Hay day mixes old with new - photo essay

Photo essay | It was a mix of old-time haying with some mechanization thrown in at the Vanderploeg farm east of Brant, Alta., Aug. 22. Two heavy horse teams with hay wagons joined two bale trucks as the family loaded and stacked a field of 200 bales. Logan and Caslo Vanderploeg handled loading bales with two tractors while the rest of the Vanderploeg family pitched in, including Carl, Haley, Ryan and Logan’s wife Alex, plus Cam and Debbie Ostercamp. The hay crop in various locations doubled this year. | Mike Sturk photos

It was a mix of old-time haying with some mechanization thrown in at the Vanderploeg farm east of Brant, Alta., Aug. 22.

Two heavy horse teams with hay wagons joined two bale trucks as the family loaded and stacked a field of 200 bales.

Logan and Caslo Vanderploeg handled loading bales with two tractors while the rest of the Vanderploeg family pitched in, including Carl, Haley, Ryan and Logan’s wife Alex, plus Cam and Debbie Ostercamp.

The hay crop in various locations doubled this year. | Mike Sturk photos

Brant, Alta - Aug 22, 2020 - Haley Vanderploeg drives a truck with two round bales to be unloaded by her brother Logan. It was a mix of old-time haying with some mechanization thrown in at the Vanderploeg farm east of Brant with two heavy horse teams with hay wagons and two bale trucks hard at work loading and stacking a field of 200 bales. Logan and Caslo Vanderploeg handled loading bales with two tractors while the rest of the Vanderploeg family of Carl, Haley, Ryan and Logan’s wife Alex, plus Cam and Debbie Ostercamp all pitched in. The hay crop in various locations doubled this year.(Mike Sturk photo)

Brant, Alta - Aug 22, 2020 - A lofty view - Debbie (L) and Cam Ostercamp their Clydesdale heavy horses along with Carl Vanderploeg haul hay while Carl’s son Ryan drives his team of Percheron thoroughbred crosses. It was old-time haying at the Vanderploeg farm east of Brant with two heavy horse teams with hay wagons and two bale trucks hard at work loading and stacking a field of 200 bales. Logan and Caslo Vanderploeg handled loading bales with two tractors while the rest of the Vanderploeg family of Carl, Haley, Ryan and Logan’s wife Alex. The hay crop in various locations doubled this year.(Mike Sturk photo)

Brant, Alta - Aug 22, 2020 - Debbie Ostercamp drives a team of Clydesdale heavy horses to haul hay while Carlo Vanderploeg co-pilots. Carl’s son Ryan is driving his team of Percheron-thoroughbred crosses. It was old-time haying at the Vanderploeg farm east of Brant with two heavy horse teams with hay wagons and two bale trucks hard at work loading and stacking a field of 200 bales. Logan and Caslo Vanderploeg handled loading bales with two tractors while the rest of the Vanderploeg family of Carl, Haley, Ryan and Logan’s wife Alex. The hay crop in various locations doubled this year.(Mike Sturk photo)

Brant, Alta - Aug 22, 2020 - (L) Carl Vanderploeg teams upon with Cam and Debbie Ostercamp and their Clydesdale heavy horses to haul hay while his son Ryan drives his team of Percheron thoroughbred crosses. It was old-time haying at the Vanderploeg farm east of Brant with two heavy horse teams with hay wagons and two bale trucks hard at work loading and stacking a field of 200 bales. Logan and Caslo Vanderploeg handled loading bales with two tractors while the rest of the Vanderploeg family of Carl, Haley, Ryan and Logan’s wife Alex. The hay crop in various locations doubled this year.(Mike Sturk photo)