Herald photos by Garret Leiva
Sponsored by the Northwest Michigan Draft and Mule Association, Plow Day was held under sunny skies at the Cal and Willo Spanger Farm in Grawn. As in year’s past, Plow Day is about old-fashion farming that follows in the furrows of forefathers and mothers.
Teams of draft horses and mules took turns plowing, discing and dragging a 10 acre field of rye grass. Teams also competed in an obstacle course that tested abilities of both horse and driver. Plow Day spectators even had a chance to take an old-fashion wagon
ride down Hilltop Road.
Herald photos by Garret Leiva
Cal Spangler rests under a shade tree with his Belgium horses, Rex and Jim during the 12th Annual Plow Day Sunday at Spangler’s farm in Grawn. Plow Day featured draft horses and mules taking part in plowing, discing, dragging and obstacle course events.
Heather Middleton of Benzonia holds onto a team of plow horses as her three-year-old daughter, Sarah holds onto her mother’s hand.
Cole Rosa, 7, left, of Long Lake Township and Noah Veltkamp, 9, of Rosebush, Mich., center, prepare to take passengers for a mule-powered wagon ride. Keeping an eye out for incoming horse traffic is Cole’s father, Kyle Rosa, far right.
A pair of horses keep in step as they turn over a long furrow in this 10 acre field of rye grass located at the Cal and Willo Spangler Farm off Hilltop Road in Grawn.
Arland Cederquist, left, and Ben Scholl, both of Montague, Mich., make adjustments to Scholl’s Pioneer plow while horses Jim and Jay wait for their turn in the field.
Above: Sheryl Muma of Lake Leelanau rubs the muzzle of Gabe, a Morgan gelding. Gabe and his plow partner, J.P. are primarily saddle horses ridden by Muma and Bill Plamondon. Below: A team of Percheron horses, owned by Tom Syr of Maple City, drag a spring tooth harrow to break up dirt clods.
