part among 14 contestants (only two were women), and came in second in the one bottom sulky ploy competition. Good for you, Linda!

Because Jim has participated in so many of these well-known competitions he now has a picture of himself with his Belgians in Calendars 2000 (an internationally recognized calendar) which is put out by Mischka Farms in Oregon, Wisconsin. These calendars are sold and distributed both in the states and abroad. Moreover, Andy Gallun of Video Makers Unlimited, Ripon, Wisconsin, came to Jim’s farm recently and spent five days making plowing videos which are intended to be used as instructional material, showing people how to plow with a horse. Incidentally, more interest is now being shown in self-sustaining agriculture on small farms. The videos are to be sold locally and all over the world. This should contribute to Jim being recognized as an authority in this field and will enable him to operate clinics at home. A few are already in the planning for the spring of 2000.

Out of all this their vision has developed into a home run business. Farmer Brown’s Plow Shop is now in operation. It specializes in finding and identifying antique horse drawn plows. The company has two goals: 1) to help preserve as much of the original horse drawn equipment as possible, and 2) to provide other equipment owners with supplies needed to use this method of farming. The shop is run by Jim and his brother, Bob. You can visit them at their website, farmerbrownsplowship@bigstep.com. By phone you may call xxx-xxxx between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Jim also raises Belgian horses to sell, but has been using them for quite a few years in his logging business. They are able to get into the woods much easier than heavy machinery and Jim does a wonderful job in training them for this type of work.

All of this effort has finally paid off in helping them fulfill their ultimate dream. Our heartfelt congratulations are extended to the Browns along with our most sincere wishes for their continued success.

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