Sunshine and generous spirits together at the Parks Canada Bar U Historic Ranch made for a remarkable annual celebration of harvest time. Volunteers, neighbours and friends helped with threshing organic grain all day using antique farm gear and cherished pitchforks. Young and old, farmers and farmers-for-a-day gathered to learn about true craft spirits and labour a little, the old fashioned way! Percheron horse Dick churned ice cream treats as buddy Duke looked on.

A distillery tour, cocktail and hosted chicken supper followed the hard day’s work.

A sudden call late in the day about a highway fire involving the vehicle transporting the day’s entire grain yield threw a nasty curve.

Fleet and effective response from the Black Diamond and Turner Valley Fire Departments and the local RCMP were much appreciated. The grain was saved!

All in all, a momentous day of community spirit and laughs to remember has the Eau Claire team ever grateful to all involved — from the Bar U Ranch to the volunteers to the media and unexpectedly, emergency responders.